When Drake released “Honestly, Nevermind,” many quickly criticized the house-heavy album as not being made for us. Beyoncé followed with “Break My Soul,” another bop inspired by house music.
Many wrote off both projects claiming they were for white audiences. But they must not know – WE created the entire genre!
Our people were getting down to disco in the 70s, and house music followed. It was created in Chicago’s Warehouse, a Black, gay club by the “Godfather of House,” DJ Frankie Knuckles, and DJ Larry Levan was making waves in NYC spinning house.
But for years, whites have been the face of house music.
As house music grew, they began taking ownership. White acts like Daft Punk became incredibly successful by sampling Black artists. There’s also a history of our nightlife venues being targeted and overpoliced – this helped them whitewash house, claiming it as their own.
House has always been undeniably Black and queer! Subgenres formed in some cities like New Orleans with “bounce” and Baltimore’s “club music.” A similar musical appropriation has happened across numerous genres like techno, country, and jazz. Some may argue it’s happening to hip-hop too.
White supremacy loves to snatch up our creativity, claim it as their own, and profit from it, but we must know the truth about our countless inventions. They can never take what’s always been ours!