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#MusicSermon

@musicsermon

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The ORIGINAL home of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge. Music. Culture. Nostalgia. Restoring the Feeling since 2017. Created/curated by @naimagram.

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Long caption alert! I realized I've never done a proper “Welcome to #MusicSermon” new follower/community member post. I take for granted that the community knows me and knows how #MusicSermon differs from other music pages, but that was an oversight on my part. So, real quick:1. I’m Naima (@naimagram). You’ll see some people refer to me as “Pastor,” (bc the whole “sermon”/church references, get it?). It’s always me posting and commenting. I’m a former label exec and manager turned music journalist and college professor. 2. #MusicSermon started in 2017 as a weekly series of Twitter threads (in fact, the anniversary is just a couple of weeks away). I expanded it to IG for the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge in 2018, but this has become the center of the community over the last 2 or 3 years. 3. My goal with #MusicSermon was to fill in the many gaps that I felt fan accounts left in Black music storytelling and history. As someone who worked with core R&B artists, I saw how often they got left out of conversations in the 2010s. My focus was primarily on pre-blog era artists and music. No topics devoted to superstars. (I've relaxed that a little.) Now we’re several years into an R&B renaissance and a massive nostalgia movement, but that was just beginning to bubble when #MusicSermon started. 4. New Jack Swing is the cornerstone of this ministry. I’m Black Gen X; we danced hard AF, wore bright colors, and changed the world. That's my testimony. My content is def influenced by my own personal taste, bc if I don’t enjoy what I’m posting it won't hit the same.And finally 5. Two of #MusicSermon’s primary mission points are - To tell the stories that go beyond the obvious about artists, sub-genres, and eras of Black music. - To foster and maintain a spirit of community with #MusicSermon followers (but the community does a great job of this on their own. They’re awesome)We’re here to celebrate, bop, reminisce, and sometimes hopefully learn something. Now greet somebody you don't know :) Enjoy! by @musicsermon

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a year ago

Please either read this ENTIRE caption, or watch the video I posted a little while ago, because some of y’all are gonna be committed to misunderstanding this prompt and I'm not finna argue with y'all.This is not really about “Can We Talk.” But it is about how we hold on for life to ONE R&B song at a time as a representative of an era, when there’s so much more music to choose. We’ve also done this with "Candy Rain," "Poison," "If It Isn't Love,” and "Weak,” now “When I See You,” “Optimistic,” and “Tell Me.” These songs end up worn out like a vintage sweater that's not meant for frequent use. “Can We Talk” is an amazing song - it's melodic, it's catchy, it makes you warm and fuzzy, Babyface did the damn thing and Tevin is Tevin… but y’all…This is especially egregious because the 90s was arguable the RICHEST decade of R&B music before or since. The period from 87-93 alone is a treasure trove of mid-tempo bops. So in the spirit of not completely ruining a song I loved on first run but am starting to grow tired of (even the bridge), I motioned back in 2022 that the Black collective should discuss a change - or at least a real rotation. 4 years later we still here. So for Day 10 of the #blackmusicmonthchallenge, let's talk about other songs that give you that same feeling you're mainlining from "Can We Talk." I think this is what replacements/additions look like:1. People know it: It doesn't have to be a hit, but it SHOULD be a classic. 2. It’s a mid-tempo: Think about two step-ability. 3. The lyrics and hook are catchy and easy: The litmus test is whether the song would make sense in a "We both in the club, high, singing off key..." reference.4. It has a great bridge or adlibs: It needs a moment for the crowd to get hype and the DJ to cut the track5. Even if the subject matter is sad, the overall feel is good. You know how "Before I Let Go" is a jam but about a pending break up? That. by @musicsermon

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8 hours ago

I know I'm VERY late on today's prompt, but this one required a primer before we get into it and I got a late start. (My bad.) Also I was rushing to I didn't check the captions for errors. This is bigger than "Can We Talk."Anemoia is the feeling of nostalgia for things you didn't actually experience, and that's a big driver of these one-classic-song-of-the-moment situations, because people don't necessarily realize how much music they're ignoring that will render the same joy. So let's talk about those OTHER songs.Actual prompt is on the way! by @musicsermon

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9 hours ago

Today should be fun. One thing about US, we do love entertainers who have a little shenaniganning in their skill set. Runs, key changes, sweeping emotions you can feel through the music…we want all of that - when it’s done right. With thanks to @temenahpatrice for the prompt, for Day 9 of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share your favorite song with hooting’, hollering’, and/or carrying on. by @musicsermon

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a day ago

No sparklers.No velvet ropes.No influencers.This one ain't for the gram or for the look... It's for the people.The whole city is Restoring the Feeling right now. We've been there since January!THURSDAY, join me (@naimagram/@musicsermon) and @djgoldfingernyc for Restore the Feeling, a #MusicSermon experience. And come ready to dance! (no standing around allowed)7pm -midnight @ Continent Brooklyn. Go to musicsermon.com/restorethefeeling for tickets and more info. by @musicsermon

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2 days ago

One of the hallmarks of adulthood for Black folks is being able to turn to someone younger than you and proclaim about whatever song may be playing: “you don’t know nothin’ bout this!” It might be a deep cut. It might be older than everybody in the room. It might be something super specific and niche, but if you’re a music lover over a certain age, chances are you’ve had this moment. (And you were probably drinking when it happened!)Of course, the responsible thing is to then put the young folks on so they can pay it forward one day.For Day 8 of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share the song that folks don’t know nothin’ about. by @musicsermon

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2 days ago

(Day 8's on the way!)Yesterday I started a bit of a (late) orientation for the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge and #MusicSermon community norms (check my previous videos). We’ve still got a couple of areas left to cover.4. Non-Black artists: There’s one non-Black artist I universally let rock during the challenge with no "*" or disclaimers (well, except for Day 1 this year) and people always tell me they wish they’d known. I explain why Teena Marie is welcome in this place.Most other blue-eyed soul is on a case-by-case basis. by @musicsermon

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2 days ago

I’ve been sharing some #BlackMusicMonthChallenge practices and #MusicSermon community norms (check previous videos). 3. Reposts: I do have some guidelines to how I choose reposts, but it’s way more random than y’all probably think. Honestly, my inbox is CRAZY during June, and depending on the day the amount of time I have to mine the posts varies, but I try my best! by @musicsermon

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3 days ago

Tonight I’m sharing some #MusicSermon community norms and #BlackMusicMonthChallenge practices. 2. The Community Vibes: I’ve said multiple times that I’ll put the #MusicSermon community up against any online community out there. When I speak in “we,” I’m talking about the ENTIRE online community, because #MusicSermon doesn’t exist without y’all.This is a TIGHT knit collective who shows up for a good time. Some of these folks have genuinely been here the whole 9 years, since the original twitter threads. We joke and debate, and we can even disagree, but it’s all in good spirit. If someone comes in the comments hot, folks *will* get at them - I don’t even have to do anything. And I love that for us. Admittedly I have on the rare occasion been a *little* nasty, but it's usually me returning energy. (It's also why I'm doing this "orientation," to get ahead of that). I try my best to check it, though, bc that's genuinely not what we're about. by @musicsermon

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3 days ago

I'm sharing #BlackMusicMonthChallenge "rules" and #MusicSermon community norms today. (Go back and see my previous video). 1. The Prompts/Posts: Let's gon' head and get this one out of the way FIRST, because this ends up being the biggest point of contention every year. And I love y'all's enthusiasm, but... About that "please don't" plea... I started blocking on Day 2. Forreal, don't do that. More coming. Stay Tuned! by @musicsermon

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3 days ago

For the rest of the day, I’m going to share our basic #MusicSermon community norms around #BlackMusicMonth & the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge. The community is 9 years old and the challenge is 8 years old so I have to remind myself that everybody ain't been here since the beginning. I know we’re already almost a week in but there’s still time to do it before we get into the more, um, *spirited* prompts. (and I meant to say I chose violence for Wednesdays prompt). Stay tuned! by @musicsermon

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3 days ago

God designed Summer Sundays for a few things: sleeping late, good food, and using your free will to hop in your ride with no particular destination are in the top 3.Maybe you're headed to the beach. Maybe it’s an impromptu road trip. Maybe it’s “the summertime hangout (that) looks like a car show.” Maybe you’re just driving around to clear your head. Either way. some songs sound better through car speakers with the windows down.For day 7of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share a song that was made for riding out. 🚗☀️ by @musicsermon

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