Celebrate Black Music Month with “The Beat Don’t Stop”

Abesi Manyando
3 min readJun 21, 2020

This Go-go documentary explores the music that defined Washington D.C and airs Sunday.

This weekend has been a celebration of Juneteenth and everything Black. From History, to Music, to beauty and science. The culture is taking full control of the narrative and disseminating factual information about Black history, culture and music. TV One’s “The Beat Don’t Stop” celebrates the official Sound of Washington, D.C, Go go music. You may think you are unfamiliar with Go go music but chances are that you probably love the music and didn’t even know what it was or its history. Birthed by the legendary Chuck Brown, Go go music has had an influential impact on pop culture. Beyonce’s solo debut “Crazy in Love was essentially a Go go song. Washington D.C native and Producer Rich Harrison who previously lent his production to Amerie and Mary J Blige heavily relied on his Go-go heritage to produce all his major hits including Beyonce’s breakthrough love anthem. Harrison infused Go go into Crazy in Love for Beyonce and 1 Thing for Amerie; Jennifer Lopez’s “Get Right”; and Destiny’s Child’s “Soldier. That infusion of drum heavy beats intertwining funk, R & B, soul music and hip hop defined Washington, DC. The Beat Don’t Stop tells the story of Go go music and features Doug E. Fresh, Backyard Band, Junk Yard Band, Trouble Funk, E.U., TCB, TOB, Beat Ya Feet Finest, Maiesha and the Hip Huggers, and many more

THE BEAT DON’T STOP, airs on Sunday, June 21 at 8 P.M. ET/7C, The long-awaited documentary was a year in the making and highlights the history and legacy of Go-go music. It features trailblazers, legends and stars who have championed the sound throughout the decades. The film also delves into the evolution of the Go-go culture, celebrating the legacy of the Godfather of Go-go music, Chuck Brown, and the pivotal role Radio One played as the original broadcast platform for the music genre. Additionally, it examines the passion that fueled social movements, including the internationally recognized Don’t Mute DC, which emphasized the music’s power and influence amid a rapidly changing cultural landscape.

Go-go music is the indigenous sound of Washington, D.C., which emerged out of underprivileged neighborhoods during the height of the crack cocaine epidemic in the 1980s. It was unfairly blamed for the rise in crime and violence that paralyzed D.C. THE BEAT DON’T STOP takes viewers through that history and addresses how the music served as a platform for African Americans to elevate and address issues such as class struggles, gentrification and the music’s impact on Black culture.

For more information about TV One’s THE BEAT DON’T STOP, visit the network’s www.tvone.tv. TV One viewers can also join the conversation by connecting via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@tvonetv) using the hash tag #THEBEATDONTSTOP.

Abesi Manyando