A Toast to Alternative Black Musicians: Positive Mental Attitude
Welcome to our final toast of this year's Black History Month! To wrap up this series, we shall focus on a group that shattered racial and countercultural stereotypes and made their mark in the history of punk. Here are Bad Brains with "I Against I." Of course, Bad Brains barely resembled the majority of punk bands of the 80s, as this band consisted of four black Rastafarians in a white-dominated genre. Bad Brains (originally a jazz fusion group) broke into D.C.'s punk scene in 1976 with a technical prowess uncommon amidst the rugged genre. They paired this with breakneck tempos, breakdowns, enforced chaos, and unapologetically brash lyrics, all combined to cement their iconic sound that would leave an impact as a pioneering band in the hardcore realm. Bad Brains also stood out by breaking down cultural barriers. This could be seen in their blending of cultures, as they combined punk with funk and reggae. Also, they rejected stereotypes of what others expected those...