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Jesse Bernard inherited his mother\u2019s collection of soul and r\u2019n\u2019b records, amassed during the 1980s and 90s and including Soul II Soul, D\u2019Influence, Omar, Lynden David Hall and Mica Paris. These artists form the starting point for Bernard\u2019s top-notch new book Escaping Babylon: An Intimate History of Black British Music<\/em>.<\/p>\n Although Bernard \u2013 writer, DJ, music researcher and filmmaker \u2013 grew up on a diet much like this one, he later embraced grime, with Dizzee Rascal and Wiley just two of the pioneering mavericks lauded in Escaping Babylon<\/em>. The author has an impressive knack of totally nailing scenes inside a few paragraphs: an overview of 90s UK rap is built around a rare, apparently undigitised 12\u201d by Brit MC Tru, with London Posse and The Brotherhood both given their pioneering dues as crews who stood out at the time for avoiding US rap tropes.<\/p>\n Conversely, the fruits of transatlantic collaborations and crisscrossing influences are also relayed here, from Mica Paris working with Rakim to Brit r\u2019n\u2019b band Loose Ends\u2019 influence on heavyweight US production team Jam & Lewis. There is much enlightening info to be gleamed from Escaping Babylon<\/em>.From the church to the barbershop to nu-soul to neo-soul, jungle to grime and onwards, Bernard has more than enough bases covered \u2013 going culturally and sonically backwards and forwards too.<\/p>\n Neither does he mince his words regarding shocking examples of racism, social injustice or cultural appropriation, and \u2013 on a brighter note \u2013 mental health is something being discussed and reflected on a wider basis than before.\u00a0Anyone who\u2019s previously enjoyed Lloyd Bradley\u2019s books Bass Culture<\/em> or Sounds Like London<\/em> should consider Escaping Babylon<\/em> a must-read \u2013 one which digs deep, brings everything up to date, and even looks to the future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n