In the month of June, we celebrate African-American Music Appreciation Month. The music of the African diaspora in America is foundational to all American music. While no one collection could capture all of the magic of Black music, you can find all eras of folk, blues, gospel, jazz, rock and roll, R&B, and hip-hop on Freegal Music and Hoopla Digital.
With Freegal, you can create your own custom playlists, stream songs, albums, and playlists, and download five songs each week that are yours to keep in your own media library. Listen to our African-American Music Month playlist right here, or create your own!
You might know Hoopla for its extensive collection of e-books and e-audiobooks with no waiting, but did you know you can also borrow movies, TV shows, and music? See the display below (click the cover images or titles) for albums you can borrow right now and listen to for a full week.
There are also great music documentaries available on Hoopla and our video-only streaming service Kanopy. Both services allow a 3-day loan for video titles.
Little Richard: I Am Everything [Hoopla]: Biography of rock legend Little Richard and his under-recognized innovations as a writer, performer, and cultural icon.
20 Feet From Stardom [Hoopla]: Legendary singers whose voices you know, but whose names you might not know, including Merry Clayton ("Gimme Shelter"), Darlene Love, and Lisa Fischer.
Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché [Hoopla]: The UK punk band X-Ray Spex was fronted by Marianne Joan Elliott-Said, who went by the name Poly Styrene and was one of the sparks that lit the riot grrrl and Afropunk movements.
Tale of the Tape [Hoopla]: A critical look at the art of the mixtape and its vital importance to the development of hip-hop. Features Kendrick Lamar, Wiz Khalifa, and J. Cole.
TLC Forever [Hoopla]: The "CrazySexyCool" rise and short-lived career of TLC, arguably the R&B group of the 90s.
Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami [Kanopy]: As much an international star as an American icon, Grace Jones is an unmistakable voice and uncompromising artist with a career spanning five decades. This is her story, uncensored.
Nas: Time Is Illmatic [Kanopy]: Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, Q-Tip, and Busta Rhymes are among the luminaries telling the story of a hip-hop legend.
Jazz on a Summer's Day [Kanopy]: A gorgeous film compiled from live performances at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, including music by Louis Armstrong, Thelonious Monk, Chuck Berry, Dinah Washington, and Mahalia Jackson.
Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes [Kanopy]: Jazz legend Ron Carter is the most recorded bassist in history. Learn more about his activist beginnings and the rest of his 60-year career.
Always for Pleasure [Kanopy]: One of the great "silent" (that is, no narration) documentaries by Les Blank, Always for Pleasure reveals the spirit and joy of a New Orleans funeral parade, which begins solemnly in the church and turns into a party in the streets.
Milford Graves: Full Mantis [Kanopy]: Not widely known in mainstream circles, Milford Graves was one of the most innovative performers in jazz. His high-energy drumming and experimental approach made him a truly original and inimitable talent.
