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The Burden of Black Genius: documentary examines career of Sly Stone
Questlove’s probing new film looks at the incredible life and works of the one-of-a-kind talent while also taking a broader look at the specific difficulties faced by Black artists
In an imperial run of six albums between 1968 and 1974, Sly and the Family Stone, as the critic Steven Hyden wrote in the New York Times, “anticipated virtually every major trend in rhythm and blues of the next decade”. As half of the iconic production duo Jam & Lewis, he sampled a six-second snatch of Stone’s 1969 single Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) for the sledgehammering bassline of Janet Jackson’s 1989 Rhythm Nation. Stone’s music has been sampled by Dr Dre, LL Cool J and Mobb Deep (as well as others from Beck to Brandy); Questlove and Patel sought to imbue their documentary with the urgency of the culture.
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