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Multi-instrumentalist producer Sly5thAve presents his 'Black beauty' playlist

Sylvester Onyejiaka with a selection of songs by his heroes that have found a way to carve out something beautiful in the presence of so much injustice.

Sylvester Onyejiaka, a.k.a. Sly5thAve, is a multi-instrumentalist, producer and arranger whose compositions are shaped by his faith in Hip Hop and a deep understanding of Soul, R&B, Jazz, and West African music. He has performed alongside Prince, and worked with Stevie Wonder, Janelle MonΓ‘e and Quantic. In 2017 he released an orchestral album in tribute to Dr Dre, who congratulated his arrangement live on stage.

Sly5thAve takes us through a playlist he’s called 'Black beauty' – a selection of songs by his heroes that have found a way to carve out something beautiful in the presence of so much injustice, hatred, and oppression directed towards them. Featuring music from Gil Scott-Heron, John Coltrane, and Nina Simone.

Credit: ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ

25 minutes

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Music Played

  • John Coltrane

    Alabama

  • Aretha Franklin

    Young, Gifted and Black

  • Gil Scott‐Heron

    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Is Where The Hatred Is

  • Nina Simone

    Baltimore

  • Sly5thAve

    What It Is

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    Where music stars discuss how they make their music