How Black Music Took Over the World

By: Melvin Gibbs

Write A Review

Hardcover | 4 June 2026

At a Glance

Format
Hardcover

Dimensions(cm)
16.5 x 24.2 x 3.0

Hardcover

$51.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $12.94 with

Ships in 15 to 25 business days

Why do Bob Marley, John Coltrane, Aretha Franklin, and Nina Simone move us the way they do? What drives the soulful notes of the Delta blues? What makes Beyonc©âs Cowboy Carter inescapably great?

How Black Music Took Over the World takes readers inside the vibrant world that underlies Black musical creation, demonstrating the impact that the musical inheritance of Africa has had on music today. Beginning with two rhythmic building blocks he calls the cell and the frame, musician, composer and cultural theorist Melvin Gibbs reveals Black music as an organised system of knowledge. Blending cultural history and musical analysis, he explores how Black music has shaped nearly every music genre on the planet, from carnival music in Brazil to rap ciphers in New York and global pop. How Black Music Took Over the World explores rhythm, vibration and movement to challenge Western musical hierarchies and offer new tools for understanding our musical heritage.

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $89.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.