Music can carry the stories of history like a message in a bottle.Lord Kitchener, Neneh Cherry, Smiley Culture, Stormzy . . . Groundbreaking musicians whose songs have changed the world. But how? This exhilarating playlist tracks some of the key shifts in modern British history, and explores the emotional impact of 28 songs and the artists who performed them.This book redefines British history, the Empire and postcolonialism, and will invite you to think again about the narratives and key moments in history that you have been taught up to now.Thrilling, urgent, entertaining and thought-provoking, this beautifully illustrated companion to modern black music is a revelation and a delight.'Engaging and accomplished . . . perfectly judged for young readers.' Guardian

Jeffrey Boakye is an author, broadcaster, educator and journalist with a particular interest in issues surrounding race, masculinity, education and popular culture. Originally from Brixton in London, Jeffrey has taught secondary English for fifteen years. He is senior teaching fellow at the University of Manchester and has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Leicester. Jeffrey's books include: Hold Tight: Black Masculinity, Millennials and the Meaning of Grime; Black, Listed: Black British Culture Explored; What is Masculinity? Why Does it Matter? And Other Big Questions;Musical Truth: A Musical Journey Through Modern Black Britain; and I Heard What You Said. He is also the co-presenter of BBC Radio 4's double award-winning Add to Playlist. Truth is a Quiz Writers' Choice Awards winner. Jeffrey now lives in Yorkshire with his wife and two sons.Ngadi Smart is an award-winning Sierra Leonean visual artist based between London (UK) and Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire), who specialises in illustration and photography. She has illustrated for The Guardian and Eastpak and won the 2020 FAB Prize for illustration.