Washington, DC may be known as the epicenter of political activity in America, and indeed, the world, but beyond the monuments, statues and grand historic buildings for which the city is most famous lies a singular cultural scene brimming with creativity and dynamism.
Go-go music is perhaps one of the best examples of Washington, DC’s unique flavor. Originating in the 1970s, Go-go music emerged as a unique fusion of funk, soul, R&B, and elements of Latin and African rhythms. Characterized by its emphasis on live performance, relentless percussion, punctuated by pulsating conga drums, syncopated cowbells, and driving rhythms from the drum kit, and extended instrumental breaks that keep the audience engaged and dancing, go-go is also equally defined by its call-and-response vocal interaction between the band and the audience. As the lead vocalist or frontman engages the crowd with chants, encouraging them to respond, they create an electric feedback loop of energy that transforms every performance into a communal experience.
Over time, these call-and-response interactions have evolved into a platform for addressing social and political issues, making go-go music not only a sonic experience but also a means of expression and activism – particularly for the African American community who see the music not only as a genre but a living, breathing symbol of unity, resilience, and self-expression that fosters an environment where everyone feels connected, heard, and valued.
In recent years, go-go music has transcended the city’s boundaries as artists from various genres have incorporated go-go elements into their music and collaborated with go-go bands, which has brought new life to the genre and introduced it to a wider audience. As evidence of go-go’s musical ascendancy and resurgence, the Rooftop Garden at Washington, DC’s Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library played host to a month-long Go-Go on the Rooftop concert series this past summer in celebration of Black Music Month.
The same spirit that fuels the sound of DC, also inspires the sights of DC as seen through the lens of the city’s vibrant and dynamic street art scene which is rife with murals that that capture the essence of city’s diverse identity and culture.
Perhaps the most famous (and Instagrammable) mural in Washington, DC appropriately graces one of the city’s most famous and beloved eateries, Ben’s Chili Bowl. Renowned for its signature half-smoke sausage, the popular restaurant has been patronized over the years by a wide range of celebrity guests, including everyone from Ella Fitzgerald, Larry King and former president George W. Bush to Bono, Bruno Mars, and Mary J Blige. Fittingly, the landmark was made even more famous in 2012 when Nigerian-born local artist, Aniekan Udofia, bedeckedthe exterior of the building with a spectacular mural that celebrates a wide variety of famous Black Americans – many with ties to Washington, DC – to honor the city’s rich history of Black culture, including everyone from comedians and musicians like Dave Chappelle, Chuck Brown (the godfather of go-go music), and Prince to abolitionists, athletes and politicians including Harriet Tubman, Muhammed Ali and Barack and Michelle Obama.
Another famous mural in the city also adorns another local fave eatery, the hip and pet-friendly brewing pub and café, Dacha Beer Garden in Shaw. Created by Byron Peck, the 50-foot mural, features a mammoth image of film legend Elizabeth Taylor, whose trailblazing efforts helped to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, a scourge that has inordinately affected the DC Metropolitan area.
Meanwhile, more recent additions to the street art scene include Voices of Change: Representation, Progress, and Hope, a commemorative public mural featuring Black leaders including DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., painted by local artists Shawn Perkins, Levi Robinson, and Dez Zambrano as part of the 2021 MLK Day of Service Project. There’s also a new go-go mural by DC native, Kaliq Crosby, at Florida Avenue and Seventh Street NW called GO-GO CITY which showcases a young person beating out a rhythm on an overturned plastic jug, which, according to the artist, is meant to tell “the story of people with nothing turning it into something.”
These murals, like go-go music, represent the diversity, creativity, and history of Washington, DC, while simultaneously providing an avenue for local artists to express their perspectives and local communities to share their stories. As residents and tourists explore the signature sights and sounds of Washington, DC, they not only pay homage to the artistic talent that thrives within the city but also become enlightened about a larger narrative beyond politics and the corridors of power that simmers beneath and continues to shape and define our nation’s capital.