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Question: Where can you find the black rock, Afro-punk and black alternative community?

Answer: Everywhere

Here goes:

BLACK ROCK SOCIAL NETWORKS

Afropunk. This is a well-known destination thanks to James Spooner’s film and the festival that was inspired by it.
URB Alt. This social network just launched a few weeks ago, but is an outgrowth of the festival of the same name. It’s been in NY for the last three years, and is expanding to LA in October.

MYSPACE DESTINATIONS

Afropick. A vibrant community in Philly that also does offline events.
Unofficially Afropunk. Based out of Alabama, this seems to be an active online community based on comments to the blog posts.

WEB SITES

  • The Black Rock Coalition. Heading into its 25th year in 2010, the BRC is a mainstay. Period. They’re on MySpace, as well as a recently launched Web 2.0 site called SlaveToTheIsm. BRC also does a weekly newsletter that advances shows nationally and internationally, which you can sign up for by sending the BRC an email. Also, start checking out the artists who are their friends and I’m sure you’ll find some you like.
  • Soul Patrol. Bob Davis has been supporting the full spectrum of Black music for more than a minute.
  • Primordial Punk. Reclaiming culture, pure and simple.
  • Ghetto Metal. Where the hip hop community rocks out, thanks to the support of Bazaar Royale, M-1 of Dead Prez, and rapper DMX.

BLOGS/MUSIC SITES

  • AllAboutGeorge. For a while George maintained the blog blipster.info, but has since folded everything into his personal blog.
  • Blackadelic Pop. Michael Gonzales shares his all-abiding love for a broad range of Black music here.  Additionally, you can catch his work on Soulsummer.com and in WaxPoetics.
  • The Bottom of Heaven. Check out Claudia and Frieda’s blog, which asks “questions about the innovative, the unexpected, and the neglected aspects of black American life and culture.” This is where I learned about the meaning of post-modern blackness.
  • The Couch Sessions.My man Stone focus on the DC music scene and more on underground hip hop and R&B, but also embraces rock and alternative music. He’s a good brotha with great ears who knows and loves a lot of music, and he’s not afraid to share it with his readers.
  • Electric Purgatory: The Fate of the Black Rocker. Director Raymond Gayle’s site for his film that examines the struggles of black rock musicians. Definitely a must-see.
  • Femi Martin/This Didn’t Happen. Femi is a writer who’s lived all over. Her blog’s on hiatus while she works on her novel, but you can check out her work here until the magnum opus arrives
  • Greg Tate. As of this writing (7/25/10), we are all still trying to get Greg “Ironman” Tate, aka The Dean to get a blog, start a twitter account, i.e., really use social media. Until then, you should follow him on Facebook, so you can get his almost daily updates and links.
  • Grown Folks Music.  This ATL-based site has its finger on the pulse of classic soul, RnB, Funk, Hip Hop, Indie Soul and everything in between
  • ihearditon. Ant Demby and friends bring you a daily dose of new music
  • Kaos Blac. If I were in my 20s, I’d probably be checking out a lot more music.  Lucky for me, I can just check out Kaos Blac, who seems to always know what’s up when it comes to new artists on the scene.  A few years ago, I interviewed him.
  • Miles Marshall Lewis. A Brooklyn brotha who now lives with his family in Paris, Miles is a consummate music journalist.  Keep up with him here.
  • Mudd Up! This is the blog of Jace Clayton aka dj /rupture, an internationally known DJ, artist, music lover and critical thinker. Lots of good global music (and music tips) here.
  • Not For Nothin’. The site of longtime music journalist Amy Linden logs her plans for worldwide media domination. Lots of good podcast audio here.
  • Shotgun Seamstress. Looking for a ‘zine on black subcultures with a focus on our alternative experience? Then look no further than this publication out of Nawlins.  Good stuff.
  • S.O.U.L. Magazine. The urban-alternative experience is publisher Mizan Ujamii’s focus on this content-rich site. Check it.
  • Steely Dames. A virtual scratch pad/research space for grad student Mashadi Matabane as she works on her dissertation about black women guitarists in the 20th & 21st centuries.
  • TheHotness.com. Nicole Moore celebrates cutting-edge, groundbreaking, artistically fresh multi-culti dames who revel in being rebels and use passion and individuality as their weapons of mass construction. Bonus: Me and my Aries sista share the same birthday.
  • They Say I’m Different. Filmmaker Danni Conner’s blog that charts the development of her doc on black women rockers.
  • ThisIsRealMusic.com. Talib Nelson and Terrance Wilmore’s site aims to give music lovers of all genres a place where they can learn about, support and enjoy the work of true artists, not studio-manufactured puppets. By the looks of things, they’re making it happen!
  • True Genius Requires Insanity. Repping the DMV hard, Marcus Dowling goes hard for good music of all stripes.  Check out a post he did for this blog here.
  • Undercover Black Man. This is the blog of the late David Mills, acclaimed TV writer for such hits as New York Undercover, The Wire and Treme, who died suddenly in March. Also a huge music fan, especially of P-Funk. And at a critical time, he provided some generous support to me and this blog. Thank you, again, David.
  • Wondaland Arts Society blog.  Covering all the goings-on the the republic that spawned Janelle Monae.
  • Writing is Fighting. Laina Dawes covers rock and metal Toronto.

INTERNET RADIO

Free World Network Radio.  Bruce Mack, former president of the Black Rock Coalition, hosts this twice-weekly show that features interviews, social commentary, updates on local music scenes such as Black Rock Coalition, Afro-Punk, Jazz, and Hip-Hop. The music varies from the deepest funk to the most solemn praise music from wherever and whatever he picks up during his journey.

Fusebox Radio. Mary Nichols aka DJ Fusion continues on her quest to bring excellence and eclectic sounds back to black radio. And thanks to the Internet, she’s making it happen.

Monkeygrip. Dwayne Cole spins his weekly mix of black rock and black alt sounds.

WRFB-Radio Free Brooklyn.  Community Internet radio out of Brooklyn Movie Labs. For the time being I’m one of four hosts who broadcasts every Tuesday night from 7-11pm EST. More info including upcoming shows and playlists from my sets here.

MAGAZINES

These publications focus on emerging/underground/left of center/hipster artists, and you can occasionally find articles on brothas and sistas who are defying convention.

Chances are, if you’re open, you’ll find a lot of artists that you’ll want to follow. Send ‘em friend requests on Facebook or MySpace. Better yet—particularly for the artists who aren’t based in your area—you can set up a free account on Tourfilter. That way, you’ll get email alerts when you they hit clubs in your area.

Now, I’m sure I’ve left out some great resources. First, my apologies. Second, chime in below in the comments section and let us know what they are.

Beyond that, it’s up to you to be adventurous. The community is here and there are a lot of places for anyone to join in.