Roots of modern pop music

In The Begining

To identify the original roots of modern popular music today we will have to go back to the 'Jamestown' plantations. In the 1600's the first African slaves were brought to 'Jamestown' and through this brutal deportation known as the ''Middle Passage'' West African society was ripped apart by English and Dutch slave traders. These first initial plantations were also the birthplace of modern popular music.

The African slaves lived and worked on the plantations of tobacco, rice, indigo, and were forced to labour for absolutely no income, though they were severly discouraged to continue practice of major aspects of their traditional west African culture they prevailed in any way possible. Whilst most forms of musical instruments were confiscated by the slave masters the slaves themselves made use of everyday materials and equipment to create sounds usually drum based since this was the dominating characteristic in West African music. For example black prisoners were ...