Go-go has seen a swell of public appreciation in recent years. First, at the 2019 BET Awards, D.C. natives Regina Hall and Taraji P. Henson joined Sugar Bear of Experience Unlimited (E.U.) and Rare Essence’s James “Funk” Thomas for a crankin’ go-go tribute. The epic performance solidified the #DontMuteDC movement’s power and highlighted native Washingtonians’ resistance against gentrification and the erasure of Black culture.

Next, in February 2020, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed into law a D.C. Council bill that named go-go the official music of the District and required the mayor’s office to create programs to “support, preserve, and archive” go-go music and history. Then, at this year’s Oscars ceremony, in a moment nobody could have predicted, Hollywood legend Glenn Close gave a shout out to E.U.’s 1988 hit “Da Butt,” the BackYardBand, and “the whole DMV.”

What all of these headline-making moments hinted at but didn’t say explicitly is that go-go music is D.C. culture — as much a part of D.C.’s cultural ecosystem as mumbo sauce, half smokes, politics, and sports. And while the shoutouts and tributes are attention-grabbing, they don’t capture the stories behind the music: the teens who snuck out past their grandmother’s watchful eye to meet friends at the go-go; the crankin’ that carried Chocolate City through the good and the bad; the percussion-heavy remixes of mainstream hits that gave the originals a run for their money. (Have you ever heard BackYardBand’s cover of “Hello” by Adele?)

Go-go is made up of congos, cowbells, and call-and-response sessions, a near-perfect blend of funk, gospel, and hip-hop. It’s made up of myths and legendary characters. It’s contagious. And, as these D.C. residents will tell you, it’s in the blood.

Kayla Moore

Go-go has been embedded in my life all of my life. As a child my brother and I had a band called “Shake it Don’t Break it.” I used to love the cowbell, even now my family is still very much indebted. My cousins play in New Impressionz. My brother Remy DJ’s for all of the go-gos, so when I was younger I’d sneak in and out of the Le Pearl or the UFE go-gos. He was supposed to be babysitting me but I was right at the go-go with them. The music is in our blood. It’s something about that pocket beat, when that beat drops, you can’t help but to bounce, shake a leg, or do something. I feel like go-go has shown how we have grown intergenerational as well. It shows that as a Black community we can keep a tradition alive, cause that’s a big thing here. People try to say that as Black Americans we don’t have much traditions or our traditions are stripped.

I feel like go-go gives the offset to that, from Chuck Brown to now. Bands like Rare Essence, New Impressionz, ABM— it shows how we know how to keep a tradition alive, and we still know how to fight for what we want. Shout out to Don’t Mute D.C. and Long Live GoGo, because even still the music has found a way to fight for our community and bring us together. I say all the time, “Let Black girls twerk in peace.” That is such a big thing, I love seeing Black women do their thing when that beat drops and when people beat their feet. It’s something about it, it does something to the spirit. At 6 o’clock in the morning it wakes me up, on my way to work I’m crankin’, ok. Every song that has been remixed by go-go, sorry Adele, “Hello” won’t ever be the same. Growing up my brother and I were very sheltered, my grandmother wasn’t having it. We started a gospel go-go band just to crank. Our church let us perform and it was lit. I remember the gospel go-gos at First Baptist Church of Glenarden, even then they provided a go-go for all ages.

My most memorable go-go memory is at Echo Stage during battle of the bands. It was New Impressionz vs. TOB. That whole night cranked, it was two bands on one stage going song for song. My favorite song is “Umm Bop Bop” by Trouble Funk, that was my nickname at parkland skating ring. My top band is…I have to go with the home team, New Impressionz. My favorite band to clap to is TCB.

Catherine Ball

Go-go is the epitome of D.C. It’s independence, originality, its own genre of music we created and put on the map. Having people embrace it in a way where we couldn’t have imagined it means a lot to me. It’s really awesome. If I need a pump or to wake up I know for a fact go-go is going to do it for me. My favorite go-go band is Backyard Band, it’s like the Beyonce of go-go bands. My second would be New Impressionz, they rock and are in the pocket. My top go-go song is “Don’t Say You Will” by New Impressionz.

My most memorable go-go moment was when Moechella blocked off 14th and U Streets – Backyard Band, TCB, everybody was there. It was like the million man march of go-gos. It was dope.

I need to talk to the mayor, because when Backyard say they’re coming back, wherever street they play on needs to be shut down. We need some traffic control (laughs). We gotta introduce [Bowser] to the culture, give her some mumbo sauce, I’m gonna help her understand. Go-go music is everything, I wish all the people in the world can experience it.

Kwame Edwards, Ward 8

Go-go is a home culture. I didn’t know that it meant culture to me until I went away to college. There are go-go songs that if someone tells me that it’s another song by another artist, I be like “nah, they ripped that off from Backyard or TCB.” It doesn’t process to me that this could be something else other than ours. That extends to the way I wear my clothes, how concerts should go for me, and how things should feel. Now people have utilized the music to rally around social issues and advance Black people – not only the city, but look at the power of something like a Moechella that has influence around the country. D.C. has never been one of those places where we’re like “look at me, we just do what we’re going to do.”

We exist in the places we’re going to exist in. We do it unapologetically, and to me that’s how go-go is. The first time I understood what go-go was when I was 8 years old, a guy near my house by the metro station would play the buckets. I asked him one day, “how can I do what you do?” He said, “take these drum sticks and find the pocket.” I said, “what does that even mean?” He puts his hand on my chest and said: “You have to feel the go-go.”

My favorite go-go memory was when I was a freshman at Bowie State, UCB came to perform in our gym, Aladdin Da Prince was DJing, no one really knew what was going to happen. Wale came out and that was a big deal, he bought out UCB and it all worked in that space in that time. My top go-go bands is CCB and Backyard Band. Best songs are “Unibomber” and “Roll Call.” When I hear that song something goes through my whole spirit. My message to the go-go bands is to keep going.

Patty O., Ward 8

My favorite go-go band is The Chuck Brown Band. Seeing Chuck’s band was the first go-go I ever went to. It was eight dollars at the Masonic Temple. It was a wonderful experience. When Chuck died go-go didn’t because we’ve been keeping it alive. My best go-go memory is when Chuck Brown kissed me on my cheek, and my top song is “Day-O.” Go-go means togetherness for us. It’s what we grew up on, we partied to it, we enjoy it. It’s something about go-go in D.C. that makes us groovy.

Artecka Brown, Ward 8

Coming to D.C. and hearing the thumping sound, shaking my lil hips and twerking my ass (laughs), I just had fun. The experience would be ladies on the dance floor, wetting their hair and shaking, whether it was at parties outside or at the house. I remember every weekend around Trinidad, in Northeast D.C., there would parties all the time. It’s hard for me to choose a favorite band, but if I really had to, I’d say Backyard Band; they’re lit.

My favorite go-go memory is at my mother’s house. Mama P. had many parties. At her house she had tall speakers being played by the window and outdoors. It became a house party, she’d play go-go songs, when people walked pass they’d dance, shake their booties and yell “turn that shit up, ayee” (laughs). They would be twerking, even Mama P. would get out of her wheelchair and twerk. When I go to the Aqua Lounge it be lit. Go-go music is special to us because when the community comes together it brings a lot of laughter. I remember when dancers would challenge one another with the “Beat Your Feet” dances amongst the men. When the ladies began to do it I tried but wasn’t the best at it. My top go-go song is “I Got Your Man” by Backyard Band.

Robert Brown, Ward 8

Go-go music is good. The rhythm and tempo. I like to dance to the music. When my brother Christopher Brown was alive I picked up moves from him. He was a good dancer. I watch dancing videos as well. I’m a drummer. I know how to make go-go beats. I don’t have a favorite go-go song, I just dance to the good ones. Go-go is a good genre to listen to.

Tonya Gray, Ward 8

My favorite go-go band is Sugar Bear and EU and Rare Essence. My favorite song is “Da Butt” by EU and Sugar Bear. I have so many memories. I remember places like the Black Hole, The Classics, Trade Wings, Aqua were the go-to places to see the bands play live. I was in Sugar Bear and EU’s “The Butt” music video. It was in the 1980’s,  I’m on the left side in the all white, with the bamboo earrings. We used to have so much fun back in the day. I grew up into music, while in school I grew up playing the flute and clarinet, and I danced. During my time in school I learned how to read and write music; because of my background I have a deep appreciation for go-go music. I feel they need teach more music in the schools these days. It’s fundamental and a part of our African culture.