Ear Candy: The Carolina Chocolate Drops

November 28, 2012

One of the great things about working for MCPL is that I frequently have the opportunity to introduce customers to something new, usually based on common interests. At other times, I find something so wonderful that I feel I just have to share it with everyone, and I'm going to do so right now. Here, ladies and gentlemen, are the Carolina Chocolate Drops.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops are students of the now largely forgotten African-American string band music of the South, especially that of the Piedmont region of the Carolinas. Their genius is to use that as a springboard for making music that both reflects the tradition and incorporates the modern. Here they are performing a truly inspired cover of Blu Cantrell's "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)."

Their 2010 album, Genuine Negro Jig, won a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album and their latest album, Leaving Eden, is one of my favorite releases of 2012. I hope they come to Kansas City sometime soon, because they have a reputation for putting on incredible live shows. Maybe I'll see you there.

Jeff D.
Grandview Branch

Image Credit: "Carolina Chocolate Drops 9" by Flickr user DavidNoah1 via Flickr's Creative Commons.