In honor of Black Music Month 2021, New York radio legend Funk Flex has created a special mix. Below, he shares his thoughts on Black music and how its rich legacy comes alive in his work. “Black music is the creative expression from our culture since the beginning of our arrival in the United States. Black music is, and has always been, the way that we express our emotions despite the odds that we have always faced and will continue to face. It's our way of describing the truths that we experience on a daily basis, which include love, rage, fun, hope, hustle, sadness. Hip-hop is a form of Black music which has become extremely powerful over the last 20 to 30 years, and I am proud to play a role in giving Black artists a platform to express their art on a global scale. Just think: Rap music started in NYC and now it's the number one genre in the world—that's the power of Black music. The first two songs of the mix really embody the impact and reach that hip-hop had in such a short period of time. Hip-hop was founded in the Bronx, and the first song of the mix, 'Criminal Minded' by KRS-One, is a record that was birthed in the Boogie Down Bronx. I transitioned that record into 'California Love' by 2Pac and Dr. Dre to show how the West Coast embraced hip-hip and how the genre had evolved in less than 10 years.”