“Intimate” history of Black British music explored in new book, Escaping Babylon

A new book is exploring how Black British music shaped genres, sounds and sub-cultures across the UK forever, titled Escaping Babylon: An Intimate History of Black British Music.

The 320-page book, penned by London-based journalist, DJ, filmmaker and author Jesse Bernard, is set to be released in May 2026 by Profile Books.

Escaping Babylon traces back to 1989, documenting the golden era of jungle and hip hop as those genres became popularised through the ‘90s, all the way to developments in modern-day sounds.

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It aims to paint a portrait of the “shapeshifting, collaborative, endlessly inventive and robustly empowering,” movement of Black British music through the decades, which author Jesse Bernard says took almost a decade to document through researching, interviewing, travelling and writing.

“I couldn’t be more proud to share the cover of my debut book Escaping Babylon: An Intimate History of Black British Music,” he shared on Instagram earlier this month. “Not just what feels like my life’s work but it also tells the stories of so many in Black Britain.”

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“Black British music has shaped my understanding of the world,” he says. “Through Escaping Babylon, I celebrate the stories of unsung people from local communities as well as the global stars whose names we adore.”

The book also documents major moments in British culture, from the London uprisings in 2011 to the birth of trap and grime, and the rise of major stars like Stormzy.

“I’m equally fascinated by how music moves through borders, transcending space and time, particularly when the movement of Black people has been shaped by slavery and the impact of colonialism,” Bernard writes.

Find out more about Escaping Babylon: An Intimate History of Black British Music here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter