Trevor Nelson leads new project on the impact of Black British Music

Trevor Nelson MBE has just launched a new online multimedia exhibition, celebrating the Black British contribution to music.

'Union Black: Sounds of a Nation', a Google Arts & Culture project, launched this month with the help of Nelson as project ambassador.

The Radio 1Xtra presenter acclaims it as an "ode to what has made British music what it is today", with over 200 multimedia stories curated by 25 cultural partners on offer to users through the dedicated online hub. The online exhibition features a collection of videos, photographs, documentaries and podcasts with notable contributions from Notting Hill Carnival, TRENCH and the Horniman Museum amongst others.

The wide-ranging project is an immersive celebration and documentation of Black British culture which both zooms in on specific artists and moments that helped shape the cultural landscapes as well as recognising the long lasting effect of cultures and movements that blossomed from the melting point of Black Britain.

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Highlights of the project include a personal tribute to Jamal Edwards from TRENCH executive editor Laura 'Hyperfrank' Brosnan, a panel discussion about Black women in R&B led by Wunmi Bello and an Andrew Ibi article exploring the links between Black British music, style and fashion.

Union Black seeks not only to commemorate heroes of the past and present, with luminaries such as Goldie, Norsmki, Patti Flynn and Stormzy all receiving features, but to look ahead to the future of Black British music. In the 'Today and Tomorrow' section, the project spotlights multidisciplinary artists who are shattering perceptions of Black British music like Gaika, future leaders of Black Britain culture, namely Elijah and Jamz Supernova, and the continuing fight for better opportunities within the industry.

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'Union Black: Sounds of a Nation' is available to view now through its dedicated online hub with all of YouTube's original Union Black content being hosted by the MOBO awards.

Tibor Heskett is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow him on Twitter.