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- Documentaries blend information and entertainment, explaining how artists reached pivotal moments and why their music still resonates.
- Some films focus on single artists, others examine genres, offering intimate portraits or broad cultural context.
- Archival footage uncovers unseen performances and festivals, as in Summer of Soul and Wattstax.
- Films explore artists' activism and personal struggles, highlighted in What Happened, Miss Simone? and Tupac: Resurrection.
- Behind-the-scenes stories reveal industry influence and innovation in Quincy, The Black Godfather, Hitsville, and Homecoming.
Black Music Month traces its origins back to 1979, when music industry figures including Kenny Gamble, Dyana Williams, and Ed Wright successfully pushed for a national celebration recognizing the contributions of Black artists to American music. President Jimmy Carter welcomed supporters to the White House that same year, helping establish what would later become an annual observance. More than four decades later, the month remains an opportunity to revisit not only the songs themselves, but also the stories behind them.
For me, at least, documentaries are perfect when it comes to blending information and entertainment. A great music documentary helps explain how an artist arrived at a particular moment, what was happening around them, and why their work continues to resonate years later. Some focus on a single performer, while others examine entire genres.
Films like What Happened, Miss Simone? offer an intimate look at an artist whose music and activism became inseparable, while Marley explores the global reach of Bob Marley’s catalog and the circumstances that transformed him into an international symbol. Nas: Time Is Illmatic documents the creation of one of hip-hop’s most celebrated albums, revealing how personal experiences in Queensbridge informed every lyric. Meanwhile, Summer of Soul uncovers a historic Harlem music festival that remained largely unseen for decades despite featuring some of the era’s most important performers.
Whether you are revisiting a favorite film or discovering one for the first time, these documentaries offer a chance to spend Black Music Month with the artists, innovators, and institutions that helped define the soundtrack of our lives.
Below, check out 13 documentaries worth watching throughout June.
‘Wattstax’ (1973)
Often called the “Black Woodstock,” this documentary captures the historic 1972 concert at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum while also documenting life, pride, and resilience in Watts seven years after the uprising.
‘Tupac: Resurrection’ (2003)
Built largely around Tupac Shakur’s own words, the film traces his rise from aspiring artist to one of the most influential and debated figures in hip-hop history.
‘Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest’ (2011)
Directed by Michael Rapaport, this documentary examines the legacy of A Tribe Called Quest while also exploring the personal tensions that existed behind one of rap’s most beloved groups.
‘Marley’ (2012)
Featuring extensive archival footage and interviews with family members, this comprehensive portrait follows Bob Marley’s journey from Jamaica to international superstardom.
‘Nas: Time Is Illmatic’ (2014)
Released in celebration of Illmatic’s 20th anniversary, the film explores how Nas transformed his Queensbridge experiences into one of the most acclaimed rap albums ever recorded.
‘What Happened, Miss Simone?’ (2015)
Through rare footage, personal recordings, and interviews, this documentary offers an unflinching look at Nina Simone’s artistry, activism, and personal struggles.
‘Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé’ (2018)
Beyoncé pulls back the curtain on her groundbreaking 2018 Coachella performance, revealing the preparation, creative decisions, and personal sacrifices behind the production.
‘Quincy’ (2018)
Co-directed by Quincy Jones’ daughter Rashida Jones, the film chronicles the legendary producer’s remarkable career and his influence on multiple generations of music.
‘ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke’ (2019)
Part biography and part investigation, this documentary revisits the life of Sam Cooke while examining the unanswered questions surrounding his death.
‘The Black Godfather’ (2019)
Clarence Avant’s story unfolds through interviews with presidents, entertainers, and business leaders who explain how he quietly helped shape modern Black culture and industry.
Hitsville: The Making of Motown (2019)
Artists, executives, and archival footage come together to tell the story of Motown’s rise from a Detroit startup to one of music’s most successful labels.
Summer of Soul (2021)
Questlove’s Oscar-winning documentary resurrects footage from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, showcasing unforgettable performances that remained unseen for decades.
Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop (2023)
This multi-part series highlights the women who helped build hip-hop, tracing their contributions from the genre’s earliest days to its current global dominance.
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