Carhartt WIP Radio: Black Rave Culture

The first Carhartt WIP Radio show of 2026 is hosted by Black Rave Culture, a music collective from Washington, D.C. The group is made up of James Bangura, Nativesun, and Amal. They first came together in 2020 during the global pandemic and the rise of Black Lives Matter protests. Creating music helped them deal with difficult times and led to the start of Black Rave Culture, with a mission to educate people and celebrate the Black roots of electronic dance music.

For this episode, the trio created an exclusive mix that reflects their East Coast sound. The mix also includes influences from UK bass and sound system culture, as well as rhythms from Africa, Portugal, and Latin America. It brings together different sounds while staying true to their identity.

The show also includes an interview with the group. They talk about how the tough music scene in D.C. inspires them, how they use samples to tell stories, and why performing together feels playful and unpredictable, like musical chairs.