Why Go-Go Needs New Music to Break Beyond D.C.

Sept 1st, 2025

by Ernest A. Price

Creating original music is about more than chasing radio play. It’s about building a legacy that lasts. When a song is written from scratch, it can be streamed worldwide, synced into films and commercials, and placed in cultural spaces that covers or remixes cannot enter. Original records also preserve stories unique to D.C., ensuring Go-Go is remembered not just as a performance style but as a genre with its own library. Most importantly, originality gives artists and producers ownership — the ability to control their publishing and earn royalties long after the performance ends. Without original music, the energy of Go-Go risks being confined to the moment instead of building generational impact.

Some artists have already shown what’s possible when Go-Go is paired with originality. Beyonce, Wale, Jill Scott, Toni Braxton, Junkyard, Trouble Funk, EU, CCB, TCB, Mambo Sauce, Black Alley, Tone P & Tha Carry Out, Breezy Supreme and more have all pushed boundaries with originality or fused original GOGO records and content.  Michelle Blackwell pushed the boundaries by fusing Go-Go with jazz, carving out her own lane and demonstrating how genre blending can open doors while staying true to D.C.’s heartbeat.

Backyard Band, long respected for their marathon live sets, sustained their influence by recording original projects that gave fans something tangible to hold onto beyond the show. Scooby of Sirius Company band original gogo record was picked up and selected by Cross on Amazon Prime for Season 2.  Backyard and Tone P original gogo tracks were featured on Cross season 1 last year. Black Alley with their“Hood Rock” blend has fused Go-Go with rock elements captivating wider audiences with consistent original content. Tone P himself is carrying the torch forward with his band, Tone P & Tha Carry Out, where he is pioneering Go-Go Punk. 

The push for originality isn’t just about bands. Producers have played an equally crucial role in shaping Go-Go’s mainstream potential. Rich Harrison, known for Beyoncé’s Crazy in Love, built his signature sound on Go-Go rhythms in the R&B sector of the music industry showing how the city’s pulse could become pop gold. He's also produced Go-Go influenced records with J Lo, Toni Braxton, Usher, and more. Tone P, known for his Go-Go fused music production with HipHop artists with like Wale, Meek Mill, Rick Ross, Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz, Trey Songz, Teyana Taylor and more. These producer's track records of success has proven that producers and songwriters with DC's sound can be cultural architects as they have bridged the gap between DC authenticity and the music industry with records that honor D.C. while speaking a universal language. Best Kept Secret has earned recognition as a powerhouse producer  duo especially their work in the earlier days with Wale. Honorable mentions to Drew Keys, Carter Beat, Crank Lucas, Chop on the Beat, and Curt Da Great.

For Go-Go to thrive nationally, the community must invest in stronger songwriting, high-quality studio production, and the business infrastructure that protects artists’ intellectual property. It requires a mindset shift: from seeing Go-Go as something that lives only in the club to understanding it as a genre that can compete on global stages. This doesn’t mean abandoning the pocket. It means evolving it, expanding it, and daring to pair it with new influences that can travel farther than a neighborhood dance floor.

Stay tuned for next weeks article, "A Genre Tab Matters for Discovery".