About OlSkoolMusic
An independent guide to classic soul, funk, R&B and early hip-hop, and to listening to it well.
What we cover
OlSkoolMusic helps people discover and understand Black American popular music from roughly the early 1960s to the start of the 1990s: soul, funk, R&B and early hip-hop, plus the occasional later record that leads back to them. Alongside the music we publish practical guides to turntables, speakers and record care, because this music was made to be heard on something better than a phone speaker.
We’re not the official site of any artist, group or label, including the R&B group Ol’ Skool. Artist and album names are used only to identify the music we write about.
How we choose music to feature
- We pick albums for how well they introduce an era, scene or artist, not for how new or how rare they are.
- Every pick comes with a reason and a next step, so each guide leads somewhere.
- We check release years, labels and credits against label information and established discographies before publishing, and correct mistakes when readers point them out.
- We don’t reproduce lyrics or copy track listings, and we don’t use album artwork or artist photos we don’t have rights to.
How we recommend gear
We’re clear about what our recommendations are based on:
- Research, not lab testing. Gear picks are based on manufacturer specifications, compatibility (above all, where the phono preamp sits) and suitability for small rooms and classic records. We have not bench-tested or measured these products, and we don’t claim to have. If we test something hands-on in future, the guide will say so explicitly.
- Availability checked. Before we link a product we confirm the listing matches the product we describe and that it’s available new. We recheck links periodically and remove ones that no longer qualify.
- Trade-offs included. Every pick lists who it suits, why it fits and its limitations.
- No paid placements. No brand has paid to appear on the site or reviewed our text before publication.
How the site makes money
Some links to gear go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate links are marked and appear only in the gear guides, never inside the music writing. We don’t show product prices or ratings, because they change constantly; the retailer’s page is the place to check them. Read the full affiliate disclosure.
About this domain’s history
From around 2013 to 2015, olskoolmusic.com hosted a French-language R&B blog run by different writers. The domain later passed through unrelated owners. The current site is a fresh start and isn’t connected to those earlier sites; where an old address had a clear equivalent here, we redirect it.
Get in touch
Spotted a mistake, have a record we should cover, or a question about a guide? Contact us.