Through Carlo ‘BIG CED’ Thornton
February 3, 2026
“The Art of Hip-Hop Beat Making” features the Detroit mainstay
To celebrate and recognize Black History Month, Google is spotlighting Black creators, developers and businesses. To kick things off, the company focuses on hip-hop with a short video featuring Detroit’s own Illa J.
The video, titled “The Art of Hip-Hop Beat Making,” features the sounds of Illa J, the younger brother of hip-hop and producer legend J Dilla (Slum Village), and begins with a caricature of the Detroit native capturing the beginning of a song. With headphones hanging around his neck, he composes a song using what appears to be a drum machine and/or sampler, using the equipment to craft the perfect sounds for his project.
While searching for the necessary instruments for the song, he checks the vinyl record for the necessary sounds, then programs the drums and plays some piano sounds. Effectively showing the viewer “The Art of Hip-Hop Beat Making,” especially for those who have never seen the process.
Google announces plans to… recognize black creatives: “We celebrate Black History Month by celebrating creators, developers, and companies at the heart of the Black community, and we are launching new features and content for our products.”
The company also stated that in addition to celebrating with Google Doodles, it will also offer additional recognition to Black developers and creators on Google Play, where you can discover a hub of curated collections of apps, games, and books, including special events for Black History Month. You can also explore some collections from Black creatives that celebrate Black genius and power. Some of these include historical icons and Afrofuturist sci-fi, as well as free live TV channels. People can also visit YouTube to celebrate with creators and artists through their social channels.
These Google channel recognitions build on the company’s ongoing work, such as the artworks in the Chrome Black Artists Seriesand coincides with the relaunch of the annual Black History Month wallpaper on Google Meet, making it easier to find Black-owned businesses in Search and Maps. Stories on Black history and culture are available on Google Arts & Culture.
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