Carl Cox Drops James Brown Tribute Remix
Legendary DJ Carl Cox just released "I'm Black And I'm Proud – Say It Loud," a remix honoring James Brown's influence on dance music. The track blends Brown's unmistakable funk with Cox's signature dancefloor energy as a personal tribute to the "Godfather of Soul." Expect to hear it on dance floors and festival stages throughout the spring.
The remix was released on February 6, 2026, via Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) to mark U.S. Black History Month. Carl Cox has stated that his entire musical journey began with James Brown, whose music he says has been "in my soul forever." He described the opportunity to officially remix the track, using the original sessions, as a great honor. James Brown's original "Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud" was released in August 1968, four months after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Co-written with his bandleader Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis, the track became an unofficial anthem for the Black Power movement and held the number-one spot on the R&B singles chart for six weeks. The song was a bold political statement at the height of the civil rights movement, encouraging Black people to take pride in their identity. The track was so influential that it prompted many to identify as "Black" instead of "Negro." Brown himself noted that the song cost him a significant portion of his crossover audience, though he did not regret it. The new release is a multi-generational project. In addition to Cox's main remix, the package includes a rework by Jason Brown, James Brown's grandson. To provide historical context, the release also contains the original 1968 version and a live recording from Augusta, Georgia, in 1969. Cox's approach was to build around the original's integrity rather than completely reinventing it. He aimed to preserve the power of Brown's vocal delivery while infusing it with contemporary electronic energy for modern dance floors, connecting soul and funk with techno and house. For Cox, the project is not about nostalgia but about "keeping the fire alive." He stated, "James Brown laid the foundation, the rhythm, the message, the pride. His legacy still moves dancefloors and minds worldwide. This is respect to the Godfather, to Black History, and to the power of music that unites us all."
