We’re excited to announce that Alex Werth, a Ph.D. alum of our department, has a forthcoming book with UC Press titled On Loop: Black Sonic Politics in Oakland, scheduled for release on October 21, 2025.
Blending musical, archival, and ethnographic research with over a decade of experience as a DJ and dancer, On Loop explores how Black dance music and sonic practices have shaped—and been shaped by—ongoing struggles over race, space, and power in Oakland. A city central to the history of Black Power, Oakland is rarely considered through the lens of both sound and politics at once. Werth’s work reveals how Black sonic practices do more than accompany political movements—they help generate and sustain resistance, animating cycles of development, dispossession, and self-determination.
While rooted in rigorous scholarship, the book is written for a popular audience, offering readers an engaging journey through Oakland’s rich sonic history—from migrant blues and boogaloo crews to sideshows, slap bass, MC Hammer, the Hyphy Movement, and more. Check out the partial discography, featuring artists like Lowell Fulson, Larry Graham, and Kendrick Lamar.
Learn more or pre-order the book here! Congratulations, Alex!