Watch: This James Brown song was the soundtrack to the Long Hot Summer of 1967

During the Long Hot Summer of 1967, when American cities were literally on fire and riots spread from Tampa to Detroit, radio DJs and musicians were asked to soothe the unrest using calming music. James Brown didn’t heed that call. His music was in synch with the mood on the streets, and that summer he released the genre-busting hit “Cold Sweat.” Its polyrhythmic sound marked the dawn of a new era—both musically and politically.

This video is based on an article by Natalie Weiner.