While we cover many aspects of Black music here at SoulBounce, our chief focus has always been Grown Folks' Music. In explaining the site to someone, it occurred to me that I wasn't precisely sure what "Grown Folks' Music" meant, while also realizing that such a classification could read as elitist or degrading towards other music. So I posed the question to my familiars: "How do you define 'Grown Folks' Music'?" Is it simply our reliable soulful oldies? Songs performed and enjoyed by people of a certain age? Or is there something more to it? Check out some choice responses after the bounce and weigh in with your own thoughts.

DJ Stylus (vibeconductor.com)

Grown folks music makes it clear that it's rooted in some sort of tradition. It's music that satisfies on multiple levels. The enjoyment comes from the need to engage with it rather than having a passive experience. It's the  difference between fast food and a nutritionally-balanced, well-seasoned home cooked meal.

Fave (fridayfavecast.com)

I think "grown folks" music encompasses the overall experiences and lifestyle of a grown person: lessons learned from love, social responsibility and class over shock value. Another element of grown folks music is timelessness... It transcends to the next generation as they approach grown folkedness (think about how our generation loves the music of our parents).

ill Mami (hopelesslysarcastic.blogspot.com)

It has to touch you in an emotional place you rarely reveal in public.
It makes you think of home or the time that you were really in love.
It literally gives you chills.

Rhythmic Soul (rhythmicwords.blogspot.com)

I define Grown Folks' Music as a type of music that can reach a person on more than one level... instead of just getting someone to the dancefloor, bedroom, or waffle house. It touches you deeper than that and often makes you reflect on memories, feelings and situations that typically only "grown folks" can have. I mean, can little Shareefa really think back to a time last semester when Tyrone didn't ask her to the school dance because of a Maze song? Really??