On August 27th, the plaza at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building in Harlem became a theatre, classroom, dance floor, and cultural archive all at once. The free outdoor screening of God Said Give ’Em Drum Machines, a documentary produced by David Grandison Jr, co-founder of Making A Brand (and mentor), offered the Harlem community a chance to learn about a genre and musical movement that reshaped global culture: Techno.
Techno: A Branded Legacy
The film God Said Give ‘Em Drum Machines tells how Techno was not just a sound—it was a brand created by visionary African-American teens in Detroit. In 1981, Juan Atkins coined the term “techno” as a musical art form in the groundbreaking track Techno City, setting it apart from its sister art form, house music, which was born in Chicago. Later, with the help of Neil Ruston from Virgin Records, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, Eddie Fowlkes Black Baxter, and Atkins helped establish techno as a distinct genre, with the release of the seminal album “Techno! The New Dance Sound of Detroit” (1988). This album contained a track considered the most successful crossover pop music success, “Big Fun” by Kevin Saunderson’s group Inner City. The 1988 Inner City techno song “Big Fun” hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Dance Club Play chart and reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart. This album branded techno as a cultural export that would eventually dominate global electronic music… while too often leaving its origin story in the Afro American community untold.
Why Free Screenings Like This Matter
Techno’s story began with Detroit teens branding a new sound—and now, through film, education, and collaboration, we’re making sure that story reaches and educates the communities that need it most. — David Grandison Jr., Producer & Co-Founder, Making A Brand and The Music Origins Project
Events like this free Harlem screening reclaim techno’s identity and remind us that it was born from the creativity, experimentation, and resourcefulness of young Black innovators. Just as hip hop is celebrated as a source of pride in the inner city, techno deserves equal recognition. The sight of Harlem residents stopping to sit, stay, and watch the entire 92-minute film was a powerful validation of this mission—proof that when history is reclaimed, it sparks curiosity and pride.
Community Partnerships
David and the filmmakers were honored to collaborate with the Hip Hop Education Center and Maysles Documentary Center—organizations that share a mission of teaching through music, empowering underrepresented voices, and supporting grassroots creativity. These partnerships expand the reach of both the film and the curriculum, making cultural education available where it matters most.
Support the Movement
This event was made possible with the support of the New York Council on the Arts, the Governor’s Office, and the New York State Legislature. To keep the momentum going, we encourage everyone to support the organizations making this work possible:
If this movement resonates with you, please support the organizations making it happen:
- Maysles Documentary Center – enabling emerging filmmakers to use filmmaking to amplify and expand underrepresented artists and narratives.
- Hip Hop Education Center – empowering individuals and communities—especially underserved and marginalized youth—by driving social change and educational equity through research, curated curricula, collaborative programming, career and leadership development, and the preservation of Hip-Hop’s living history.
- ImageNation – keeping cultural history alive through film, music, and storytelling.
- God Said Give ‘Em Drum Machines – Support the film as it seeks distribution funds, and join the mailing list to find out when it will be available for preorder and via streaming providers.
Visit their websites and donate to support the causes that you feel are most important. Every donation helps fuel the work of telling stories that matter.
Education Through Storytelling
At Making A Brand, we believe in connecting cultural history to creative tools that can be used to help young entrepreneurs build their own brands. Documentary films don’t just tell stories—they open doors to deeper conversations and learning. That’s why it’s so important for films like God Said Give ’Em Drum Machines to be paired with educational companion projects. These resources transform a film from a one-time viewing experience into a lasting classroom tool. They give educators, nonprofits, and community groups practical ways to connect history, culture, and creativity to the lives of their students.
Our Digital Storytelling Course and the Detroit Techno 101 curriculum were designed with this purpose in mind. By teaching people how to use inexpensive tools—like their own cell phones—to capture and share stories, we’re ensuring that the lessons of the film extend beyond the screen. Companion projects like this empower communities to reclaim their narratives, preserve cultural history, and inspire the next generation of creators. This curriculum is available for free to educators and nonprofits, ensuring that storytelling remains accessible to all.
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