Jazz has always been an influential part of Kwame Brathwaite's life. Having co-founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) in 1956, he began his career as a jazz photographer. He photographed superstars such as Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley in the 1970s, along with jazz greats like John Coltrane and Miles Davis.

In 1962, Brathwaite co-founded Grandassa Models, leading to the "Black is Beautiful" movement. He is known as the “Keeper of Images” for capturing the lives of young black people in uptown New York with his camera, including the Grandassa Models Fashion Shows, organized and produced by the AJASS – some of the models are featured on the front cover of the record at the 1968 Garvey Day Parade in New York.

Because of the resonance of Kwame Brathwaite's work within the context of jazz, Kasseem 'Swizz Beatz' Dean's curation included Brathwaite's piece, creating a transcending moment in time that friends and family can share by playing the record, sitting down with the sleeve and listening to the music together.