Don't Get Trouble in Your Mind: The Carolina Chocolate Drops' Story(2019)

How three African-Americans from the hip-hop generation embraced a 19th-century genre and took it to new heights

Don't Get Trouble in Your Mind: The Carolina Chocolate Drops' Story is a documentary that traces the remarkable ascent of an old-time string band that won a Grammy for Traditional Folk Album in 2010, just five years after forming in Raleigh, North Carolina. Featuring Rhiannon Giddens, Dom Flemons, and Justin Robinson, the film explores how these musicians drew inspiration from legendary black fiddler Joe Thompson to revive and reinterpret traditional American folk music. Beyond the band's sudden success, the documentary examines Thompson's profound influence on their work and investigates the African roots of the banjo, revealing a crucial but often overlooked chapter in American musical history. It's a story about reclaiming cultural heritage and challenging the narratives around folk music's origins.