Black artists have helped shape modern music in so many ways. These are eleven Black musicians who are worth adding to your playlist.

1. Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes

Brittany Howard is the frontwoman of Alabama Shakes. In 2019, she released her solo debut, Jaime. 

2. KennyHoopla

KennyHoopla is a 24-year-old singer/songwriter from Cleveland, Ohio who worked with Travis Barker on his song “Estella”.

3. Bakar

Bakar, born Abubakar Baker Shariff-Farr, is based in London, England. He released his debut album, Will You Be My Yellow, in 2019.

4. OutKast

André “3000” and Big Boi formed OutKast while as high school students in 1992. They are one of the most successful hip hop groups of all time, having won six Grammys and countless other awards.

5. Willow

Willow Smith is the daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. In 2010, she released her debut single “Whip My Hair”. In 2021, she was named as one of Time magazine’s Most Influential People in the World.

6. 24KGoldn

Based in San Franciso, California, 24kGoldn rose to fame in 2020 with the release of his collaborative song “Mood”. It quickly topped the Billboard Hot 100 list.

7. Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine

Tom Morello is one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He is a strong political activist, using his platform to engage and educate his fans.

8. K-Riz

K-Riz is an Edmonton rapper who released his debut album, Fresh Air, in 2016. Since then, he has been named an artist to watch by many publications, including Complex.

9. Noelle Scaggs of Fitz and the Tantrums

Noelle Scraggs is the co-lead singer of Fitz and the Tantrums. She has worked with numerous artists, including the Black Eyed Peas, Dilated Peoples, and more.

10. Tai Verdes

Tai Verdes rose to fame in 2020 with the release of his song, “Stuck In the Middle”. It quickly became a TikTok sensation.

11. Fousheé

In 2020, Fousheé’s vocals were used and uncredited on a track that went viral. After months of fighting for her space, she received credit for the song. She explained, “The story behind “Deep End” had a lot to do with the creation of the song and video. It’s really a success story for Black women. It’s about fighting to get what’s due to you because it isn’t always going to be handed to you.”

 

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