Happy Black Music Month!
In honor of black music month, I wanted to acknowledge that hip-hop is the top genre. If all the musicians from the past could see us now they’ll be proud. Especially now that we have opportunities that they didn’t to make our communities better. I have compiled a list of artists who I feel have really changed their genre or made a major influence on the culture. Some of these artists were before my time, but my exposure to their music was by various family members. I have curated a list of artists who you should definitely check out and add to your playlist.
- Sam Cooke
- Ray Charles
- Curtis Mayfield
- Sly and Family Stone
- The Staple Sisters
- James Brown
- Michael Jackson
- Marvin Gaye
- Al Green
- Stevie Wonder
- Aretha Franklin
- Luther Vandross
- Otis Redding
- Earth, Wind& Fire
- Rick James
- George Clinton
- Bootsy Collins
- The Parliament
- Patti Labelle
- Chaka Khan
- The Gap Band
- Cameo
- O’Jays
- Ohio Players
- The Commodores
- Gladys Knight
- Isley Brothers
- Prince
- Michael Jackson
- Janet Jackson
- The Sugarhill Gang
- Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five
- Curtis Blow
- KRS-One
- Public Enemy
- Rakim
- Salt-N-Pepa
- Roxanne Shante
- Dougie Fresh
- Kurtis Blow
- Ice-T
- Slick Rick
- MC Lyte
- LL Cool J
- Run DMC
- Ice Cube
- NWA
- Nas
- Biggie
- 2 Pac
- Jay-Z
- Lil Kim
- Missy Elliot
- Wu-Tang
- Tribe Called Quest
- Guy
- New Edition
- Toni Braxton
- Whitney Houston
- Anita Baker
- Busta Rhymes
- Lauryn Hill
- Dre
- Snoop Dogg
- OutKast
- Master P
- Lil Wayne
- Mariah Carey
- Monica
- Brandy
- SWV
- BBD
- Johnny Gill
- John B
- Maxwell
- Baby Face
- Luther Vandross
- Keith Sweat
- Gerald Levert
- Kelly
- Jodeci
- Boys II Men
- Jagged Edge
- Tony Tony Tone
- Xscape
- En Vogue
- TLC
- Mary J. Blige
- Aaliyah
- Ginuwine
- Sade
- Faith Evans
- Eve
- DMX
- Tyrese
- Erykah Badu
- Destiny’s Child
- Usher
- Alicia Keys
- Beyonce