Black History Month: Modern African-American Pioneers in Music

We have spent a lot of Black History Month looking back on historically important African-American artists, which we will again next week, but history is being made by African-American artists all the time. Therefore, we will spend this entry focusing on modern artists and the trails they are blazing.

Shaboozey: A Bar Song (Tipsy)

Shaboozey has been out in these streets grinding for years trying to make a name in country. Then he guested on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, more on that later, and blew up with his mega hit A Bar Song (Tipsy). There have been African-American country artists before Shaboozey, but he is taking country to new heights, while also questioning race and identity in his songs. Country needs a good shake-up and Shaboozey is in the front of the line kicking down the door.

Charlie Crockett: $10 Cowboy

Charlie Crockett identifies as a mixed race country artist who was born and raised in Texas. Growing up listening to country music, Curtis Mayfield and Nina Simone, Crockett became immersed in both traditional country structures and socially activist politics on race. He brings both of those influences with his traditional country tracks questioning identity, race and who is left out of the American Dream. Much like Shaboozey, Crockett’s twist on traditional country has a popular following and is expanding the genre…speaking of expanding the genre….

Beyoncé: 16 Carriages

Speaking of shaking up the genre, Beyoncé kicked down the country music door, tracked mud all over their clean carpets and shotgunned a Coors. Cowboy Carter was a seismic release that has changed country music moving forward, which it needs. Country icons like Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Linda Martell lended their names and voices to underline how important this release was. Her constant evolution of pop, hip hop and country makes Beyoncé one of the most important artists of the last decade plus.

SZA: BMF

With her blend of 90s era R&B with modern sexual hip hop themes, SZA is expanding how we see R&B. Her mix of TLC with Missy Elliott has struck a cord with people and her star is on a meteoric rise. Fresh off her Super Bowl appearance, her records are selling millions of copies and her concerts sell out wherever she goes. Her work will continue to broaden R&B and pop music.

Megan Thee Stallion: Hiss

Stallion is part of a larger women in hip hop army along with Cardi B, Sexxy Red, GloRilla and Lizzo. These women are changing hip hop and showing how women in hip hop can be aggressive, sexually explicit and powerful…while still selling tons of records. Gangsta Boo paved the way with her work in the 90s and 2000s, but she was more of a niche artist that rap fans knew about. Megan Thee Stallion and other women in hip hop are becoming household names with millions of downloads and sold out concerts.

Kendrick Lamar: King Kunta

What can I say that has not been said about this artist? I mean, he has a Pulitzer Prize! Not since Public Enemy has a hip hop artist had such razor sharp social and political critique. His bars are unrivalled in modern hip hop and has risen the diss track to a new art. He has countless hits, but shows no signs of slowing down. Each time he drops a record it is news and inspires countless think pieces. He has evolved from an artist to a culture maker.

Jon Batiste: Dusklight Movement

Native Louisianan Jon Batiste has changed the face of jazz and classical music. His latest record Beethoven Blues takes classical music and blends it with classic blues riffs. This melding of classical and blues is a statement on how African-American roots music is as important to music as the “classics” and deserves to be venerated as such. Batiste has boundless creativity and talent, which makes me very excited for his future work.

Robert Glasper: Afro Blue

Glasper’s team ups with Erykah Badu, Snoop Dogg, Rapsody and Kamasi Washington is pushing modern jazz forward and blurring the lines between jazz and hip hop. Glasper is able to smuggle complex modern jazz into a hip hop track for mass appeal. His fusion with hip hop makes jazz more accessible without compromising his compositions. Moreover, he is giving a platform to artists who continue to question race and power.