Black History Month: Underrated Artists who Deserve More Shine

Everyone has their own personal list of underrated artists. Some are well known, but still deserve more praise…some are gifted indie artists who never quite broke through…and some are amazing historical artists whose shine has dimmed over the years. For whatever the reason, it is important to look back and look around to see who needs more pub. For this final feature during Black History Month, I thought I would shine some light on past, and present, underrated African-American artists. These artists are all from a variety of genres and decades, but all share an underrated quality that deserves to be rectified.

Erykah Badu: Didn’t Cha Know

Erykah Badu revolutionised R&B with her jazzy hip hop and mystic flower child infused style. Her record Mama’s Gun changed the face of women in R&B and became an instant classic. She continued pushing the genre forward with her later releases, but fell out of mainstream’s eye and became more of a niche artist. Her recent work with Janelle Monet and Rapsody has brought her back into the limelight with a new audience, which makes me very happy.

Nina Simone: Strange Fruit

I hear you saying…Dave, you talk about Nina Simone all the time! How can she be underrated?! Well dear reader, I think that she deserves the iconic status of other jazz artists like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, but is still not seen in that light. Her more jazz inspired covers and tracks like Feeling Good and I put a Spell on You are held in high esteem…which they should be…but her more socially activist tracks like Mississippi Goddamn, Strange Fruit and To be Young, Gifted and Black are not regarded as highly. I think her leaving America after her work in the Civil Rights movement may have hurt her legacy, but her Civil Rights music was brave and deserves more attention.

Gil Scott Heron: Gun

Even though he has one of the most recognisable songs of all time, The Revolution Will not be Televised, the rest of his career has largely been glossed over. Poet, revolutionary, musician…Gil Scott Heron wore a lot of hats and was key in shining a light on issues of race and class. Tracks such as Home is Where the Hatred Is, Lady Day and John Coltrane, and Save the Children were a fusion between revolutionary poetry and 70s jazz. He had a brief renaissance before his death with tracks such as Me and the Devil, but his earlier work deserves a closer listen.

2 Live Crew: Me So Horny

Miami’s own 2 Live Crew changed hip hop forever with their overtly sexual lyrics jumping into the mainstream. This brought out the American Family Association and the government waged war against Luther and the crew as they pushed to ban their music entirely. Obscenity laws were dusted off and police were shutting down concerts. This was a time where you thought you were going to be arrested for simply buying a record. I think that sometimes 2 Live Crew is thought of as gimmicky, but you can see how they set out a path for many of the hip hop artists of today…and I love any band that makes music dangerous.

Gangsta Boo: Where Dem Dollas At

Fans of the show know that I talk a lot about Gangsta Boo, a.k.a. Lola Mitchell, and her influence on hip hop. Her early work with Three 6 Mafia along with her solo work influenced artists from GloRilla, Cardi B, Sexxy Red, Megan Thee Stallion, Lizzo…and the list goes on. Missy Elliott rightly gets a ton of credit for her influence on current women in hip hop, but we should not forget Gangsta Boo. Tracks like FTCU really showcase her role in laying the groundwork for modern hip hop.

Stevie Wonder: Pastime Paradise

Stevie Wonder is very well known, but I think he is still underrated. Most people know his biggest tracks, like Superstition , but I think his later hits like I Just Called to say I Love You turned people off and he was seen more as a sappy love song artist. People forget his early funk work and tracks focussed on racism, poverty and social issues. Tracks like Village Ghetto Land and Living For the City are largely forgotten, while his genre defining funk tracks like Higher Ground have a moment when they are featured in a movie and then fade away. Do yourself a favour and listen to some Stevie Wonder.

The Velvelettes: Needle in a Haystack

When you hear ‘women in Motown’ you think of Diana Ross and the Supremes…and maybe Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, as well you should. These bands helped shape the Motown Sound and elevated the label into a hit maker. However, The Velvelettes’ mix of soul and doo wop helped create that intoxicating mix that made Motown a successful brand for decades. Often overlooked, The Velvelettes put out tracks like He was Really Sayin’ Somethin’ and (We’ve Got) Honey Love, which are excellent examples of the classic Motown Sound and deserve more attention.