Black History Month is an important time to celebrate and remember the importance of black people and culture. We should always be recognizing the influences and accomplishments of Black Artists, but this month, I am going to highlight a few of my favorite artists who deserve boundless love and recognition for their work in the music industry. Some honorable mentions that I couldn’t help but include are: Frank Ocean, Beyonce (obviously), Janelle Monae, Miss. Lauryn Hill, and Labyrinth.

Nightmares on Wax
George Evelyn is the founder of Nightmares on Wax, a genre diverging group that traverses soul, house, reggae, and funk into his music. The band formed in 1988 under Warp Records. Evelyn started as a DJ as a teenager, and continued to pursue his passion for soul and techno music with Nightmares on Wax. Their first album “A Word of Science” has heavy electronic and R&B influences, creating a unique project with a tropical atmosphere. Some good starter tracks include “You Wish” and “Flip Ya Lid” from their 2006 album “In A Space Outta Sound” which effortlessly mixes cool jazz with smooth and relaxing beats for an easy listening experience.

A.R Kane
We can thank A.R Kane for basically inventing the dream pop genre. This shoegaze outfit exhibits the partnership of Alex Ayuli and Rudi Tambala in London 1986. From their first single “Lollita,” A.R Kane has been blessing the music scene with atmospheric tracks that implement shoegaze, post-rock, and dream-pop elements into every track, which was extremely progressive as they were embarking on new sounds in each respective genre. The band mixes ethereal production with hazy guitar and vocals, essentially being a precursor to famous bands of a similar genre like My Bloody Valentine and The Cocteau Twins. It is said that Ayuli first coined the term “Dream-pop” to describe the airy tone of their music, which has now been defined by the countless bands that have come after them. A.R Kane is truly an iconic band in their own right, and their music has influenced artists for decades after their formation. My favorite song by them is “A Love From Outer Space” which has that 80s pop feel with elevated production, and remnants of soul influence.

Solange
Solange is not underground by any means, but deserves way more attention and recognition than she is given as a solo artist. Solange first gained popularity from appearing in Destiny’s Child with her sister Beyonce, but has been growing her audience as a singular artist since 2002, but more seriously beginning in 2016 with “A Seat at the Table.” The latter album was a landmark project for Solange, defining her individuality as an artist, and developing her soulful and angelic sound that she is known for today. Her music feels like honey, it goes down easy, and is good for the soul. Songs like “Where Do We Go” and “Cranes In the Sky ” display her vocal abilities and soft sonics that are present within her discography. Solange’s 2012 single “Losing You” strays from her typical sound and blesses the audience with a pop-forward track that shares the fears of losing a lover. The lyrics are juxtaposed with the addictive and upbeat melody that continues through the whole track. Solange has also expanded outside of her own discography and created a jazz score for the ballet “Play Time” in 2022. From her Grammy win to outside accomplishments, Solange is just beginning with her impressive resume.

Sade
Last but certainly not least, Sade. Sade’s music can be described as soulful ballads with deep vocals and with extremely smooth production. Her music crosses the line between R&B, classic jazz, and mature pop music. Sade was born in Ibadan, Nigeria and grew up in London. Her first single “Your Love is King” gained a top 10 spot in the U.K. in 1984, and her popularity skyrocketed following. Her music contains an element of elegance that has allowed her music to age gracefully and be palatable for music listeners of all generations. Her album “Diamond Life” was also released in 1984 and solidified her spot as a successful singer. “Diamond Life” has hit songs such as “Smooth Operator,” a jazz influenced track with buttery vocals, and “Cherry Pie,” a more soulful and funky song. Sades’ best trait is the consistency of her music. Every album has memorable moments and is timeless. Some of my favorite Sade songs are “By Your Side,” “No Ordinary Love,” and “Kiss of Life.”

There are countless artists that could be on this list, but hopefully you found a new artist to listen to or rediscovered a classic album from over the years. No matter your favorite genre or type of music, support your favorite Black artists all year long.