African American culture has largely shaped the music genres that we hear today. During the Atlantic slave trade, those taken captive brought their African musical traditions with them. These traditions included things like single line melodies, call and responses, polyrhythms and the harmonic style of hymns. These characteristics, passed down and preserved during times of enslavement, eventually became pillars for what’s now known as jazz and R&B. These established genres have bled into all aspects of American culture, resulting in modern-day gospel, soul, folk and much more.
Black History Month is a time to celebrate Black culture and honor the contributions and achievements of African Americans through history, but it’s also a great time to find new artists. So, this is my list of six lesser-known African American artists to listen to during Black History Month.
1. Spencer.
Spencer. has a distinct new-gen R&B sound that’s similar to Steve Lacy’s demos and Frank Ocean’s album, Channel Orange. He has lots of slower tracks that feature heavy guitar melodies, balanced by lo-fi hip-hop accompaniments. His music feels almost nostalgic, simultaneously capturing a late 2010s sound while feeling modern. His sophomore album, This Is What Faith Is, heavily established his signature sound and feels incredibly authentic.
My Favorites: "Automatic", "Need U Now"
2. braden
Currently only on Spotify, braden has a soft-indie sound similar to Cigarettes After Sex or Syd Matters. His whole discography is only seven songs, yet each one feels distinct and new. The instrumentals of all his songs use stringed instruments with very little auxiliary percussion, if any at all. These instrumentals perfectly balance the soft, slow melodies of his voice. His only EP, whats the point, feels deeply personal and almost ethereal, focusing on reminiscence and reflection.
My Favorites: "brain fog", "The Lakes"
3. Khalil?
Originally starting out as an internet meme rapper in 2018, Khalil? has completely reimagined his sound. With his array of samples and unique lyricism, Khalil? is able to have a satirical, comedic vibe, even while taking his music more seriously now. His recent singles are extremely diverse. Some of his more laid-back tracks have a Riovaz or Eem Triplin vibe, while his fast-paced tracks are more similar to Baby Keem or JID.
My Favorites: "Cameras", "Zodiac Killer", "1 of Many"
4. hemlocke springs
After going viral on TikTok in 2023 with her song, "girlfriend", hemlocke springs has continued releasing incredibly expressive and diverse records. Her sophomore album from this year, the apple tree under the sea, is much more relaxed than her previous releases, but is still packed with energy. Her sound feels almost 8-bit, like a videogame soundtrack, but also has this early 2000s vibe, similar to PinkPantheress.
My Favorites: "moses", "be the girl!"
5. Hannah Jadagu
Hannah Jadagu has a very laid-back vibe, most of her discography being ballads or slower pop-rock tracks. Her debut album, Aperture, has this really engaging soft-rock feel. It’s very similar to My Soft Machine by Arlo Parks or Running by Cafuné. Yet her sophomore album, Describe, is extremely emotionally charged, taking on a darker, realer tone than Aperture. This album feels more like "Forever Is A Feeling" by Lucy Dacus or Bird’s Eye by Ravyn Lenae.
My Favorites: "Sundown", "Say It Now", "Lose"
6. Dreamer Isioma
Through their whole discography, Dreamer Isioma defies the norms of what R&B and soul can sound like. Their debut album, The Leo Sun Sets, plays with the blend of soul and rock, creating rich vocals over soft rock and slower R&B instrumentals. Since this album, Dreamer Isioma has leaned away from the soft-rock sound and fully dived into a more Afropop and psychedelic rock sound, especially in their 2023 album, Princess Forever. Their overall vibe is similar to SZA or Kali Uchis’ more ethereal tracks.
My Favorites: "Sensitive", "King"