THE OLDIES
We're going to start with the good ole' classics first cause to know where we come from and how far we've come as a society, we have to study our history.
The We Shall Overcome playlist is a collection of music and sermons. The playlist has songs such as the African American National Anthem, songs from artists like Otis Redding, to speeches by Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, and Angela Davis.
If you're looking for a more song-driven playlist, the Black Artists. playlist has most of the classic Black musicians from Etta James to Ms. Lauryn Hill. A playlist with songs that feed the soul by artists who transcend societal boundaries.
Looking for more ambient type of music, well the Black Classical & Jazz Musicians & Composers playlist might be more of your vibe. When I found this playlist, I hadn't realized there were so many classical Black artists in the past and present. This playlist is truly a gift for when I'm doing work, or anything really, and just want some easy listening music.
Black Classical & Jazz Musicians & Composers
INDIE/ALT/GOTH/RAP
These playlists comprise of genre-based Black artists. The range of genres goes from indie to goth to rap. Black artists tend to be boxed into either R&B or rap, so it's great to acknowledge the ones who go against conformity and choose to make music from genres they enjoy.
Whether it be indie rock, R&B, rap or otherwise, black artists matter. is an indie playlist that includes all the most prominent Black artist in the indie scene.
A blast from the past goth playlist, Black Gothic is a 70's mixtape with a big dose of gothic flavour, and mostly composed of unknown and underground goth artists whose songs pack a real punch.
The POC ALT includes punk, emo, indie, metalcore, hardcore, alt-pop, and any scene-adjacent artists. A playlist celebrating artists of colour within the alternative music scene.
The best of rap (1990s-2010s) is a compilation of chill rap, gangsta rap, or pop-rap. Whatever subgenre or favourite artist can be found in this online mixtape.
ALL AROUND THE WORLD
Below are playlists of Black identified artists from Africa to the UK and South America. Each Black musician in every diaspora in these playlists has cultivated something unique for the culture.
QUEER ARTISTS
Queer and Trans Black artists are often forgotten or ignored in the discussion of Black civil rights. The Black Queer Artists is a collection filled with Black artists like Frank Ocean to Cakes da Killa.
BLACK GIRL MAGIC
Glow n Grow Sis is a playlist for Black girls made by Black girls. Mainly to motivate and promote self-love for the Black girls and women out there.