Amplifying Black Artists

Monday, February 28, 2022

Two of our general committee SCOPErs, Molly Kreese and Logan Kha, wrote up overviews of Black Artists in the music industry to wrap up Black History Month. Take the time today to educate yourself on Black artists and their impact on music!

Molly Kreese's Overview of Black Artists in the Music Industry

Late 1800s-1940’s

Jazz and blues set the foundation for American music and expression. The development of jazz in the early 1900’s included elements of European music, and African music. Those who were enslaved in the United States were primarily from Senegal, the Guinea Coast, and Niger Delta, and musical elements from these places included: focusing on a performer, the use of a steady pulse, call and response, syncopation, percussion, and polyrhythms. Slaves would sing songs as they worked, and would have gatherings to play music and socialize. Jazz has been dubbed as the “true American artform”, and was developed by both black and white musicians. While white musicians did contribute to the development of jazz, black musicians made jazz what it is. Jazz allows the performers to authentically express themselves through improvisation. The development of jazz reflected what was going on during its time. The prohibition, the great depression, and racial injustice were shaping experiences of artists and led to the free feeling of jazz.

The blues became popular during the late 19th century, when it was first recorded. There were initially two types of blues; urban blues, and Mississippi delta blues. Later more types of blues developed; country blues, down-home blues, and harmonica blues were added. Blues, like jazz, allowed the performer to express their sorrows. Blues empowers the listener and the performing to go on a journey of pain, which we all need sometimes.

My favorite song from this section is The Single Petal of a Rose by Duke Ellington. This instrumental tune can bring me to tears oh so quickly. This song feels like watching someone’s calm and difficult, yet beautiful life unfold.

Videos to Learn More

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eRNRzyX3ac

Songs

James Reese Europe- All of No Man’s Land is Ours
Sidney Bechet- Summertime
King Joe Oliver and the Creole Jazz Band- Dippermouth Blues
Louis Armstrong- Cake Walking Babies
Duke Ellington- The Single Petal of a Rose
Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald- When I get low I get High
Thomas “Fats” Waller- Ain’t Misbehavin’
Billie Holiday- Strange Fruit
Horace Silver- Song for my Father
Miles Davis- So What
Gene Ammons- Play Me
Ahmad Jamal- Autumn Leaves
John Coltrane- Everytime We Say Goodbye
Nat King Cole- Unforgettable
Etta James- At Last
Ray Charles- Georgia On my Mind
Nina Simone- Lilac Wine
Ma Rainey- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Robert Johnson- Love in Vain
Bessie Smith- Careless Love
W.C Handy- The Saint Louis Blues
Big Bill Broonzy- This Train
Blind Lemon Jefferson- See That My Grave’s Kept Clean
Leadbelly- Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Lonnie Johnson- Another Night to Cry
Son House- Empire State Express
Tampa Red- Let’s Get Drunk and Truck
Tommy Johnson- Cool Drink of Water Blues
Howlin' Wolf- Many More Years

1950s-1960s

Soul music was popular in the 1950s-1970s and combines rhythm, blues, jazz, and gospel music. There are many types of soul music; New Orleans soul, Motown (Detroit), Chicago Soul, psychedelic Soul, Memphis Soul, and Philadelphia soul.

Soul music creates a powerful feel as the vocalist sings with passion. Subjects in soul music often include the joys and pains of love. This music makes the listener either want to dance with their whole body, or have a drink alone at home (and maybe cry a little?).

My favorite song from this section would be Aretha Franklin’s Ain't No Way. The background vocals haunt the powerful lead vocals throughout the whole song. You can feel the built up frustration that comes with wanting to love someone, but not being completely accepted. There is a hopelessness, yet a resolve as Franklin surrenders herself to the experience of her feelings, and the lack of control that comes with that.

Songs

Smokey Robinson- Tracks of my Tears
The Supremes- Please Mr. Postman
Stevie Wonder- Living for the City
The Dells- Stay in my Corner
Barry White- Can’t Get Enough of Your Love Baby
The Four Tops- Baby I Need Your Loving
The Jackson 5- Who’s Loving You?
The Temptations- It Was Just My Imagination
Berry Gordy (and Martha and the Vandellas)- Dancing in the Street
Gladys Knight- Midnight Train to Georgia
Arthetha Franklin- Ain’t No Way
James Brown- Get On Up
Percy Sledge- When a Man Loves a Woman
Otis Redding- I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
Sam Cooke- A Change is Gonna Come
Ben E. King- Stand By Me
Wilson Pickett- In the Midnight Hour
Solomon Burke- Everybody Needs Somebody to Love
The Drifters- This Magic Moment
Curtis Mayfield- Freddie’s Dead
Bill Withers- Lovely Day
The Supremes- Baby Love
Billy Paul- Me and Mrs. Jones
Marvin Gaye- Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Al Green- Take Me to the River
The Spinners- Could It Be I’m Falling in Love
Sly and the Family Stone- If You Want Me to Stay
The Staple Singers- I’ll Take You There
The Emotions- Best of My Love
Five Stairsteps- O-o-h Child
Edwin Starr- War
Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes- Don’t Leave Me This Way
Bo Diddley- Look at Grandma
Jimi Hendrix- Manic Depression
Jackie Wilson- Reet Petite
Chuck Berry- Sweet Little Sixteen
The Miracles- Shop Around

1970’s

Soul, experimental funk, soul/pop, and hip hop developed in the 1970s. Soul and funk inspired disco music. Music from the 1970s reflected the social and political stances of the artists, and some songs were used in protests.

During the 1970s hip-hop was created in the Bronx. DJs, MCs, artists, and audiences would gather at block parties to enjoy and develop a new form of music. Spoken word poets contributed to the development of hip hop by combining their poetry to the beats.

My favorite song in the section is I Will Survive, by Gloria Gaynor. I remember my mom playing this song in our living room on the CD player, and we would dance and sing together when I was little.

Videos to watch to learn more!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10C-Q3NIlzU

Songs

Diana Ross- Love to Love You Baby
Micheal Jackson- Rock with You
Gloria Gaynor- I Will Survive
Donny Hathaway- Someday We’ll All be Free
Roberta Flack- The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face
Donna Summer- I Feel Love
Chic- Le Freak
Bob Marley- Jamming
Double Exposure- Ten Percent
Cheryl Lynn- Got to Be Real
Barry White- Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe
The Commodores- Brickhouse
The Sugarhill Gang- Rapper’s Delight

1980’s

Dance mixed with pop-soul, and rhythm and blues developed throughout the 1980s. Hip hop also became more popular throughout the country. Hip hop and rap expressed the political and social observations of the artist.

My favorite song from this section is Mary Jane Girls In My House. (The music video is also amazing). This song is fun, poppy, and makes me not just want to dance, but aggressively jump-dance. This song feels like quintessential 1980s.

Songs

Marvin Gaye- Sexual Healing
Lionel Richie- You Are
Chaka Khan- I’m Every Woman
Prince- Kiss
Rick James- Super Freak
Salt-N-Pepa- Push It!
Whitney Huston- I Want to Dance With Somebody
Anita Baker- Sweet Love
Earth, Wind, Fire- Shining Star
Diana Ross- I’m Coming Out
Queen Latifah- Ladies First
Luther Vandross- A House is Not a Home
Stevie Wonder- Isn’t She Lovely
Teddy Pendergrass- Come Go With Me
Bobby Brown- Don’t Be Cruel
Billy Ocean- Suddenly
Patti Labelle- If You Only Knew
Keith Sweat- How Deep is Your Love?
Shirley Murdock- Go on Without You
Mary Jane Girls- In My House
Rebbie Jackson- Centipede
Patti Austin- Say You Love Me
Yarbrough and Peoples- Don’t Stop the Music
Syreeta Wright- To Know You is to Love You
Tina Turner- Proud Mary
Tracy Chapman- Fast Car
Grandmaster Flash- The Message

1990s

Neo Soul music emerged from soul, RnB, hip-hop, jazz, and gospel music. Neo Soul was started by Motown Records, and early artists include DeAngelo and Erikah Badu.

Hip hop and rap were still developing during this time, and varied greatly depending on what region the artist was from. Different genres of rap began to emerge; hardcord rap, gangsta rap, pop-rap, classic rap, and alternative rap.

My favorite song from this section is Sade’s Cherish the Day. This is one of my all-time favorite songs. The electric bass guitar line is hypnotizing, and the gentle synth makes me feel like I am AsCeNDing. Sade’s voice is slightly raspy which pairs well with the clean instrumental parts.

Sade- Cherish the Day
Lauryn Hill- I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You
Lauryn Hill- Doo Wop (That Thing)
D’angelo- Brown Sugar
Sybil- When I’m Good and Ready
The Roots- What They Do
Erykah Badu- On and On
Maxwell- Sumthin, Sumthin
Donell Jones- U Know What’s Up
Meshell Ndegeocello- Outside Your Door
Wu Tang Clan- Protect Ya Neck
2pac- Keep Ya Head Up
Notorious B.I.G- Big Poppa
Snoop Dog- Gin and Juice
OutKast- Ms. Jackson
DMX- X Give it to Ya
Salt N Pepper- Let’s Talk about Sex
Nas- If I Ruled the World
Missy Elliot- Gossip Folks
A Tribe Called Quest- Electric Relaxation
Dr. Dre- Nuthin’ But a G Thang
Geto Boys- Mind Playing Tricks on Me
Geto Boys- Scarface
Ice Cube- Steady Mobbin’
MF Doom- Hey!
Kool Keith- Livin’ Astro
Big L- No Endz, No Skinz
Mariah Carey- There’s Got to be A Way
Janet Jackson- That’s the Way Love Goes
Lenny Kravitz- Fly Away
Aaliyah- At Your Best (You Are Love)
Brandy and Monica- The Boy is Mine
TLC- Waterfalls
Toni Braxton- Un-Break my Heart
Boyz II Men- End of The Road
Public Enemy- Don’t Believe The Hype
Mary J. Blige- Real Love

2000-2015

Rhythm and blues became less influenced by jazz, and more intertwined with pop. Music videos became more popular during this time, and thus RnB and Hip-Hop/ Rap became more profitable and reached a global audience.

My favorite song from this section is How to Love by Lil Wayne. I was in 7th grade when this song came out. Haven’t we all had those times when we were 13 and felt like we could relate to the line “you had a lot of crooks try to steal your heart, never really had luck, could never really figure out how to love“? Maybe I should have gone outside more…

Songs

Alicia Keys and Jay Z- New York State of Mind
Alicia Keys- Fallin
Mariah Carey- We Belong Together
Mario- Let me Love you
India.Arie- I am Not my Hair
Destiny’s Child- Say My Name
Ne-Yo- Do You?
Anthony Hamilton- Do You Feel Me?
Raphael Saadiq; 100 Yard Dash
Usher- Love in This Club
Kirk Franklin- I Smile
Keri Hilson- Pretty Girl Rock
T-Pain- Freeze
Lil Wayne- How to Love
Drake- Shot for Me
Frank Ocean- Thinkin Bout You
Erikah Badu- Don’t Cha know
Macy Gray- Sweet Baby

2016-2022

In 2017, RnB, and Hip-hop became more popular than rock in the United States. Currently many different sub genres of music are being developed, and more artists are able to have their music reach a large audience due to the use of social media.

My Favorite song from this section is Crooked Smile by J Cole. This song explores the insecurities women are challenged with when in a relationship. J Cole also touches on police brutality, and the injustices that exist within our systems with the United States. This song empowers the listener to let themself be human in a world that demands perfection.

Jhene Aiko- Bed Peace
Kendrick Lamar- Poetic Justice
Frank Ocean- Nights
Childish Gambino- This is America
Chance the Rapper- Summer Friends
J Cole- Crooked Smile
Beyonce- Lop on Top
Kid Cudi- Kitchen
Solange- Cranes in the Sky
Little Nas X- Dead Right Now
Pop Smoke- Mood Swings
Leon Bridges- Texas Sun
Tierra Whack- Only Child
Chloe and Halle- Ungodly Hour
Janelle Monae- I Like That
Willow- Lipstick
Nova Twins- Antagonist
Mereba- Black Truck
SZA- Go Gina
Oxymorrons- Green Vision
Mustard- Baguettes in the Face
6LACK- Let Her Go
Teyana Taylor- Rose in Harlem
Christelle Bofale- Origami Dreams
Fana Hues- If Ever
Amine- Beach Boy
Brent Faiyaz- Clouded
Monica Martin- Cruel
Tobi Lou- Berlin/Westside
Berhana- Janet
Little Simz- I Love You, I Hate You
Megan Thee Stallion- Thot Shit
CupCake- Lgbt
NoName- Self
Tyler the Creator- Lumberjack

Resources to learn more