Our first playlist for The Queerblr’s June Pride Party Playlist is highlighting ten LGBTQ+ black artists. We hope that you find some artists you haven’t heard of, enjoy what you hear, and go support them! In the descriptions below, we’ve chosen to use gender neutral terms for all of the artists to ensure that no one is mis-gendered (now or in the future).

Please note we have not flagged any artist for explicit content because your listening platform of preference will do it for you. We also don’t want an “explicit song” stamp to deter anyone from giving any of the artists a listen.

Enjoy!

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G@WD

Twitter: @Gawdishere

G@WD is a New York artist that started releasing their music in 2020. They have a wholesome sound with a unique instrumentation, mixing classic R&B beats with cheery guitar riffs and gentle nods to reggae, and melodic voice that provides a maximum chill listen. G@WD is an artist that I really enjoy listening to in the car, as it is impossible to listen and not have my mood improved.

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Zé Taylor

Twitter: @FATHERBONNET

Zé Taylor is an East Atlanta based rapper who packs a substantial punch into compact rhymes alongside familiar yet unique beats. Their song lyrics are powerful and cover a wide range of topics and is unapologetically queer. The music accompaniment varies just as much as the lyrics do, going from heavy beats to classic simple beats and piano chords.

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VINCINT

Twitter: @VINCINT_

VINCINT is a Los Angeles based singer who was a finalist on Fox’s The Four singing competition in 2018 and began releasing their own music in the same year. They are also sing Netflix’s Queer Eye season five theme song, Be Me. VINCINT’s voice has an amazing range and many of their songs have beats that make listeners want to get up and dance along and probably sing along, too.

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Drebae

Twitter: @Drebae_

Drebae is a Los Angeles based hip-hop artist who smashes heteronormative gender expression in their Elegant music video. They have several collaborative songs (with the likes of artists like Megan Thee Stallion) and all have their own unique sound while still being grounded in traditional hip-hop beats and structure.

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Shea Diamond

Twitter: @iamsheadiamond

Shea Diamond is a black trans singer in Los Angeles. They have a unique story to tell from their lived experience which has directly influenced their songs. The songs are unapologetically queer and several of them, in my humble opinion, should be considered queer anthems that everyone in the LGBTQ+ community knows. Her songs range from fun and flirty to incredibly deep, thought provoking, and emotional. There is no other way to describe their sound as purely raw and 100% authentic.

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Kodie Shane

Twitter: @kodieshane

Kodie Shane is an Atlanta hip-hop artist who started releasing music in 2016. Their music doesn’t hold back as they sing about women loving women relationships and hookups. Their music sounds like it belongs on hip-hop stations across the US with classic beats and motifs in their lyrics – but unapologetically queer and we’re all here for it.

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Siena Liggins

Twitter: @sienaliggins

Siena Liggins is a Detroit based artist who has one of the most unique voices I’ve ever heard. Their lyrics are smart and the instrumentation compliments the lyrics for the perfect earworm. Their music is unapologetic in singing about women loving women, and the track Flowerbomb is considered to be an anthem for the lady love lady community. Their about page on spotify simply says “hide your girlfriend” which goes to illustrate the fun this artist has with life and their music.

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Meshell Ndegeocello

Twitter: @OfficialMeshell

Meshell Ndegeocello is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, and bassist. They have a classic sound, evocative of soul and jazz perfectly mixed together. Their music is easy listening with a voice you can’t ignore. They’ve been working in the music industry since the 1980’s. Despite never having won a Grammy award, they have been nominated times.

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Todrick Hall

Twitter: @todrick

Todrick Hall has been on YouTube for years, getting their start doing Disney inspired songs and covers and parodies. Since they’ve started releases their original music, they continue to drop in subtle Disney and fairy tale references, which are gems to hear. In the song I Like Boys, there is a line: “By day his name Gaston / by night I call him Beast” referencing Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. They’ve even recently parodied their own song – turning their Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels song into Masks, Gloves, Soap, Scrubs in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic. It is always nice to find the levity during these unprecedented times and Todrick Hall continues to deliver.

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Cakes da Killa

Twitter: @CAKESDAKILLA

Cakes da Killa is a Brooklyn rapper who mixes genres of hip-hop, dance, and electronic. They started releasing music in 2011 and with each new release their style grows and becomes more unique. They mix the grit of 90’s hip-hop with high energy club beats and lyrics that deliver lines about men loving men relationships and attraction.

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We hope that you’ve enjoyed this playlist sampling. Check out the Queerblr Pride Party Playlist: LGBTQ+ Black Artists on Spotify where we’ve created a 25 song playlist for this week highlighting the above artists and a few additional ones.

Don’t forget to let us know who your favorite LGBTQ+ musical artists/bands are so we can include them in later playlists throughout the month by either commenting below, commenting on the @Queerblr thread on Twitter, or sending us a message to either our Instagram or Facebook.

We’ll see you next week with more music!