5 Up-And-Coming Artists To Listen To During Black History Month And Beyond

Across the board, these artists are making massive waves in the industry.

Black History Month is a time to celebrate the contributions and achievements of Black individuals in various fields, including music. To celebrate this month, listen to five up-and-coming Black artists who are making a significant impact in the music industry. Their music, amongst many others, highlights the ongoing contributions of Black artists to the music industry.

Here are 5 artists to listen to this month:

1.JELEEL!

Making headlines for his high-energy, dynamic live shows, JELEEL! plans to continue the momentum this year with his first London headline show at Underworld, with support by Skaiwater. The performance follows a slew of captivating sets last year at the likes of Rolling Loud New York, Made In America, and Rolling Loud Miami and helps set the stage for his upcoming performance at Rolling Loud Los Angeles this March.

After an explosive year receiving praise from the likes of Complex, XXL, The FADER, and Pigeons & Planes, JELEEL! wrapped up 2022 with recognition in HotNewHipHop’s “Class of 2022,” Alt Press’ “Artists to Watch 2023” and Our Generation Music’s “2022 All-Stars” further cementing his boundary-breaking superstar status. Between his dynamic tracks and vibrant personality, he’s quickly grown an avid fanbase of over 2 million TikTok followers, 225K Instagram followers, and over 2.4 million monthly Spotify listeners.

2. Dc The Don

With his infectious energy, relatable rhymes, and unique aesthetic, DC The Don is ready to shake the game up like a Tilt-a-Whirl. Leaning into his strength for channeling childlike wonder into his venting of adult stresses, the Rostrum Records artist shares his new video for his latest single, “Poison.” “Poison” follows in the wake of “ALL I KNOW” and “SUICIDE” ft. midwxst in DC’s stretch of new singles since releasing My Own Worst Enemy, his second studio album, in February.

The project, which has racked up over 53 million streams on all platforms to date, tells a loose narrative about DC’s inner conflict, which manifests as a battle between two distinct personalities: the wholesome RAG3 KIDD and the demonic DONNY. Blending elements of rap, pop-punk, hyper-pop, and more, MOW3 percolates with the energy of a young artist testing the limits of what he’s capable of accomplishing–and having fun while doing it.

3. Lola Brooke

With over 50 million streams to date, Lola Brooke’s most acclaimed hit, “Don’t Play With It,” stands as one of the most in-demand songs in today’s current music landscape. The Recording Academy via GRAMMY.com recently highlighted the smash single as a viral phenomenon that defined rap music’s dominance on the social media platform.

To date, the track has garnered over 500k + TikTok video creations, peaked at #9 on TikTok Viral chart, and has garnered 100 + million views on the platform. All signs point to a massive new year for Lola. She just pulled up at Future’s sold-out show at Barclays Center in her hometown of Brooklyn, NY, as well as a recent A Boogie wit da Hoodie show eliciting massive roars from the crowd as soon as she hit the stage.

4. Kenzo Balla

Sharing his new video “Krash Out,” Kenzo warns you that he’s keeping his foot on the gas. Delivering hard-hitting rhymes with the speed of an SRT, Kenzo makes it clear that he’s a mover and shaker long before gaining notoriety for it. Bronx bruiser Kenzo is making waves throughout the five boroughs, and introduces listeners to his evil twin Mr. Ready To Blitz on his new EP, out now via 10K Projects.

Mr. Ready To Blitz is more than just an alter ego or a nickname – it’s a lifestyle that raised Kenzo to become the man he is today. Drawing inspiration from his upbringing in the Bronx, the 14-track project is a perilous story told from the lens of someone navigating city life in constant survival mode.

5. Kenah