HIDDEN GEMS OF COLOR
Lil Nas X, Living Colour, N.E.R.D. + Nova Twins
In today’s landscape of music, you’d be hard-pressed to find any demographic that is not typecasted; put in a box to the extent that race or gender often play a role in defining these artists.
Beyond men of color, there’s no one regarded simply as ‘rappers’ in Hip Hop. Differing from that by gender, an artist’s distinction will begin with the term ‘female’. In the perspective of race, they will begin with ‘white’, ‘Asian’ etc. Hence why there’s always a certain heir of reluctance to be held under the same regard as the standard.
Despite those distinctions, it pales in comparison to black artists throughout all other genres outside of Hip Hop and R&B. Black culture has, in the modern-day, been outcast by many genres, and at times themselves. Rock & Roll, in particular, is a genre that originated within that culture in the first place but has failed to gain universal acceptance due to the rise of many subgenres within it.
Country music has recently come into the fray with many criticizing Lil Nas X’s overnight fame with Old Town Road. A song by a black Georgia native who was openly gay had topped the charts for Country and the Billboards overall.
Nevertheless, the industry has had great sounds fly under the radar due to it not being the status quo. Here, we set a timeline highlighting 3 groups. The past, present, and future.
Alternative Beginnings (Living Colour)
With arguably one of the most recognizable songs of the late 80s, Cult of Personality, the New York-based band Living Colour is forever etched in pop culture.
Dabbling with Alternative metal rock schemes, this band reached its peak in 1990 as the unit won a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.
The group still plays to this day, with its legacy becoming modernized with its hit song resting in the annals Grand Theft Auto game history and in combat sports.
Commercial Success (N.E.R.D)
There’s no list like this without them. Before Lil Wayne made it cool to “let it rock”, before Lupe Fiasco went to go “kick, push”, there was N.E.R.D.
Regardless of Pharell Williams’ success outside of the group, the unit had offered numbers that perhaps helped usher in a generation combining Rock & Hip Hop from the early to mid-00s. Singles like “Rock Star” normalized a vibe that kids can ultimately relate to as it blended in with bands such as Linkin Park soon thereafter.
The Future (Nova Twins)
This tandem hailing from London, England formed in 2014. With vibrant colors and an in-your-face persona, this group has just begun its ascent to stardom in the U.K scene and worldwide, winning best Breakthrough Band and launching their debut album, Who Are the Girls last year.
They worked with acts such as Bring Me The Horizon, adding a punk feel to the heavy metal BMTH style.
From past to present, there’s a host of legendary groups that have played a role in adding variety to the sounds of black music and likely continue to do so.
