Stop Asking Where All Of The Black Pop Girls Are
Written by Daphne Bryant
Even if you prefer other genres, you have to acknowledge that pop music is having a massive renaissance right now! From Chappell Roan to JENNIE, the new guard of pop girls are topping charts and ruling our playlists. TikTok stars like Addison Rae are selling out tours, girl groups like Katseye are taking over the Internet, and everyone wants to dress up like Sabrina Carpenter. Even long-time radio angels such as Zara Larsson and Charli XCX are finally getting their dues. For those of us who can’t look away from theatrical performances, trendsetting fashion, immersive music videos and catchy melodies, now is a great time to be alive.
And yet, it seems most mainstream outlets and fanbases are blissfully neglecting the wide array of Black pop stars who are also serving up vocals, choreo and fantasy. I don’t think I need to explain why it is that white pop stars grow to such high levels of stardom compared to their Black counterparts: systemic racism, pigeonholing, a lack of promotion and support—the world hates to see brown skin on top. Even as we continue to quite literally build and shape the music industry, our voices are seldom spotlighted.
Still, I encourage you to stop asking where all of the Black pop girls are, because they’re right here and have been here. The ladies featured below have mastered their artistry, are releasing banger after banger, and delivering on every front: all you have to do is look (and stream, and buy tickets to their shows, and post about them, etc., LOL). Last year staff Blog Writer Sharon Hamza gave us her Pop Princess Wrapped, but this time around I wanted to focus specifically on Black artists, many of them with smaller audiences and platforms. Here are fifteen of my favorite melanated IT girls, just for you!
For me, Natanya’s a no-brainer: her most recent album Feline’s Return went triple platinum in my house. From“ Meeting You Once (The End)” to“ Sofa Joy”, this girl just does not miss. Her clever lyricism has always struck a chord with me, and her voice (which is influenced by neo-soul, Motown, and jazz artists that came before) give even her dance-pop tracks a cozy feel. Natanya is the kind of artist I can listen to when I’m sad, when I’m happy, and when I’m tipsy. I also find her online persona so endearing: she’s one of many“ quirky” black girls that I see myself represented in.
Having already opened for Ravyn Lenae and PinkPantheress (both of whom are featured on this list), there is no doubt in my mind that Natanya will soon reach main pop girl status. I seriously cannot recommend her music enough!
At twenty years old, flowerovlove is the youngest pop diva on my list (but her spot is oh so deserved). The self-described miniskirt warrior has a playful and infectious spirit that can’t help but come out in her music, which perfectly captures all of the emotional vulnerability associated with being a young person. When I listen to her I feel like I am her: every crush, every heartbreak, every exploration of self-identity hits like something I’ve experienced before.
I feel like I have to really assert that flowerovlove’s voice is so freaking beautiful. It’s soft and sweet and so easy to listen to. On top of that, she ALWAYSSS serves VISUALS: I’ve never seen a video or photoshoot of hers that didn’t make my jaw drop. I am so excited to see what she goes on to do in the future. THIS IS A STAR!!!!
Try Listening to“ shady” and“ i’ve seen your ex”
I recently discovered Momo Boyd and I am so, so, so glad that I did: no Black girl is doing Americana like she is. The singer-songwriter is part of the New York City-based soft rock band Infinity Song, but she’s also a talented soloist. I still can’t believe “ American Love Song”, a folky heartbreak single that also criticizes the individualistic American identity, is her debut. The track actually altered my brain chemistry (and if you haven’t heard it or watched the MV you need to go and do that right now).
There’s just something about her aura that is so freaking beautiful, and the music she makes allows that aura to shine. In general, Momo stays away from overproduction, gravitating towards organic instrumentation which grounds her voice and the message. PLEASE MOMO! FEED US SOME MORE MUSIC
My younger sister actually introduced me to Rachel Chinouriri a few years back, and she is now a reigning indie-pop-rock queen. Many jumped onto the Rachel wave after she toured with Sabrina Carpenter, but I’ve always adored her heartfelt lyrics, melancholic voice, sick style and alternative 2000s influences.
As a songwriter, Rachel isn’t afraid to dig deep and unpack the hard stuff. She’s been known to sing about things like eating disorders and self-sabotage, and her portrayal of mental health is really raw and relatable. Rachel’s visuals are also super strong; all of her cover art and music videos eat down!
Try Listening to“ The Hills” and“ Never Need Me”
Precious and I are both queer girls from Atlanta, so maybe I’m biased but I truly love her! She makes very catchy pop music and is an AMAZING dancer: seriously, please watch this. Like so many new artists, Precious got her start posting acoustic song covers to YouTube. In college she was part of a band, and then eventually she began producing and putting out original songs.
In my opinion, Precious’ music is such a breath of fresh air. Her debut album FLOP QUEEN draws inspiration from pop royalty like Janet Jackson and Britney Spears, and she is literally what Y2K bubblegum dreams are made of. Precious even has the cutest name for her fanbase: gumdrops!
Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably heard Ravyn Lenae’s breakout hit“ Love Me Not” – truly life-changing. If you couldn’t get enough of that song, I’m happy to inform you that Ravyn’s been making music for over a decade and has a beyond gorgeous discography worth exploring.
What I love about Ravyn is that her music is so dreamy: her“ soft” falsetto perfectly compliments all of the alternative R&B and pop-soul sounds she taps into. Listening to her kind of feels like lounging on a big, fluffy cloud.
Try Listening to“ Genius” and“ Dream Girl”
BAYLI is an artist I’ve always kind of casually listened to “ sushi for breakfast” was my intro *, but these days I’m trying to support her music more intentionally, especially because our storytelling goals are so aligned:“ As a Black woman, as a queer person, as a person at the intersection of all these things, I would love to be there to tell new stories” (Bustle).
It doesn’t take a genius to see that BAYLI is truly an unapologetic person and artist. She exemplifies baddie behavior and makes confident music that feels almost spiritual in a sense. It’s hard to pin down her exact genre, as she experiments with everything from electro-pop to pop-rap, but what I do know is that whenever I listen to her, I feel like a cooler and hotter version of myself.
PinkPantheress is one of the biggest names on my list! It’s so crazy to think that just a few years ago she was making beats in her bedroom, and now she’s one of the most influential artists of our generation (not an exaggeration). In her work, Pink takes a lot of inspiration from UK garage, hyperpop and other electronic music, but she has 100% developed her own distinctive and DIY sound that is introspective and tragically romantic (and/or just tragic LMAO). Most of her songs are on the shorter side too, always leaving the listener wanting more. I just think she’s an absolute genius, and she’s also grown so much since she started out.
If you know your Pinkpantheress lore you know that, for years, whenever she performed she’d perform with a signature purse, clutching onto it tight as though the bag was giving her comfort and strength. Watching her purse-less now is so cool to see: she seems to be having more fun on stage, will break out into addictive choreography, and works the crowd like a pro. Seeing Pink’s confidence blossom in real time has been such an honor, and I can’t wait for more music from her!
Try Listening to “ Feel Complete” and “ Romeo”
There are so many girl groups out there now (one might say the market is oversaturated ATP), but today I wanted to highlight FLO: an all-Black trio hailing from London. The members are the beautiful Stella, Renée and Jorja, and their entire vibe is so reminiscent of Destiny’s Child: at the beginning of their career they covered mostly R&B songs, but have since branched out into hip-hop and soul as well.
One thing about these fly girls (wink wink) is that they know how to sing. Each member has a strong individual voice and character, but their harmonies are flawless and they sound amazing live too. Plus, they are consistently the most fashionable people in the room; I get so much style inspo from them.
TikTok put me on to Lu Kala, a Congolese-Canadian singer who began her career writing for huge artists like Jennifer Hudson and Katy Perry. If someone were to ask me how Lu’s music makes me feel, I would say that it just makes me want to dance! She is really a pure, contemporary pop artist, and unafraid to be so.
All of her music is so upbeat and fun, the melodic hooks are great to sing along to, and all of the bright colors she uses in her branding are perfect. Lu Kala definitely has a new fan (ME ME ME)!
Try Listening to“ Hotter Now” and“ Criminal”
How could I not include DWG’s Issue 04 cover star herself?! Multihyphenate artist Makhyli is not only so sweet but so talented, and it was such a pleasure interviewing her for the zine. Now that she’s no longer a part of girl group Boys World, the Michigan native is boldly entering the punk pop scene.
Her newest single“ Hissyfit”, a true riot anthem, is high-energy and gritty in all of the right places. If you’re interested in following Makhyli’s solo journey, you can check out her YouTube Channel where she is actively documenting her quest to become a popstar!
Who says Tumblr can’t launch your music career? When Jae Stephens was a teenager she cultivated an audience of over 200,000 followers on the blogging platform, sharing covers, life updates and humorous content. These days, she’s a retrofuturistic musician blending R&B and pop and paying homage to legendary producers and artists from the 90s and early 2000s.
Like Precious, Jae loves herself a dance break. I really mean it when I say she is so entertaining to watch, and…did I mention she’s ridiculously gorgeous? Everything about her just gives me nostalgic MTV realness, and I’m really hoping she blows up even more!
Try Listening to“ Afterbody” and“ Boyfriend Forever”
Ayra Starr, my Afropop princess! Before releasing her debut album, Ayra’s goal was to be a“ teenage” superstar for Black girls across Africa and since debuting, the Beninese-Nigerian artist has amassed critical acclaim on an international scale (so I’d say she’s achieved her goals). The young newcomer is redefining what it means to be a woman in the Nigerian music industry, and I know that she will continue to break stereotypes and bend genres,
Honestly, it’s crazy to think that someone who is essentially the same age as me has made such an immense and positive impact on her community, but that’s exactly what Ayra has done. In her music and speech, she confronts overbearing societal standards and meets more conservative minds with carefree rebellion. I have nothing but admiration for her, and ONCE AGAIN she is one of many Black icons serving nonstop looks. I need her glam team stat.
Now a Grammy-award winning artist, British singer-songwriter Olivia Dean is one of the biggest musicians bringing back soulful, honest and conversational music. You know that feeling when you hear something and it just sounds like a multigenerational hit, like an oldie, like something your parents or grandparents would have listened to as well? That’s the kind of music Olivia makes: simultaneously warm and devastating.
You’ve likely seen comments gushing about how much“ her stylist loves her”, but Olivia’s classy and elegant rebrand is only part of the appeal. She also only writes and releases songs about her own experiences, and this candor certainly contributes to the charm. You can just tell that Olivia’s putting her heart and soul into the lyrics; the rest naturally follows.
Try Listening to“ Nice to Each Other” and“ Lady Lady”
OMGGG! Fangirling because Genia and the zine just became IG mutuals: whenever you want an interview girl, LET. US. KNOW! For those of you unfamiliar, Genia is a contemporary R&B and pop- soul singer, as well as a triple threat (and what I mean by that is, yes, she’s beautiful and yes, she knows how to DANCEEE). I don’t want to hear anyone saying pop girls don’t know how to dance anymore because my Black icons sure do.
I’m deadass kicking myself for not knowing about Genia prior to writing this article: she has a crazy gorgeous voice and knows how to captivate an audience. The kind of music she makes is totally aligned with my own personal tastes (she recently collabed with my fav producer of all time, Timbaland; IKTR), so best believe I’ll be streaming the shit out of her discography!
