Black History Month Playlist

February 01, 2021

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Though we celebrate Black music and those who create it every month, this Black History Month, we're reflecting on some of our favorite songs made by Black creators from our roster and catalog over the decades — from jazz icons and rock classics through hip-hop legends and contemporary pop hits, as well as some of today’s most exciting talent from across the musical spectrum who are now making history.

Sequenced in order of each song’s original release, our Black History Month playlist highlights the work of artists, songwriters, and producers who helped provide the foundation for popular music as we know it and have continued to push it forward — including classics contributed to by Erroll Garner, Lee Allen, Miles Davis, Booker T. Jones, Mickey Stevenson, Garland Jeffreys, James Blood Ulmer, Leon Haywood (Kassner), Wu-Tang Clan, The Trackmasters (Cloud 9), Shaggy, Darrell "Digga" Branch, Ludacris, Santigold, Shea Taylor, Gabe Niles, Oddisee (Budde Music), The War and Treaty, Romano, Yola, Midas800, Theophilus London, John Key (Cowboys & Pirates), Mapei, Nash B, Vedo, Fantastic Negrito (Position Music), Emily King, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Kid Sister, Phony Ppl, and Cautious Clay. Take a listen and see the full tracklist below.

Tracklist

  1. Erroll Garner - "Misty"

  2. Lee Allen - "Hot Rod Special"

  3. Miles Davis - "Blue in Green" ft. John Coltrane & Bill Evans

  4. Booker T. & the M.G.'s - "Green Onions"

  5. The Marvelettes - "Beechwood 4-5789"

  6. Marvin Gaye - "Stubborn Kind of Fellow"

  7. Shorty Long - "Devil With The Blue Dress"

  8. The Temptations - "Oh, Mother Of Mine - Single Version/Mono"

  9. The Supremes - "Don't Take It Away"

  10. Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - "Dancing In The Street - Stereo"

  11. Garland Jeffreys - "Wild in the Streets"

  12. James Blood Ulmer - "Are You Glad To Be In America?"

  13. Leon Haywood - "Don't Push It Don't Force It"

  14. Wu-Tang Clan - "C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me)"

  15. The Notorious B.I.G. - "Juicy - 2005 Remaster"

  16. Method Man - "P.L.O. Style" ft. Carlton Fisk

  17. Shaggy - "Boombastic"

  18. The Pharcyde - "Devil Music"

  19. Nas - "Affirmative Action"

  20. The Firm - "Desperados" ft. Canibus, AZ, & Nature

  21. Ms. Lauryn Hill - "Ex-Factor"

  22. Pete Rock - "Respect Mine" ft. O.C.

  23. 50 Cent - "Many Men (Wish Death)"

  24. Ludacris - "Tell It Like It Is"

  25. Santigold - "L.E.S. Artistes"

  26. Beyoncé - "Love On Top"

  27. Mary J. Blige - "Feel Inside" ft. Nas

  28. Frank Ocean - "Thinkin Bout You"

  29. Danny Brown - "The Return" ft. Freddie Gibbs

  30. Miles Davis & Robert Glasper - "Milestones" ft. Georgia Anne Muldrow

  31. Shelley FKA DRAM - "Misunderstood"

  32. Alicia Keys - "The Gospel"

  33. Oddisee - "Like Really"

  34. The War and Treaty - "Down to the River"

  35. Ski Mask The Slump God - "Cat Piss" ft. Lil Yachty

  36. Yola - "Faraway Look"

  37. Drake - "Nice For What"

  38. NLE Choppa - "Shotta Flow" ft. Blueface (Remix)

  39. Theophilus London - "Whiplash" ft. Tame Impala

  40. Solange - "My Skin My Logo"

  41. Mapei - "Rise Up"

  42. Jacquees - "Verify" ft. Young Thug & Gunna

  43. Usher - "Don't Waste My Time" ft. Ella Mai

  44. Fantastic Negrito - "Chocolate Samurai"

  45. Emily King - "See Me"

  46. Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - "Diaspora"

  47. SAULT - "The Beginning & the End" (Melissa Young)

  48. Phony Ppl - "On My Shit" ft. Joey Bada$$

  49. Cautious Clay - "Dying in the Subtlety"

  50. Megan Thee Stallion - "Circles"

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