Get To Know These Black Female Musicians This Summer
To some degree, we all look forward to summer. The longer days and nicer weather make it feel as if there is more time to live outside of work.
For me, my summers always include time to catch up on music releases and discover someone new. So, while you’re out taking road trips or staying up until the sun rises, spend some time getting to know these black women and the art they’ve created. And don’t worry, I’ve got something for whatever vibe you’re trying to catch this summer.
UMI
UMI, one of the artists featured on Blk Girl Culture’s list of artists to check out, is an LA-based singer whose sound floats between bedroom pop and more traditional R&B and Neo-Soul. Her music is reminiscent of a refined youthfulness—possessing clarity and freedom that has rid itself of naivety. UMI’s most recent mini-EP Balance showcases the range of her talent. In the more upbeat, funky “Ordinary,” she encourages a lover to shed their façade and let their true spirit and adoration shine through. Dialing back for a more mellow tone, “Down To Earth” veers inward and expresses a desire to lose, and find, one’s own self in someone else. Befitting of the optimistic and reckless inhibition that summer inspires, UMI’s offerings are perfect for a late night cruise with your summer fling or enjoying the sun with your bestie.
bbymutha
Is it possible to be unbothered and ready to throw hands at the same time? Chattanooga-grown rapper bbymutha’s music captures that duality. She has cast a net of underground, international attention with a sound as gritty and raw as Gucci Mane’s earliest tapes. Bbymutha’s molasses-thick drawl reminds me of Trap before commodification and fits effortlessly into her equally as slow-gliding beats or more energetic instrumentals. Bbymutha is unapologetically idiosyncratic in her style and mission to be the artist she wants to be, with a middle finger to whoever has something to say about it. This summer, channel your inner mutha and don’t hold your tongue, or hands, back for anyone.
Kari Faux
Sometimes it's just nice not to be bothered with anyone or anything for a while and occasionally get into a couple of shenanigans. Kari Faux is an artist whose music shares this sentiment. Hailing from Little Rock, Faux’s sound switches between a sultry singsong flow and more upbeat, in your face bars. Kari Faux’s 2019 EP Cry 4 Help shows that she is as fun and funky as she is subdued and raw. Faux’s music is all about protecting your peace of mind and having fun while you do it. So take some time this summer to dance along to “No Small Talk” and “Leave Me Alone” with a bottle of wine and learn to love your own company.
Nicotine
The changing seasons offer a chance for transformation. I’ve always associated summer with refreshing my mind and finding a sense of peace before I tackle whatever the fall will bring. Texas-born Afro-Latina Nicotine opens the gate to the vulnerability necessary to facilitate this metamorphosis. Her Neo-Soul crooning and spoken word verses serve as a vessel for understanding her own feelings and sharing stories that are relatable and cleansing. Nicotine’s most popular track “Running” takes the listener on a journey, both physical and spiritual, through the unpredictability of one’s own circumstances and ends before the destination is reached. This summer, let Nicotine soundtrack your own journey. Light an incense, drink a hot tea, ignore that man who can’t leave you alone, and most importantly, find your peace.
Kelow LaTesha
I know y’all are ready for a Hot Girl Summer, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t suggest an addition to your turn up playlists too. In Kelow LaTesha’s music, you’ll find a character as animated as her namesake, Martin’s Keylolo. The DMV native teamed up with Rico Nasty and LightskinKeisha for the hard-hitting single “Powerpuff Girls,” and her subsequent EP TSA kept that same energy. Following a series of comical skits, the 22 minutes of bass-heavy beats blend seamlessly with Kelow’s multifaceted flow and inventive lyricism. So if you need some help staying lit all summer, blast Kelow LaTesha for a bit.
