In the spirit of Black History Month, we’re taking a moment to look at the current landscape of music and the talent constantly pushing it forward. While the history of music is rooted in Black innovation, these seven artists are a great snapshot of how that creativity is evolving right now across different genres and cities. This isn’t an exhaustive list of the “best,” but rather a handful of voices, specifically female, whose unique sounds and independent spirits have caught our attention lately.

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Chi 

London-based, Nigerian-born artist and model, Chi, is known for breaking barriers as a Black woman in Alternative Punk. Her music is a gritty, experimental fusion of indie rock, electronic distortion, and soulful vocals, which often touches upon themes of identity, resilience, and transformation, bridging the gap between her Nigerian heritage and the raw energy of the British underground. Whether she’s modeling or making music, Chi is a multidisciplinary artist dedicated to smashing the stereotypes of what a “diaspora artist” should sound like.

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ERISTHEPLANET 

Born in Washington D.C, rapper, model, and “renaissance woman,” ERISTHEPLANET, is a defining voice of the new digital underground, known for her hypnotic blend of spacey production and sharp melodic rap. Her sound, which fuses atmospheric synths and gritty 808s, often explores themes of self-assurance, personal reinvention, and the pursuit of success. Her breakout track “GEEZER” was a viral TikTok phenomenon, the sound being used in short videos by icons like SZA and Drake. From directing her own visuals to designing her own cover art, ERISTHEPLANET is a true multidisciplinary force. She isn’t just part of the scene, she is a self-made planet of her own.

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Samara Cyn

Originally from Tennessee, Samara Cyn grew up in a military family and moved constantly. Now living in LA, Samara produces music that reflects a mosaic of cultures, blending smooth neo-soul with sharp, technical rap. She first gained major attention with her “Green Eyes Freestyle,” eventually earning huge co-signs from legends like Erykah Badu and Denzel Washington. Whether she’s touring with Smino or collaborating with artists like Ovrkast and Sherwyn, Samara’s sound is defined by a calm, controlled energy that proves you don’t need to be loud to make a massive impact.

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Lindsay Chia 

Lindsay Chia is an emerging London-based singer-songwriter who has carved out a unique sound by blending math rock-influenced guitar lines with ethereal indie-pop vocals. Through fusing elements of shoegaze and bedroom pop, she creates introspective and atmospheric soundscapes for the listener to lose themselves in. She experienced a massive breakthrough on TikTok near the end of 2024, where her track “Away” became a viral staple within the “corecore” and aesthetic-slideshow subcultures. She continues to harness this momentum by sharing raw but complex guitar snippets and songs, building a dedicated community around her whimsical and nostalgic sound. 

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SALIMATA

SALIMATA is a rapper, model, and creative hailing from Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, whose disciplined yet raw approach to music is shaped by growing up in a West African household in New York. Her sound blends “glitch-trap” and experimental hip-hop, characterized by soulful, jazz-like production and a laid-back poetic delivery. Her career began with freestyle uploads on facebook, but she gained attention when her breakout “On The Radar” freestyle went viral, and she has since solidified her presence by touring with frequent collaborator and friend, MIKE. SALIMATA directs her own surreal visuals and refuses to be boxed in, proving she is a self-made innovator redefining the modern rap aesthetic.

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Snowsa

With her “saucy flow” and proud Jamaican roots, Snowsa is the definition of “cool and collected.” Hailing from the small state of Connecticut, she first put herself on the map when her track “Yank Riddim” went viral, eventually leading to a huge remix with Young M.A. and a deal with island records. Her sound is an infectious, high-energy blend of East Coast rap and dancehall vibes, delivered with a signature laid-back flow. Having already had studio time with big names like Lil Baby and Jay Critch, Snowsa is proving she can handle a heavy rap beat just as easily as a melodic club track without breaking a sweat.

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Nia Smith

Hailing from South London, Nia Smith is a singer-songwriter who is quickly emerging as the soul of the UK’s new generation. She first began turning heads with her release of her Give Up The Fear EP in 2024, in which she perfectly blended classic soul influences with a modern R&B edge that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Her voice has a raw, powerful texture that both soothes and packs a punch. With a massive performance on A COLORS SHOW already under her belt, Nia is heading into 2026 as a frontrunner, showing that you don’t need flashy production when you have a voice this honest.

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