Fifty Nifty: Black Artists to Support From Every State – AdHoc

Fifty Nifty: Black Artists to Support From Every State

We’ve compiled a list of Black artists from every state you should support this Bandcamp Friday. Shout ’em, scout ’em, tell all about ’em.

Black Music Month may be over, but that doesn’t mean you should stop listening to Black artists. Today, in honor of Bandcamp Friday and Black Music Month, we’re releasing a compiled list of fifty Black artists you should support from all over the United States. This genre-diverse list is the result of hours of scoring line-ups, checking local blogs, and manipulating Bandcamp searches. However, despite dedicating a month to this search, it was still hard to find Black artists on Bandcamp to support in all fifty states. This doesn’t mean that Black artists aren’t recording and performing in every state. Rather, our search has revealed how bills continue to be overwhelmingly white and how Black artists continue to be pushed to the margins.

It’s not that there is a lack of Black talent; it’s that Black artists aren’t supported and platformed in the same way that their white counterparts are. A 2020 music industry report revealed that of the musicians surveyed, 70 percent said that less than a quarter of the performers at shows they attended or played were people of color. While racial disparities in music can’t be solved by simple consumer choices—with organizations like the Black Music Action Coalition and the #TheShowMustBePaused campaign hoping to reform the industry from the inside out—changing our listening habits signals that Black art is valued and appreciated. Consider this list a jumping-off point for diversifying your listening and supporting local musicians, with Black artists from every state in the country (and Washington D.C.).

Two states—New Hampshire and North Dakota—include Soundcloud links instead of Bandcamp links. If you have a hometown hero that you think should be on this list, send us an email at editorial@adhoc.fm.

Alabama

“Punk’s confrontational slant finds direction on NEGRO, as Pink Siifu rages about racism in America, particularly police brutality. NEGRO may not be an easy listening experience—heavy distortion bridges the industrial noise and free jazz on the album—but it is an unfiltered expression of anger that captures what it feels like to be Black in America.” – Alyana Vera

Alaska

“Tati’s album Spiritual drifts between pop-rock and folk, held together by bittersweet lyricism that touches upon hopelessness, regret, and loss. But Tati’s heartfelt voice lends itself to both mellow and upbeat tracks, and throughout the tender folk of Spiritual is the reminder that rain always comes before a rainbow.” – Alyana Vera

Arizona

“Spiritually aligned with the early 2000s garage rock revival, Andy Warpigs’ folk-punk pairs urban malaise with a wild west sensibility. Interspersed throughout Counter Culture-Shock!’s hedonism is a weariness with the status quo, where the proposed solution on “Fuck It All Up And Get High” is self-destructive indulgence.” – Alyana Vera

Arkansas

“A 6-part exploration of what it feels like to have the day pass you by, chordandjocks’ recent album Time is a chill lo-fi beat soundscape to easily slip into. The space expands on jazzy synths that imitate the warmth of a good morning and hurried dance beats that almost feel stressful. Each part offers an accessible flow which illustrates an admirable musical skill set.” – Enne Goldstein

California

“Spellling’s synth-laden productions on Mazy Fly feel like a high-concept journey to outer space; “Real Fun” sees Spelling’s ethereal voice stretch and contract as she sings about aliens dancing to Billie Holiday, Michael Jackson, Prince, and The Beatles. Mazy Fly is an experimental affair that flits between R&B, darkwave, and psychedelia—culminating in a record that is as evasive and relentlessly wondrous as our own ever-expanding universe.” – Alyana Vera

Colorado

“Multi-instrumentalist Aleeya Wilson’s “slackergaze” project—Death In Space—has released a series of demos and EPs since its founding in 2012. Each demo only expands on the guitar-based sound that Wilson is crafting, with highlights like “The Dream” and “Involuntary Detox” pushing Wilson closer to the more menacing end of shoegaze and punk.” – Alyana Vera

Connecticut

“Though masked as a light-hearted indie-pop band with the lead vocalist often beginning a song with an unbelievably gorgeous voice, Foxtails will quickly turn aggressive with hard math-rock parts. Their latest album querida hija masterfully combines soft guitar riffs with hardcore instrumental sections, easily making them one of the best hardcore bands in Connecticut.” – Enne Goldstein

Delaware

“Coming from a background in jazz, Delaware-based producer NO SIR E’s latest beat tape Vacation Dad illustrates his versatility. Vacation Dad opens with blaring noise on “Cayenne” before transitioning into the funky and bright “Agave,” with the sampled and layered harmonies on “Licorice Bark” providing a serene counterpoint towards the end of the tape. A proponent of Plunderphonics, NO SIR E’s production benefits from its varied influences and range.” – Alyana Vera

Florida

“Miami-based act bear combines ambient music and vulnerable lyricism to create lush dream pop. Ease into bear’s discography with soothing ambient daydreams like “blue house black mold” and the noise-adjacent “destruction of the atlantic.,” or try slow-dancing to the languid pop on “really here.”” – Alyana Vera

Georgia

“Experimental artist FRANK/IE CONSENT’s latest release Playgrounds Forever is a tour of the artist’s own dream world. The album pairs confessional lyrics with distorted clips from The New York Times’s The Daily podcast (“Ella”), Kwik Brain lectures (“January”), and other found sounds. On Playgrounds Forever, FRANK/IE CONSENT is in conversation with their inner child, teaching them life lessons across thirteen soundscapes—like on “Circles” and its reprise, which evolves from a lament about getting stuck in old patterns to a more hopeful reminder that part of the joy of life is getting the chance to start again.” – Alyana Vera

Hawaii

“Torrentiiial’s Hell and HI Water 2 opens with the Hawaii-based rapper stating that he’s ready for whatever the world throws at him—whether it be the hellfire and flood referenced in the title, or the haters that come with increasing popularity. Armed with rapid-fire verses and production that just as easily incorporates trumpet fanfare (“Foreverest”) as it does funk (“She Stole My Heart” and “True Way”), Torrentiiial is well-placed for a fight to the top.” – Alyana Vera

Idaho

“Calling something “world music” is usually a generalization, but if you tried to map the Boise-based sextet Afrosonics’ sound you’d cover most of the world. While each member contributes their own musical background—resulting in a blend of Caribbean, African, and South American influences—their sound is mostly centered around hypnotic funk. Expect politically-charged music like the motivational “From the Streets to the Mountain,” where change is just on the horizon, or “Radio Fresh,” which name-drops an actual Syrian independent radio station.” – Alyana Vera

Illinois

“A solo project, Dog Mom uses vulnerability and urgency in their lyrics as personal expression. Their latest single By Her Side feels like a journal entry-turned-song with accompanying melodic guitar and harmony to gently sway to.” – Enne Goldstein

Indiana

“Jeron Braxton crafts unrivaled soundscapes that often flail around under his cool, sultry vocals. His most recent releases OCTANE and WONDER vary between witty room-shaking hip hop and stripped-down garage rock.” – Gabrielle Grieco

Iowa

“Over a minimal production, on “What If?” rapper B.WELL questions the path he is on and whether he’s going in the right direction. Each question fired off digs deeper into self-doubt—“What if I took a chance and I ain’t come back? / Or I stay right where I’m at?” Featuring fellow rapper and regular collaborator Teller Bank$, “What If?” sees the Des-Moines-based rappers ask how much the choices in our lives shape us and reflect us.” – Alyana Vera

Kansas

“Asterales gets listeners to revel in the 1980’s with an inspired electronic album produced with digital and analogue synthesizers and drum machines. This full-length album Outside the Box was edited and arranged live, despite its detailed layering and perfected timing. Asterales is as skillful as he is curious to enter a funk-inspired futuristic digital world, which this album so kindly invites us to join in on.” – Enne Goldstein

Kentucky

“Hip-hop artist and community activist Devine Carama smoothly combines R&B-inspired beats with protest rap. While individual songs explore complexities such as the opioid epidemic and quarantine anxiety, interspersed throughout the album Worshiping In The Wilderness are media recordings simplifying systemic issues which need to change. Carama swiftly communicates his political values through hip-hop and motivational speaking—wherein he speaks at public schools about “No Child Left Behind” and holds fundraisers to raise awareness about certain issues of urgency.” – Enne Goldstein

Louisiana

“Delores Galore’s synth-pop is made for a night under the gleam of a disco-ball. NEW GROWTH is an ode to the 1980’s, from the pulsing neo-soul on “Corpse Inside” to The Human League homage “One Touch.” – Alyana Vera

Maine

“An entire album dedicated to marijuana that was released on 4/20, Corey Patrick’s Sensimilla skillfully combines trap, R&B, and hip-hop to create a light-hearted sound space to unwind in. Notes of vulnerability seep through when Corey continuously alludes to a personal struggle with drug abuse and implicit loneliness. Overall, the record is good to kick back and chill with.” – Enne Goldstein

Maryland

“The self-declared “modular synthesist, sound designer, and bassist” BLAKMOTH’s eerie drone music is not for the faint of heart. The Space Between is a brand new collection of nightmare-ish yet gorgeously moving ambient tracks.” – Gabrielle Grieco

Massachusetts

“Anjimile Chithambo’s language of tenderness and sensitivity brings listeners into a warm space filled with delicate fingerpicking and empowering lyricism. Their latest EP Maker Mixtape is an exploration of heartbreak and gender queerness held by an uplifting take on internal fortitude.” – Enne Goldstein

Michigan

“Self-produced singer/rapper/producer Choker illustrates a specific combination of indie pop, R&B, and psychedelic in his album HONEYBLOOM. Songs quickly shift from synthy riffs to warped vocals to lo-fi samples, teasing the listener with a feeling of unpredictable playfulness.” – Enne Goldstein

Minnesota

“Centering EVV’s bluesy rock are empowered and matter-of-fact vocals telling her personal experiences with romantic toxicity and trauma. Incorporating jazz and soul, EVV uses a powerful bassline and an overdriven guitar rhythm to communicate her liberation.” – Enne Goldstein

Mississippi

“Born and raised in Como, MS, a hotspot for blues deep in the Mississippi Delta, R.L. Boyce didn’t release his debut full-length album until he was 52. Through his latest release, True Man, this protege of R.L. Burnside and Mississippi Fred McDowell shows us this heritage through the strength and sorrow displayed in his songs.” – Drew Martin

Missouri

“The epitome of DIY emo, Indigo Honey!’s Natalia, My Goth Gf is a sentimental romanticization of a cliché high school goth girl—down to the black eyeliner and playing D&D. A soft touch of naivety clouds the muffled vocals and garage recording of its simple guitar melody.” – Enne Goldstein

Montana

“While Letter flirts with being traditional hip-hop/rap in The Letter EP, their consistent use of a saxophone solo and synth riffs adds a sense of R&B and indie-pop. The EP further feels like an exploration of electronic rap, experimenting with dynamic pacing and different levels of intimacy in its lyrics.” – Enne Goldstein

Nebraska

“Rapper Sleep Sinatra’s latest album SLEEPER EFFECT marks itself as an instant classic; named after a psychological phenomenon where a message only grows more powerful with time, SLEEPER EFFECT promises that it will stand the test of time. Sleep Sinatra’s complex wordplay traverses topics like reincarnation (“Cannon Like Dolores”) and clairvoyance (“Foresight”), and with each listen you’ll unravel more of SLEEPER EFFECT’s hidden message.” – Alyana Vera

Nevada

“Georgia Anne Muldrow’s otherworldly funk stretches across 16 instrumental tracks on VWETO II. Vweto means gravity in Swahili, and Muldrow manages to defy it with spacey production, shimmering synths, and sizzling high-hats. Harkening back to an era when mankind first visited outer-space, VWETO II combines funk, soul, and jazz for a deeply groovy auditory experience.” – Alyana Vera

New Hampshire

“Relly Tha Prophet’s making trap straight out of New Hampshire. Complex hi-hat production creates a sinister beat that he glides over with a boastful flow—“Mad Barz” sees him claim “the people they ain’t know that I go hard/ the people they ain’t know that I’m from Mars.”” – Alyana Vera

New Jersey

“On Bulldog Eyes’ newest release hmm, persistent lo-fi noise enhances singer-songwriter/producer George Allen Gould II’s stellar vocal and instrumental performances. Listeners may feel drawn to the nostalgia of homemade analog recordings through this fresh collection of well-woven tracks.” – Gabrielle Grieco

New Mexico

“Raashan Ahmad’s The Sun is a vibrant tapestry, where musical traditions from all around the world meet and result in Ahmad’s own brand of soul-inflected hip-hop. “No” is a must-listen, a weighty drum-filled account of police brutality that gives way to not one, but two sax solos.” – Alyana Vera

New York

“Elise Okusami was clearly brought up with musical influence from 90’s grunge – reflected by her use of overdriven rhythmic guitar, head-bangable choruses, and guitar solos. While the tone of her album Low feels approachable like most indie rock, the lyricism explores complicated philosophies of existentialism and what it means to be human. Feel free to also pre-order their highly-anticipated upcoming album Things I Never Said due to be released August 28.” – Enne Goldstein

North Carolina

Gentrified Chicken is highly relevant in the current political climate, discussing all sorts of systemic racism in their Blink-182-esque sound: ranging from gentrification to present-day nazis to white supremacist’s violence towards Muslims in America. Released prior to George Floyd’s death, the anticipatory song “Call the Cops” hits especially hard, specifically speaking to the idea of the police as a military institution targeting people of color. This record goes hard.” – Enne Goldstein

North Dakota

“While Kwaician says on “Hold On” that he isn’t a rapper, his delivery can drift from spoken-word to rap—although, the rest of his acoustic-pop does defy that definition. “Soldier,” off of Kwaician’s Holding on & Letting Go album, features a trembling baseline and layered vocals that would be just as at home in Ed Sheeran’s catalog.” – Alyana Vera

Ohio

“teamonade’s latest single “goin thru it” walks back and forth between feeling like a trapped angsty teen and some independent 20-something-year-olds. The wholesome trio presents a full-bodied indie pop song, with an especially beautiful bass line to mellow between the rockier parts. The lyricism is playful—“sometimes I forget about brushing my teeth”—though it indicates a sense of giving up.” – Enne Goldstein

Oklahoma

“lonemoon traverses experiences of gender dysphoria, drug abuse, and physical dangers of mental health in their debut album andromeda. Though parts bleed feelings of a disheartened soul, much of the mood centers a “fuck-all” attitude in which self-acceptance is the solution to the artist Luna Starley’s trauma. The songs present as R&B-meets-cheesy love songs.” – Enne Goldstein

Oregon

“To describe listening to Amenta Abioto’s album Opening Flower Hymns as spiritual would be an understatement. Abioto creates a pursuit of genuine connection with the Earth in each song, encouraging listeners to sit down outside, look at the sky and feel mother nature speaking to you. Effortlessly combining Black tribal music with electronic ambient music, listening to the album in its entirety will get anyone to think about the stars, flowers, and ancestors whose energy we share.” – Enne Goldstein

Pennsylvania

“Having mainly released singles of lullaby-like instrumental beats, luji ra deserves support for Bandcamp Friday simply for her attention to detail and specific ability to combine influence from Mart Gorson’s Plantasia and Youtube sensation lofi hip hop beats to study to. The artist Julissa masterfully layers xylophone synths over sampled drum loops and tells a story with each song.” – Enne Goldstein

Rhode Island

“R&B artist KREW$ rejects perfection on the PZAPXRTY-produced No Angel project. No Angel sees KREW$ learn to accept himself as he is, and on “Mood Swings” he takes the good with the bad: “I’ve been a savage / it is what it is.” Mellow beats and self-aware lyricism makes this the perfect project to spin when you need a little self-reflection.” – Alyana Vera

South Carolina

“In his electronic album Gingko, experimental artist Mr. Jenkins displays a wide range in instrumental skills – from droney ambient songs to improvised piano loops with inventive drum beats. Beginning in a darker space of warped synths, the lo-fi record transitions into an exuberant feeling of adventure and warmth. Its conclusion is “No Place (Full)”, an 11-minute bass line with miscellaneous dreary sounds in the background, leading to a dreamlike meditation.” – Enne Goldstein

South Dakota

“GOYACONNECT’s electronica has all the trappings of hyper-pop; distorted vocals, layered synths, and club-ready beats. Check out “Ugly BB,” a re-worked version of Baths’ “Ironworks” that punctuates the original piano track with short, rapid beats.” – Alyana Vera

Tennessee

In his latest electronic EP in this life or another, dream wave’s Kelton Young creates an expansive instrumental space of intimacy. The shoegaze record starts with an upbeat song “sky tour”, a sampled beat intermixed with a smooth baseline and lo-fi synth, then travels to a darker place in “paper skin” with a lonely telling of blank love told by minor chords on a piano.” – Enne Goldstein

Texas

“Aisha Burns’ sophomore album Argonauta gracefully captures the grieving process of her mother while simultaneously seeing a colorful brightness in her future. Aisha was raised in San Antonio with clear folk-rock influence; this album demonstrates her understanding of the genre by skillfully combining Burns’ beautiful vocals with the sound of hopeful violins and delicate fingerpicking of an acoustic guitar.” – Enne Goldstein

Utah

“An elegant meditation on mental health, Anais Chantal’s 3-song album Birdie uses a funky bassline, soul vocals, and jazz drums to build an exquisite listening experience. While overall upbeat and danceable, one can’t help but freeze when she cries “save me” over and over in Part 2: Lithium. The album undeniably exemplifies a mastery in neo-soul indie.” – Enne Goldstein

Vermont

“Each track off of Rough Francis’ new album Urgent Care is one quick, hard punch after another. The band fuses sounds from decades of classic or reinventive punk influences into irresistible songs to dance or scream along to—whether alone or in a crowd.” – Gabrielle Grieco

Virginia

“In their newest release BLACKRADIANCE, DarkTwaine_ selects powerful audio from prominent black speakers from different geographical and temporal places to sample in accordance with ambient-psych music. The artist’s eloquent use of jazz, psych rock, and classical instrumentation is enhanced by their keen ear for spoken word.” – Gabrielle Grieco

Washington

“The newest DARKSMITH record DEGRESSIVE can be characterized by its shoegaze and post-punk sounds with twinkly lyrics. Once described as “fucking huge” by Afropunk, DARKSMITH is a band you’ll want to keep an eye on as they continue to develop their “sadfluid” sound.” – Gabrielle Grieco

Washington D.C.

“Surprisingly, Dawit Eklund’s Corona EP wasn’t made in response to the current pandemic. Released in 2018 on 1432r, the electronic label Eklund helped co-found, Corona combines down-to-earth details with electronic flourishes for four stellar dance tracks—from hand-drums (“Gravity”) to funky basslines (“Sufferation Dub”).” – Alyana Vera

West Virginia

“Pysonik’s Men As Trees EP is hard-hitting rap that delves into familial loss, loneliness, and suicide. Pysonik explores trauma through several experiences throughout Men As Trees, speaking as a child in foster-care (“Foster Me”), a man experiencing homelessness (“Fire Under My Bridge”), and.a young woman who has an abortion (“Phantom Child”). Psyonik gives a voice to these people, who are often ignored or dehumanized by society at large. Men As Trees asks us to put ourselves in their shoes, to feel their pain and above all, empathize.” – Alyana Vera

Wisconsin

“After a brief hiatus, rapper and music journalist CRASHprez returned with 2019’s I’ma Die Anyway, a declaration to the world, and a personal reminder, that he has what it takes to make it. CRASHprez is open about his struggles detailing how everything from self-doubt (“Die Anyway”) to depression and fake love (“For Once”) threatened to throw him off-course. He’s managed to overcome these obstacles on I’ma Die Anyway, confident and unwilling to compromise. Opening track “THE NERVE!” announces his triumphant return, his words dripping with confidence as he raps “I figure I’ve been great, I’m no man’s pawn / N****, don’t say shit! / You a glitch in my matrix.” – Alyana Vera

Wyoming

“Samantha Rise’s Brighter Days project spans four different EPs, each themed around the four seasons. Featuring a sweetly plucked ukelele and Rise’s soaring voice, each installment of Brighter Days highlights her ability to create sparkling alt-folk with a soulful twist.” – Alyana Vera

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