Secondhand Setlists

And we’re back!

As the COVID19 crisis remains ongoing without a foreseeable end, making ends meet remains a struggle for many. Musicians, especially, suffer the hardest, with touring on hiatus and Spotify unwilling to share its literal billions. Thankfully, the folks at Bandcamp waive their revenue stream every first Friday of the month to let all proceeds go towards artists.

This has been mentioned before and will be again, but Black musicians not only suffer discrimination in the music industry, they do so while also being the innovators. From rock ‘n roll to shoegaze to hip-hop to house, virtually all genres of music stem from Black artists. So, if you can, throw some support their way.

Like last month, I’ve assembled a list of Black artists I’ve been enjoying lately. If you wish to dig a little deeper, use blackbandcamp.info to find artists in your area of interest, or literally in your area. You can also check the earlier installments of this series from July and August.

RaFia

“I produced the beat and I rap” New Yorker RaFia boasts on Dizzillusions, a boast she makes very clear early on. As a producer, she just as easily jumps between aggressive dance tracks to playful, Gameboy-like bops. Whether singing or rapping, RaFia never sounds anything less than relaxed, completely in her element. Sometimes she’s so at ease it’s practically languid, but wouldn’t you be too if you could make so many sounds seem so easy?

Rodney Chrome

Speaking of versatility, Rodney Chrome likewise offers listeners a wide array of sonic treats. With Queer Pressure, he covers many bases: 8-bit, freaky trap (“Premium Goods), warm synth funk (“5 Starz), and sweeping, rumbling power ballads (“Chin to My Chest”). A thin layer of unease runs beneath much of his material, only adding to the fun at hand. Watch “5 Starz” to get an idea of just how expansive his worldview is.

Space Ghost

Oakland’s Space Ghost has stayed on a roll started in October 2019 with Aquarium Nightclub. A warm fusion of funk and house, his music works at the club as much as it does at home. Groovy, but never breakneck, these warm, shimmering productions let things unfold at your leisure. May’s Free 2 B EP adds a bit of glimmer with vocals from both Space Ghost and G’La, who delivers an ’80s R&B throwback with “I’ll Be Yours”.

Elheist

On Elheist‘s most recent EP, Wholesome Goody, so many fantastic acts came out in support – it features production/vocals from Lafawndah, Kelsey Lu, and Sega Bodega. Even among these guests, Elheist serves as the focal point of the show, romping through the title track, where the chorus sounds like “Candy Shop” but much harder. She matches that roughness with softness, too, on the finale with “W.A.T.C.”, reminding listeners the important of a breather. I expect we’ll hear a lot more of her in the coming months.

Mister Wallace

Have you gotten your needed dose of Ha crashes lately? Mister Wallace of Chicago provides your needed dose with “It Girl”. To be honest, nothing gets me excited quite like an upbeat rapper. Wallace rides the beat like a mechanical bull as different vocal effects envelope their voice for a thrilling ride. Their project titles (“COOL MOM“, “Hateraid”) reflect an irreverent sense of humor that only adds to the fun. In addition to their artistry, they also run their own indie label, FUTUREHOOD, where you can get your fix of ballroom rap, synth pop, and so much more.

Sammus

A longtime favorite of mine, Sammus takes her name from her favorite video game, Metroid, but you’d be remiss to assume gaming is her only topic. That’s not to downplay a track like “Crown”, where she name drops Kanye, Goku, and James Bond alongside Samus Aran’s infamous rivals, Ridley and Kraid. Yet her subject matter covers all bases – she has a PhD after all. From celebrating the first Black woman astronaut to using a Destiny’s child sample to make a statement those who would mock her name, Sammus lays subjects out with an unaffected air and extremely fun production.

If you can, also consider supporting her IndieGoGo for theKEEPERS, a womxn-led collective who are compiling “the largest digital archive of womxn and girls through 5 decades of hip-hop music & culture.”