5 Black queer artists to add to your playlist

Kelela

Whether you’re in the club or in your bedroom, Kelela‘s otherworldly bops always set the vibes right. Her fans, known as “Kelelians,” know this and have been enjoying the D.C. native’s ever-expanding sound since the release of her 2013 mixtape Cut 4 Me. Fast forward and we’re still at the rave with her latest release, 2023’s Raven.

Syd

A member of alternative hip-hop collective Odd Future, along with singer Frank Ocean and rapper Tyler the Creator, and founder of the band The Internet, which also features musician Steve Lacy, Syd has found herself in the company of some phenomenal artists. But that doesn’t mean Syd isn’t a force on her own. While fans can fall in love with songs like “Fast Car” and “CYBAH” from her latest album Broken Hearts Club, they’re already aware of her producing and songwriting skills, or at least Beyoncé is. She enlisted her to create the Grammy-winning “Plastic on the Sofa” from Renaissance.

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King Isis

King Isis is in a league of their own and their music reflects that. Using their stage name to pay tribute to their great-great-grandmother, Omega King, who was an opera singer, King Isis’ sound takes on influences from rock and R&B to jazz and blues, to creates songs that traverse through pain, growth, and transformation. King Isis’ latest EP scales reflects that there’s no genre box that can contain them.

Destin Conrad

Destin Conrad first gained popularity from his short videos on the now defunct social media app Vine. And while Vine’s lifespan was short, it helped connect the Tampa, Florida native with R&B superstar Kehlani. Since then, Destin has been perfecting his brand of R&B with songs like “Open,” “Submissive,” and, most recently, “Same Mistake” with Alex Isley on his latest album Submissive 2.