With Rotary’s Valentine packages, TikTok’s return to the app store, and Super Bowl weekend, February has been filled with excitement. But beyond the mid-month celebrations, February is also Black History Month, a time to honor Black culture and contributions. And where has that influence been more profound than in the music industry?
From the smooth soul of Whitney and Mariah to the lyrical storytelling of ‘90s blues-rap groups like The Roots, from the golden era of 2000s hip-hop to the very foundations of pre-Elvis rock ‘n’ roll—Black musicians have shaped the sound of every generation. In this edition of “Inside Edison’s AirPods,” we’re diving into the tracks that showcase this legacy, highlighting the artists and genres that continue to resonate with EHS listeners today. So grab your headphones, hit play, and let’s take a listen inside Edison’s AirPods!
With 93 tracks by 98 artists, the playlist’s top genres were hip-hop, R&B, and jazz. The most repeated artists were Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, and Beyoncé, featuring songs such as “Love on the Brain,” “LOYALTY.,” and “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM,” respectively.
With Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam, jabs at Drake, and commentary on the “game” of American politics, this year’s politically-charged Super Bowl halftime show saw Kendrick in particular take center stage. While we might have wished for more of his past hits like “Swimming Pools” or “Money Trees,” it’s clear that his setlist choices were deliberate, centering on the political weight of his music (though the teased inclusion of “Not Like Us” was a surprise). He did, however, bring out SZA for a performance of “All the Stars” (featured on the playlist), a disguised love song that, much like the rest of his work, quietly speaks to the depth and complexity of Black identity, struggle, and legacy in America.
Besides “All the Stars,” one of my favorites from the playlist is Lamar’s “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst,” a twelve-minute, two-part track encapsulating the reality of life in an urban ghetto. The first part shifts between perspectives, painting raw, humanizing portraits of loss, struggle, and survival. The second part, however, is where Lamar turns inward— confronting cycles of violence, faith, and redemption, ultimately tracing his own spiritual rebirth.
I only touch on Lamar so in-depth because he is undoubtedly a defining figure of 21st-century music, his work lending his personal experiences to commentary on the complexities of race and class in modern America. But let’s go further back into the roots of this musical tradition, where Black artists have long used their voices as a tool for social change and cultural expression.
Featured on the playlist, one of the most iconic jazz songs of the 60s was Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddam,” released in response to the horrific bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham and the murder of Medgar Evers. The song was a bold yet not strident, unapologetic expression of Simone’s raw anger and frustration with the systemic racism and violence plaguing the South, and it became an anthem of resistance. The classic jazz song remains startlingly fresh to this day.
Tracks like Michael Jackson’s “Black or White” on racial harmony, Sade’s “Pearls” on the 1992 Somali famine, and Doechii’s “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” on growing up poor and finding a means for self-expression, all showcase how Black artists across generations have used music to address social issues. While Jackson’s global pop appeal allowed him to spread a unifying message in the early ‘90s, Sade took a more poetic and mournful approach, bringing attention to an overlooked humanitarian crisis. Like Lamar, Doechii’s raw, autobiographical storytelling reflects a modern era where artists use personal narratives to explore systemic struggles. Though their styles differ, each of them continues the tradition of using music as a medium for awareness, resistance, and resilience.
This evolution in musical storytelling isn’t limited to lyrics— it extends to genre itself. Though you wouldn’t think to draw parallels between Frank Ocean and Whitney Houston, here they are on the playlist, linked by the ever-evolving sound of R&B and soul. Classics like Mariah Carey’s “Hero” and Whitney’s “I’m Every Woman” defined ‘90s R&B with soaring vocals, powerful ballads, and a focus on self-empowerment and emotional depth.
Fast forward to today, and Black artists like Chloe x Halle (“Forgive Me”), Jhené Aiko (“The Worst”), and Ocean (“Thinkin Bout You”) have redefined the genre, blending R&B’s emotive storytelling with the production styles of pop and hip-hop. The grand, orchestral arrangements of the past have given way to minimalist atmospheric beats, but the core lyrical themes remain: love, resilience, and self-discovery.
Similar to the transformation of R&B and soul, hip-hop has evolved while still holding onto its foundational elements. The ‘90s saw the rise of rap collectives like The Roots (“You Got Me”), who blended live instrumentation with sharp lyricism, bridging the gap between jazz, rock, and hip-hop.
As the genre expanded, rap-rock collabs faded, making way for the atmospheric production styles of rappers like Travis Scott on “Goosebumps” and Drake on “Take Care.” Yet the spoken-word roots of hip-hop have remained in alternative artists like Tyler, the Creator (“Sweet / I Thought You Wanted to Dance”) and Doechii (“DENIAL IS A RIVER”), whose music carries the cadence and intensity of African-American slam poetry while embracing rap’s expanding sounds.
While R&B, hip-hop, and rap are most commonly associated with Black artists today, it’s important to recognize that even rock n’ roll was pioneered by Black musicians long before it was co-opted by mainstream white artists. Legends like Little Richard and Chuck Berry architected the genre, infusing rhythm and blues with electrifying energy and showmanship. Yet, as rock gained popularity, artists like Elvis and later The Beatles, David Bowie, and Elton John became its face, highlighting a broader trend where Black musicians’ contributions have often been marginalized despite their foundational impact.
At Edison High, where we come from a variety of backgrounds, the music we share reflects the cultures and histories that shape us— making Black artists’ contributions not just a legacy, but a living influence in what we listen to every day.
Check out the EHS Black History Month playlist here.
