"Too Black" or "Not Black Enough": W. Kamau Bell on the Politics of Black Identity
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Black Artists Who Need to Drop New Music ASAP!

Black Artists Who Need to Drop New Music ASAP!

From Frank Ocean to D'Angelo, it's about time these talented music stars give the fans what they've been missing!

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Frank Ocean attends The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City.
Frank Ocean attends The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City.
Photo: Theo Wargo (Getty Images)

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but for fans of musicians who take their sweet time in between projects, that fondness oftentimes seems to evolve into an excruciating longing for fresh sounds from their faves.

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Whether it’s classic 90's artists who aren’t too fond of being in the spotlight like D’Angelo or contemporary stars like Frank Ocean who do the same, it’s undeniable that they’ve left a void in the music industry and it’s about time they come back to fill it.

It’s in that vein, we thought we’d look at a handful of other artists who need to hop in that studio and release some heat for our speakers sooner rather than later.

Let’s start with the ever-elusive Ocean. We haven’t taken a good dive in his sea of music since he last dropped “Blonde” in 2016 and much has happened since then. We know we’re in the majority when we say a new Frank Ocean project might actually start nature to healing again and for things to feel alright in the world. Frank if you’re reading this, it’s not too late!

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2 / 15

Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during The Pop Out – Ken & Friends Presented by pgLang and Free Lunch at The Kia Forum on June 19, 2024 in Inglewood, California.
Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during The Pop Out – Ken & Friends Presented by pgLang and Free Lunch at The Kia Forum on June 19, 2024 in Inglewood, California.
Photo: Timothy Norris for pgLang, Amazon Music, & Free Lunch (Getty Images)

With the way Kendrick Lamar took over 2024 with “Meet the Grahams,” “Euphoria,” the absolute banger “Not Like Us” and his forthcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show Performance the following year, it would behoove the Compton rapper to continue to capitalize on this moment and drop an album immediately.

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Cardi B

 Cardi B attends the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 on October 15, 2024 in New York City.
Cardi B attends the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 on October 15, 2024 in New York City.
Photo: Craig Barritt for Victoria’s Secret (Getty Images)

It’s be almost seven years since Cardi B. dropped her debut studio album “Invasion of Privacy.” We understand she’s been spending her time being a beautiful mommy to her kids but Cardi, it’s time to paint the town “Bodak Yellow” again and remind the streets who you are!

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4 / 15

D’Angelo

D’Angelo

D’Angelo performs onstage at The Tabernacle on June 14, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.
D’Angelo performs onstage at The Tabernacle on June 14, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo: Paras Griffin (Getty Images)

Do we really have to explain this one? It’s been 10 years since D’Angelo’s last album “Black Messiah” and a 14 year gap before that. There is no one like him and only he alone can do what needs to be done: Drop another album to bless our souls once again.

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Sade

Sade performs in concert at The Frank Erwin Center on September 7, 2011 in Austin, Texas.
Sade performs in concert at The Frank Erwin Center on September 7, 2011 in Austin, Texas.
Photo: Gary Miller/FilmMagic (Getty Images)

It’s been 14 years since Sade sent her soulful sounds out to the masses in “Soldier of Love.” We think we’ve been in battle long enough, Miss Adu...please bring us some respite with a new body of work. Thank you in advance.

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6 / 15

Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill

Ms. Lauryn Hill performs live on stage during the ‘The Celebration Continues’ tour at Accor Arena on October 18, 2024 in Paris, France.
Ms. Lauryn Hill performs live on stage during the ‘The Celebration Continues’ tour at Accor Arena on October 18, 2024 in Paris, France.
Photo: Kristy Sparow (Getty Images)

Much like D’Angelo, it should go without saying why the streets are in need of a new Lauryn Hill project. While it’s amazing to still have grand impact off one album that came out over 20 years ago, it would be indescribable to listen to her music evolution now.

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7 / 15

Ari Lennox

Ari Lennox

Ari Lennox performs during the Rod Wave Nostalgia Tour at Smoothie King Center on December 12, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Ari Lennox performs during the Rod Wave Nostalgia Tour at Smoothie King Center on December 12, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Photo: Erika Goldring (Getty Images)

While Ari Lennox may be saying goodbye from social media for good, we hope that doesn’t mean she’ll taking time away from the studio. We need to hear her gorgeous vocals on another project not now but RIGHT NOW.

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8 / 15

Solange Knowles

Solange Knowles

Solange Knowles at the Harper’s Bazaar Cocktail Party during New York Ready to Wear Fashion Week held at Le Veau d’Or on September 4, 2024 in New York, New York.
Solange Knowles at the Harper’s Bazaar Cocktail Party during New York Ready to Wear Fashion Week held at Le Veau d’Or on September 4, 2024 in New York, New York.
Photo: Nina Westervelt/WWD (Getty Images)

When we get home, we better find a new Solange album sitting at our table. Okay...that sounded a bit demanding but for an artist as amazing as Solange who dropped not one but two dope projects back to back, there’s no wonder why we want to hear from again.

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9 / 15

Joey Bada$$

Joey Bada$$

Joey Bada$$ at House of Creed Dinner at Chateau Marmont on June 28, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Joey Bada$$ at House of Creed Dinner at Chateau Marmont on June 28, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WWD (Getty Images)

Back in 2022, Joey Bada$$ blessed us with “2000.” But it feels like 2000 years since we’ve gotten a new project so at the risk of us all potentially checking up out of her...Joey, can you do us a favor and drop some heat one more time?

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Smino

Smino at the YouTube Music Leaders and Legends Event held at Nya Studios on June 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Smino at the YouTube Music Leaders and Legends Event held at Nya Studios on June 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Photo: Gilbert Flores/Variety (Getty Images)

Much like Joey, it’s been just two years since we last got an album from Smino. And while we do believe good things do take time, we think Smino’s had time to cook long enough. Unleash the bars, sir!

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11 / 15

Steve Lacy

Steve Lacy

Steve Lacy at Amazon MGM Studios Premiere of “Blink Twice” at DGA Theater Complex on August 08, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Steve Lacy at Amazon MGM Studios Premiere of “Blink Twice” at DGA Theater Complex on August 08, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Photo: JC Olivera for Amazon MGM Studios (Getty Images)

The way Steve Lacy’s 2022 album “Gemini Rights” went quadruple platinum in this author’s home should be proof enough that he needs to grab that guitar and that mic and go make magic again. It’s a one-of-a-kind sound that the masses need to hear from again!

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Syd

Syd of The Internet performs onstage during the Smokin Grooves Festival at Los Angeles State Historic Park on March 19, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
Syd of The Internet performs onstage during the Smokin Grooves Festival at Los Angeles State Historic Park on March 19, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
Photo: Scott Dudelson (Getty Images)

From the first sounds of Syd’s 2022 album “Broken Hearts Club,” we knew this was something special. And despite it getting no love at the Grammys that year, that doesn’t mean we don’t want—no, need—another serving of this goodness. It’s been two years, our hearts are stitched back together again and we can handle it.

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13 / 15

Silk Sonic a.k.a. Anderson .Paak & Bruno Mars

Silk Sonic a.k.a. Anderson .Paak & Bruno Mars

 Bruno Mars, left and Anderson .Paak of Silk Sonic attend the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Bruno Mars, left and Anderson .Paak of Silk Sonic attend the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Photo: Kevin Mazur for The Recording Academy (Getty Images)

The fact that Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars just dropped “An Evening With Silk Sonic” and never followed up should be a crime punishable by stoning (Okay, maybe that was a little extreme). Or better yet, maybe their punishment should be to lock them both in a studio until they come out with a second project that’s equally as good — if not better — than the first one. The silky smooth drought has gone on long enough!

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Amine

Amine poses for photographs as he arrives at the Jacquemus Menswear Spring-Summer 2024 show as part of the Paris Fashion Week, at the Chateau de Versailles, in Versailles, southwest of Paris, on June 26, 2023.
Amine poses for photographs as he arrives at the Jacquemus Menswear Spring-Summer 2024 show as part of the Paris Fashion Week, at the Chateau de Versailles, in Versailles, southwest of Paris, on June 26, 2023.
Photo: JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP (Getty Images)

Yes, “Kaytramine” just dropped in 2023 and it’s only nearing the end of 2024, but that album was TOO GOOD. We deserve a part two expeditiously, since those vibes were truly immaculate.

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