Shaboozey, Ayo Edebiri, Aaron Pierre Lead Black Breakout Stars of 2024

This was a banner year for Black entertainment. While fan favorites like Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce, Cynthia Erivo and Donald Glover once again delighted audiences with their spectacular talent and cultural influence, a new crop of stars also made their presence known. From Ayo Edebiri’s stellar performance in “The Bear,” to “GloRilla and Sexyy Red’s sexually confident hip-hop takeover, to Angel Reese’s impact on and off the court, 2024 introduced us to the next batch of Black superstars to keep an eye on. As we celebrate the best entertainment and culture of 2024, we absolutely need to showcase the Breakout Stars of the Year.

When it comes to music, no one had a bigger breakout year than coutry’s newest star Shaboozey. From commercials, to award shows, to weddings, to birthday parties, his hit single “A Bar Song (Tipsy)“ was everywhere this year. As if that wasn’t enough, he collaborated with Beyonce on her game-changing album “Cowboy Carter,” and even performed alongside the icon during her much talked about Christmas Day NFL halftime show.

There’s no denying that Kai Cenat made his streams the place to be in 2024. Famous names drop by, hang out, get comfortable and start revealing things they probably weren’t planning to talk about. Cenat’s influence and popularity made him one of the biggest internet stars of the year.

Writer/director RaMell Ross is receiving well-deserved praise and awards recognition for his film “Nickel Boys.” The haunting drama follows two young Black men as they try to survive an abusive reform school in the ‘60s. The movie connects with audiences in a way that makes us extremely interested in what stories Ross will focus on next.

With “Genius: MLK/X,” “Rebel Ridge” and “Mufasa: The Lion King” showcasing his immense artistic range, Aaron Pierre made it clear he’s an actor we need to watch whenever he’s on screen.

Actress/singer Coco Jones kicked off the year by winning a Grammy. Then she expanded her acting range with a fascinating storyline for Hillary on “Bel Air” and featured in the cool, almost all female tribute to Usher at the 2024 BET Awards. She has the final season of “Bel Air,” a new rom-com with Kountry Wayne and we assume more music on deck in 2025. She’s one of Hollywood’s hardest working entertainers.

WNBA rookie star Angel Reese made history on the court with her impressive triple-double streak. If she hadn’t been injured late in the season, she would’ve given Caitlin Clark a serious run for Rookie of the Year. However, she also made a name for herself off the court, lighting up red carpets and stacking endorsements, as she helped make 2024 the year of women’s sports.

Ryan Destiny isn’t a new star, but her critically acclaimed performance as boxing champion Claressa Shields in “The Fire Inside,” has audiences discovering that she’s so much more than a musical talent. Look for her to have a huge 2025.

GloRilla’s popularity is about more than the sexy persona she delivers in her lyrics and videos. It’s about how she gives her fans permission to be their unapologetic selves, whoever that might be.

The South African R&B star made the rounds with her hit single “Water,” winning multiple awards. She also tore up multiple red carpets on her way to becoming one of the year’s best style icons.

With an adept hand that showed an eye beyond his experience, Malcolm Washington stepped out of his famous father and brother’s shadows. We can’t wait to see how he fares with different stories in other genres.

We know Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) is not an entertainer, but we had to recognize her impact on Black culture this year. Whether it was standing up for herself against the MAGA crowd, or rallying fellow Democrats to fight back against shady politics, Crockett has made it clear she’s done dealing with foolishness.

You may not agree with everything Sexyy Red says and does, but there’s no denying that she’s become an influential figure in hip-hop, style, and beauty. She used her popularity to crossover to mainstream appearances, introducing her music to new audiences.

Due to her famous parents, Blue Ivy Carter will always be held to a different standard. However, as she navigates her entry into the entertainment world, she’s obviously trying to figure out her own path. Yes, she gained a lot of experience performing with her mom, Beyonce, but she still had to work hard to prove herself.