One of the largest voices of African reggae, this artist from the Ivory Coast has consistently been political, spiritual, and looking to bring peace through music for almost 40 years

Influential hip hop and beyond producer/DJ/musician who changed the palette of hip hop with his wide range of source material for De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising and was the main creative force beyond Gravediggaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School and A Prince Among Thieves.

Phil Elverum has described Orange as “an actual real-life lounging grass-grove poet who went on to write the best songs in human history.”

Joy Electric is the long running project of Ronnie Martin. It is also these things: fantastical, synth pop, Christian.

The iconic Jamaican American model/actress/musician created her own sound in the early 80s with Sky & Robbie that brought together new wave, reggae, post punk, r&b and more

Japanese folk rock band whose short lifespan of activity is overshadowed by its powerful influence. Rolling Stone called their album Kazemachi Roman the greatest Japanese album of all time. They were the first Japanese rock band to sing in Japanese and to not cover western songs.

Afrobeat and Afro-funk from the early 70s led by Joni Haastruup who was known as Soul Brother #1 of Nigeria. He played in Ginger Baker’s band, he sang on the formative 60s Afro-beat album Super Afro Soul by OJ Ekemode and his Modern Aces. He brought protest, politics, and awareness to Afrobeat.

We listen to a 17 minute song by Chilean-German iconic DJ and minimal techno producer, Ricardo Villalobos. Children’s voices powerful pierce the persistent rhythm in this hypnotic grid of a song

DJ Screw was creator and center of the the chopped and screwed sound and scene and a big player in the greater Houston rap scene. George Floyd aka Big Floyd was a rapper and member of the S.U.C. (Screwed Up Click) in the late 90s. George Floyd was murdered by police in Minneapolis in 2020.

The voice of New Jack Swing, Teddy Riley’s secret weapon, the person who Pharrell credits with teaching him to write songs. Tammy Lucas is an under appreciated rnb force.