Great Black Music: Recommended Masterpieces

Love and HappinessAl Green

Al Green – Love and Happiness (Official Lyric Video)

Al Green, a soul singer who was hugely active in the 1970s and is known as a forerunner of the genre neo-soul—later shaped in the 1990s by D’Angelo—is a representative artist of so-called “new soul.” Yet his appeal lies in a completely distinct musicality that sets him apart from contemporaries like Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway.

The song I’d like to highlight as one of his classics is Love and Happiness.

Unlike the fiery soul music of the past, it’s crafted as a smooth, chill take on soul.

Billie JeanMichael Jackson

Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (Official Video)

It’s impossible to sum up the achievements of Michael Jackson—the “King of Pop”—in a few sentences, but from his genius as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, the group he formed with his brothers as a child, to his record-breaking solo success that reshaped music history, his impact on popular music remains entirely undiminished even in the 2020s.

Picking just one song from his monumental discography—filled with mega-hits that everyone has surely heard at least once—is no easy task, but let’s highlight “Billie Jean,” the biggest hit of his career.

Released in January 1983 as a single from the historic, blockbuster 1982 album Thriller, it’s also the song during which he first unveiled his signature “moonwalk.” Its music video, which has surpassed one billion views on YouTube, was aired on MTV despite the channel’s then-reluctance to feature Black artists, making it a pioneering work in the music video boom of the 1980s.

With a disco-inflected rhythm built on simple bass and drums, sleek production, and a instantly memorable melody written by Jackson himself, the track may feel newly fresh to younger music fans today—especially in a decade where many hits draw on the disco and funk sounds of the ’80s.

This Is AmericaChildish Gambino

Childish Gambino – This Is America (Official Video)

Childish Gambino has produced numerous hit songs.

Among them, This Is America is one of his most popular tracks and is widely supported by many Americans.

The uniquely distinctive lyrics reflect his multifaceted talents as a screenwriter and comedian.

Cross Road BluesRobert Johnson

Cross Road Blues

Speaking of Robert Johnson, he is such a renowned blues singer that he can be spoken of as a legend, and he has etched his name as an important artist in the history of rock as well.

Johnson, who passed away at the young age of 27, left behind a life full of legends, including the so-called “Crossroads legend,” the tale that he sold his soul to the devil to gain his guitar skills.

His 1937 release Cross Road Blues is a song with a truly demonic allure, featuring fierce slide guitar and vocals that seem imbued with the magic of the blues.

Eric Clapton’s famous reinterpretation on electric guitar from his time with Cream is also well worth checking out alongside the original!

SorryBeyoncé

Beyoncé – Sorry (Video)

Beyoncé has released many catchy songs, but “Sorry” stands out with a particularly distinctive sound among her tracks.

In the middle, it features an Asian-flavored vocal riff and shifts into rap-like melodies—overall, it’s a curveball of a song.

Highly recommended for those who want to listen to edgy, characterful Black music.

The Tracks Of My TearsSmokey Robinson & The Miracles

The Tracks of My Tears – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

Smokey Robinson, the musician who helped spark the founding of Motown.

After he began performing with the Miracles, their momentum only grew, and they released a string of classic songs.

Among them, the standout I especially recommend is “C.

A.” Released in 1965, the track clearly contains many elements that would later fuel the New Soul boom of the 1970s.

It’s an essential song for understanding the history of Black music.

Be sure to check it out!

Straight Outta ComptonN.W.A

N.W.A. – Straight Outta Compton (Official Music Video)

It’s no exaggeration to say there isn’t a head out there who doesn’t know it.

Straight Outta Compton is famous as a West Coast hip-hop staple and has been registered by the Library of Congress as a culturally significant record.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to hear classic West Coast hip-hop.