Updated 12/18/2023 at 2:13 p.m. ET:
Suggested Reading
Several incredible Black artists and musicians didn’t make it to the end of 2023. Thankfully, with the music and art they left behind, their legacies will live on. From rappers and DJs to singers and drummers, here are the Black artists and musicians who died in 2023.
Gangsta Boo
Gangsta Boo was a pioneer for women in Hip-Hop and an integral member of Three 6 Mafia. She also released her fair share of solid sol0 albums. Truly one of the most influential female rappers of all time.
Fred White
Thank Fred White for all those drums you heard on those classic Earth, Wind & Fire hits. Think of him the next time you hear “September” at the family reunion.
Gordy Harmon
If you haven’t checked out The Whispers’ discography, please do so now. Harmon was one of the founding members of the R&B group.
Kevin Lemons
Lemons was an Atlanta-based gospel singer who founded Higher Calling, a choir with more than 100 members.
CJ Harris
CJ Harris was one of the notable competitors of “American Idol” in 2014, beloved for his country-soul style of singing while on the show.
Barrett Strong
Barrett Strong didn’t just sing some of your favorite Motown hits, he wrote some of them too. He’s responsible for writing “Money (That’s What I Want),” which is considered the first hit single for the music company.
Trugoy the Dove
Hip-hop just won’t be the same without Trugoy the Dove. He helped form the legendary group De La Soul and had an uplifting and energetic delivery that made every one of their songs fun.
Ahmad Jamal
Ahmad Jamal influenced an entire genre and was best friends with Miles Davis, one of the most legendary musicians of the 20th Century.
Otis Redding III
The son of the influential soul singer Otis Redding Jr. had musical talent as well. Like his iconic father, he was a soul singer and a member of the 1980s soul group, The Reddings.
Bill Lee
If you’ve seen a film by Spike Lee, you’ve probably heard Bill Lee’s music. He was the father of the iconic screenwriter who worked on music for some of his son’s earliest movies including, She’s Gotta Have It,” “School Daze,” “Do the Right Thing” and “Mo’ Better Blues.”
Tina Turner
Who did Tina Turner not influence? The “Queen of Rock ‘N Roll” was an international pop star for most of her life and released some of the most beloved hits of the 1980s.
YNG Cheese
While he’s not as well-known as others on this list. YNG Cheese was a Philadelphia rapper who was also the son of popular podcaster Gillie Da Kid.
DJ Casper
Ever dance to the “Cha Cha Slide”? Thank DJ Casper. The Chicago DJ created one of the most beloved family reunion songs in history.
Magoo
Before Timbaland was working with the likes of Missy Elliot, he made tracks with Magoo. The Virginia MC released an album with the creative producer in 1997 titled “Welcome to Our World.”
Chico Del Vec
Junior M.A.F.I.A. never gets their respect, but they were a fun group that had a solid run during the mid-1990s. As one of the members of the group, Chico helped create some dope tracks including “Players Anthem” and “Get Money.”
Irish Grinstead
I know some of those 1990s R&B groups get lost in history, but 702 stood out. Grinstead was a talented singer for the group from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s.
Rudolph Isley
If your parents didn’t play The Isley Brothers growing up, something must be wrong. Rudolph Isley was one of the founding members of the group and helped create the classic hits, “Between the Sheets,” “For the Love of You, Pts. 1 &2" and “Footsteps In the Dark, Pts. 1 &2.”
DJ Mark the 45 King
DJ Mark the 45 King may not be the biggest name in Hip-Hop history, but he’s worked with some of the greatest in the genre. He produced tracks for Eminem, Jay-Z, Common, Eric B. and Rakim, Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa and many more.
Aaron Spears
One of the most talented musicians who didn’t get the public credit he deserves. Aaron Spears was a drummer and product who worked with some of the biggest pop stars of the 21st Century, including Ariana Grande and Usher.
C-Knight
C-Knight was a member of the influential G-Funk Hip-Hop group The Dove Shack. He was partly responsible for shaping the sound of West Coast Hip-Hop.
George Brown
Kool and the Gang is one of the best bands in music history, known for making some of the most beautiful, relaxing and soulful songs of the 20th century. The drummer behind most of those records was George Brown. Just listen to “Summer Madness” and you’ll realize how talented he was.
Jean Knight
Y’all remember the 1970s hit “Mr. Big Stuff”? Jean Knight was the architect of that hit and it helped her break into the industry.
Zahara
What a talented vocalist. South African artist Zahara successfully taught herself how to sing in both English and Xhosa (as if singing in one language wasn’t hard enough). She released a myriad of platinum records including “Loliwe,” “Country Girl,” and “Mgodi.”
Amp Fiddler
Amp Fiddler had his hand in so many people’s lives. Not only was he talanted funk musician who worked with the lieks of George Clinton as a member Parliament-Funkadelic. But he also worked with hip-hop legend J Dilla, mentoring him to become a better producer.
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