Even though 2024 was a wild year, Black artists delivered the most memorable musical performances despite the chaos. Here are some of The Root’s favorites—and the list may include a few that may surprise you.
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Beyoncé’s Sparkles During Halftime Ho-Down
Netflix streamed a Christmas NFL game in which Baltimore Ravens battled the Houston Texans, but who cares? The event was dubbed the Beyoncé Bowl as the artist performed music from “Cowboy Carter” for the first time publicly.
Shaboozey Brings Out J-Kwon At BET Awards
Shaboozey has had a mesmerizing year, with one of the highlights being his BET Awards performance in June. His hit, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” brilliantly interpolated J-Kwon’s 2004 club hit “Tipsy.” Naturally, Shaboozey brought the rapper out for the BET rendition.
Usher Dominates The Super Bowl
Usher reminded the world that he is one of the greatest performers alive with an unforgettable Super Bowl Halftime performance in February. Some of his special guests included Alicia Keys, Ludacris and Lil Jon.
Lil Jon Riles Up The DNC
The Democratic National Convention took place in Chicago over the summer and featured an array of celebrities, ranging from Oprah Winfrey to Stevie Wonder to Kerry Washington to Barack and Michelle Obama. Lil Jon popped up as a Georgia representative during roll call and turned the United Center into a party.
Kendrick Shows Out At The Pop Out
Kendrick Lamar’s “The Pop Out: Ken & Friends” concert went down in Inglewood, California on Juneteenth. Although many viewed it as a hate rally against Drake, it really was just a party uniting the West Coast. Performers included Black Hippy, Dr. Dre, Tyler The Creator, Steve Lacy, Tommy the Clown, gang members and small children. There was literally something for everybody.
Megan Thee Stallion Works Kamala Rally
In July, Megan Thee Stallion popped out to support Vice President Kamala Harris during her presidential campaign rally in Atlanta. Some thought that the performance was controversial, but Meg brought Hot Girl vibes in support of the first Black woman to run for president on a major party’s ticket.
Tracy Chapman Gets Her Flowers At The Grammys
Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs hit the Grammy stage together to perform her hit song “Fast Car.” Combs’ cover of Chapman’s 1988 song went platinum and won two CMA Awards for single and song of the year. Chapman finally got her flowers that were long overdue.
Doechii Obliterates NPR’s Tiny Desk
Doechii, the most nominated female rapper at next year’s Grammys, had a remarkable 2024. Her appearance on NPR’s “Tiny Desk” concert series reminded fans of her inventiveness, beauty, and lyrical precision.
GloRilla Dazzles At The VMAs
GloRilla also had a standout year, with her debut album “Glorious” reaching number five on the Billboard charts. At MTV’s Video Music Awards, she displayed how much of an energetic performer she is.
The Weeknd Gives Rare Intimate Performance
In December, Spotify launched its first-ever Billions Club Live which serves as an extension of its Billions Club. The Weeknd headlined the intimate event, which boasted a background of an airplane hangar at Santa Monica airport. Only The Weeknd’s top listeners were invited, which consisted of about 2,000 people.
Frankie Beverly’s Emotional NOLA Tribute
Before music pioneer Frankie Beverly passed away earlier this year, he was honored for the Essence Festival’s 30th anniversary with an all-star tribute. Featured singers included Bilal, Anthony Hamilton and Luke James.
Travis Scott Closes Out Rolling Loud Miami
For Rolling Loud’s 1oth anniversary in Miami, Travis Scott closed out the show by flying down from a helicopter into a tank. He delivered his signature high-energy set as fans in the crowd started numerous circle pits. Owen Wilson also hopped onstage to perform “FEIN” alongside Scott—and went viral for his antics.
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