Celebrating Black Artists in the Dance Music Scene

From Frankie Knuckles and Derrick May to 12th Planet and Kaytranada, Black artists have been influential in the dance music scene for decades.

Throughout this past week, many artists, industry members, and fans in the dance music community have come together to show their support of the Black Lives Matter movement. This has been seen through members of the scene attending protests, amplifying the voices of others on social media, and helping educate people who might not be aware that their favorite genres stemmed from black artists.

To help highlight how truly influential black artists have been in the dance music scene, we’ve created a playlist that celebrates the wide array of sounds and styles that have permeated our speakers over the years. From the beginning of dance music until the current era, these artists paved the way and have continued to bring us together on the dancefloor rave after rave.

Read More: Want to dive deeper into The Black History of Bass Music? Check out our article and read up on how the Jamaican Diaspora led to the dubstep beats you love today.

Our Celebrating Black Artists in Dance Music playlist features legends who helped pioneer house and techno like Frankie Knuckles, Larry Levan, and Derrick May, bass music behemoths like 12th Planet, YehMe2, and TroyBoi, and icons like Carl Cox, MK, and Kaytranada. Additionally, you’ll also find songs featuring Kaleena Zanders, Dances with White Girls, and Dizzee Rascal who have also made a massive impact on the scene as well.

Take a listen to the playlist below, relive moments hearing some classic tracks or discovering new ones you may not have heard, and let us know which ones are your favorites in the comments!