In recent years, more and more musicians of African and Latine descent have started to gain traction at an unprecedented rate. To celebrate Black History Month, here are five up-and-coming Afro Latine artists who deserve more recognition for their challenging and often genre-bending music––in no particular order.
1. Betsayda Machado
A singer who grew up around music in her hometown of Barlovento, Venezuela, Betsayda Machado combines Spanish-language lyrics with African instruments that have existed for centuries. In her album with Parranda el Clavo, Loe Loa (Rural Recordings Under the Mango Tree), Machado is found operating on a grand level, employing backing vocals and thundering djembe drums that can be seen in her 2018 NPR Tiny Desk Concert. Although she hasn’t dropped a new album since 2017, due her prioritization of live performances over new recordings, Loe Loa is a great introduction to Venezuelan and African music.
2. J Noa
Nineteen-year-old Nohelys Jiménez, better known as J Noa, is one of the leading artists putting the Dominican Republic on the map through hip-hop. A Latin Grammy nominee, the San Cristóbal native quickly grew a following locally and overseas through her rapid-fire rap flows. Uniquely, she does not limit herself to any particular production style, with instrumentals ranging from classic boom-bap beat to the traditional trap music formula that’s still the standard within hip-hop. However, Jiménez is in a class of her own due to her ability to embody rapper braggadocio while also tackling topics plaguing her generation, such as “Era De Cristal.”
3. Jean Dawson
From the start of his career, boxing Jean Dawson into any genre was a losing game. Dawson, who grew up splitting his time between Spring Valley, California, and Tijuana, Mexico, listened to everything from Britpop to rock en español. While his music is hip-hop-adjacent, he uses the genre as a vehicle for exploring other soundscapes. On one album, he crafted a sun-drenched alternative anthem through “Bruiseboy.” On another, he’s jamming out with Mac DeMarco on “MENTHOL*.” Recently, he’s begun to sing in Spanish on songs such as “Divino Desmadre,” adding to an already impressive catalog amassed within seven years.
4. Princess Nokia
Before Doechii took hip-hop by storm in 2024, she was inspired by rappers like New York City’s Princess Nokia, who always goes against expectations and is unafraid of pivoting into another unexpected genre. Princess Nokia, whose real name is Destiny Frasqueri, first came up in the SoundCloud era of hip-hop before they would adopt their current stage name. Identifying as Afro-Indigenous, Frasqueri would later break out of the SoundCloud mold through “Metallic Butterfly,” an eclectic record fitting for a musical chameleon, before embracing 90s hip-hop on the aptly titled “1992 Deluxe.” Recently, they re-released their 2015 Americana experimentation, “Apple Pie,” a pop-leaning single that’s another testament to their creativity and willingness to keep listeners on their toes.
5. Rico Nasty
While most rappers from the SoundCloud generation have largely stuck to their initial bass-heavy sound, Rico Nasty is one of the few who distinguished herself as being unafraid to experiment––especially if it meant punk and metal were involved. Rico, who is half-Puerto Rican, first ran with her post-horrorcore style established on her breakout single “Smack a B****,” eventually embracing what she would dub “sugar trap,” a term that encompasses all of her many influences. Despite being best known for bringing pop-punk to hip-hop, Rico flourishes in just about every genre, often stealing the spotlight with features on songs by everyone from Boys Noize to The Drums.
6. Yendry
A singer-songwriter with Dominican and Italian roots who fuses her origins into her music, Yendry creates songs in Spanish, English, and Italian. Her airy vocals are magic to the ears, implementing elements of R&B, reggaeton, batacha and electronica into her sound. Although her solo success began in 2020, she participated in X Factor Italy in 2012 and was a part of the band Materianera from 2015 to 2018.
“Nena,” her most popular song, has amassed over 23 billion streams on Spotify, where she has nearly 400,000 monthly listeners. Her latest single “Lágrimas de Sequía,” is in collaboration with Spanish artist Lapill and producer SEYSEY, which details the strength of a woman and the weight she can carry.
Not only does she portray immense musicality within her work, she’s also a storyteller through her words. Many of her songs encompass deep meanings related to her experiences and relationships as an Afro Latina woman. Yendry is an artist to watch if not for her powerful vocals, then her way of storytelling through music.
7. Xenia França
A rich soulful sound can best describe França’s discography. Her Brazilian roots are the backbone of her music, singing in Portuguese while implementing jazz and soul elements into her music. A futuristic sound is reimagined through the fusion of these genres, bringing an innovative approach to her sound.
She gained worldwide success after the release of her debut album “Xenia,” which landed her two Latin Grammy nominations in 2018. Her accolades continued after the release of her 2022 album, “Em Nome da Estrela,” she received a Latin Grammy for “Mejor Álbum de Pop Contemporáneo en Lengua Portuguesa.” The album follows a journey of confidence and connection to her Black Bahian ancestry.
França entered the music world many years prior. During this, she was a part of Aláfia, a São Paulo band, in 2011. Through her journey, she has amassed nearly 200,000 monthly Spotify listeners, accumulated large online viewership for her performances, and gained critical acclaim for her fresh sound.
8. Amara La Negra
Born in Miami, Amara La Negra has Dominican roots that influence her music. She mixes her Caribbean flair with Pop, R&B, and Hip-Hop elements. Her 2018 hit “What a Bam Bam” and her 2019 hit “Insecure” garnered nearly 9 million streams on Spotify combined. She gained mainstream success after becoming a pivotal role in VH1’s Love & Hip-Hop Miami in 2018.
La Negra has been very vocal about her experiences within the industry as a dark skin Afro Latina woman. She’s faced racist and colorist remarks due to her appearance. Having dark skin and a big curly afro are features not commonly associated with the stereotypical “Latina.” She is deeply committed to representing Black individuals of Latine ancestry.
She incorporates a fun, feel-good vibe within her sound, making music that you’d hear on a night out. Her music is sung in both Spanish and English, paying homage to her American and Dominican roots. La Negra is more than a multi-talented musician, she’s an advocate for the nuanced Afro Latina experience.
9. Cimafunk
The Cuban-born artist brings an innovative sound to traditional Afro Cuban music. He mixes his powerhouse vocals with elements of African American funk and soul into his sound. Garnering 1.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Cimafunk has gained notable success within the industry with the hit songs, “Parar el Tiempo” and “Catalina.”
After hearing “I Got You (I Feel Good),” by James Brown, he left behind his medical career to pursue music fully. This allowed him to amass one Latin Grammy nomination and three Grammy nominations, including his 2024 album, “Pa’Tu Cuerpa.” The album is full of hypnotizing dance anthems guaranteed to get you on your feet.
His influential reach spreads beyond his own music. He collaborates with Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue each year to bring together “Getting Funky In Havana.” It’s a celebration of music from both the United States and Cuba through music performances and school visits to connect with rising music stars.
Whether they are keeping soul music alive or creating hip-hop scenes in other countries, Afro-Latine artists offer a little bit of something for everything––in the United States and overseas. But above all, they show the similarities between their diverse cultures, bridging the gap through their personal, often experimental music.