29 Black Artists for 29 Days of February 2024

If you’re unfamiliar with the JUNO-nominated pop sensation reshaping the Canadian music landscape, well, you’re in for something special. With his dynamic sound and unapologetic authenticity, Tefari Anthony’s music has carved a territory of its own. He has an unparalleled ability to craft club-certified bangers with the same ease as an impassioned ballad. Tafari’s latest album, When I Met Your Girlfriend, is a bold declaration of self-expression and queer love. The record is full of stirring vocals and candid lyricism. Tafari invites listeners on a deeply personal journey of love, loss, and self-discovery. • Weajue Mombo

Dive Deeper: Asuquomo goes 20 or 20 discussing the Ottawa music community, world-building, visual art, writing music, and more.

Blending cultures and languages into melodies is a talent Canadians know well, and nowhere else does it shine brighter than in the work of Asuquomo. Mixing non-verbal incantations with the soulful melodies of West African spirituals, Asuquomo (aka Emeka Ogbowu) has shone out as a virtuoso. As a Nigerian-Canadian, his music manages to put a sound to the immigrant experience; often brutal, rough, yet piercingly beautiful. Renowned for his seamless integration of visual and auditory storytelling, as can be experienced through his music videos, Asuquomo crafts a singular and compelling experience for all audiences. His music showcases an unmatched talent for narrative finesse within the realm of Afro-Fusion artistry. • Weajue Mombo

Dive Deeper: Backxwash’s third album is an attention-grabbing scream into the void, both a warning and a call for help that is as cathartic as it is chaotic.

In everything she does, Backxwash proves again and again that she is a force to be reckoned with. From her early EPs to her recent trilogy of autobiographical albums, the Montreal-based rapper, producer, and singer has been consistently taking her sound to new levels of intensity. She merges hard-hitting hip-hop beats with heavy metal, doom rock, and industrial music to create an eerie atmosphere that is heightened by her fierce vocal delivery, which ranges from pure rage to deep despair. She also expertly weaves in samples on songs like “Burn To Ashes” (off her 2021 album I LIE HERE BURIED WITH MY RINGS AND MY DRESSES, which features snippets of two Godspeed You! Black Emperor tracks, and the title track off her 2020 album, God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It (which contains a haunting Black Sabbath clip for maximum emotional impact). Backxwash’s lyrics are visceral, vulnerable, and full of horror imagery and allusions to witchcraft as she delves into religious trauma and abuse, talks about growing up in Zambia (especially on her 2022 album, His Happiness Shall Come First Even Though We Are Suffering, where the song titles are in Nyanja), explores her identity, gender, and sexuality, and offers the listeners an honest look into her mental health. Everything that Backxwash has put out to date has been incredibly powerful and gorgeously chaotic. I can’t wait to see what she creates next. • Em Moore

Dive Deeper: For the Love of Drugs is Quinton Barnes’ most addictive, terrifying and radiant work yet.

I can’t think of an artist who has continually amazed and perplexed me in the way that Quinton Barnes has. The Montreal-based multi-hyphenate (singer, songwriter, producer, remixer, collaborator, visual artist) never takes it easy on himself or his listeners. 2022’s For the Love of Drugs had a bit of a false start; Barnes scrapped what he was doing and started over after some initial feedback suggested it wasn’t time to take his foot off the throttle. Unapologetic and unreserved, Barnes doesn’t just hold a mirror up to our insecurities and fears; he throws us in the middle of a multi-level house of mirrors, refracting and reflecting the chaos back in a kaleidoscopic shower of sound and style. • Jim Di Gioia

Dive Deeper: Rollie Pemberton unpacks his experiences as Cadence Weapon, trying to find his place both inside and outside a rapidly evolving music world.

With a background deeply rooted in literature and poetry, Cadence Weapon brings a refreshingly intellectual perspective to his music, seamlessly blending literary references with raw, unfiltered storytelling. Cadence Weapon’s flow has always been dynamic and versatile from the jump, effortlessly switching between rapid-fire delivery and laid-back grooves. His influence extends far beyond Canada’s physical (and musical) borders, earning him critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase worldwide who recognize his ability to push the boundaries of traditional hip-hop. Though he’s been musically quiet since 2021’s Polaris Music Prize-winner Parallel World, he’s taken to Substack and become a prolific newsletter writer and advocating for an end to venue merch cuts. That’s all about to change: a new album, ROLLERCOASTER, is set to roll into our world this April, and if the first single, “Press Eject,” is any indication, he’s about to take us on another unpredictable ride. • Jim Di Gioia

Dive Deeper: Stay Tuned! is a deeply moving, intensely musical instalment of Dominique Fils-Aimé’s grand plan.

Dominique Fils-Aimé easily takes the place of any instrument. With a voice as strong as hers, it is no surprise that much of her work features little to no musical accompaniment, as her vocals stand out. She was another performer I was fortunate enough to catch at the River and Sky music festival, and her beauty radiated throughout the crowd. From the crown of her head to the soles of her feet, Fils-Aime carries herself with such a poised strength that can be felt when listening to each of the albums within her trilogy. She is someone who actively “conceptualizes the history of African American music.” • Weadee Mombo

There aren’t many ways to describe my first impression of Francis Blvd. other than “wow.” Situated in Laval, Quebec, Francis Blvd. is an underground musician making beats with a flow like no other.   Discovering his music was a great reminder of why I love digging for hidden gems. His EP titled Radical Neutral is anything but neutral. It skillfully blends the highs and lows of the best R&B, occasionally incorporating a touch of jazz into his musical creations. The electronic touch in his work makes it a revolutionary mix from which I can only imagine the possibilities for him. • Weajue Mombo

I’ll admit, I don’t naturally gravitate to house beats, but after seeing Gayance’s 2023 album consistently on the CJAM-FM’s top 12 charts, I decided to give her work a listen, and sure enough, I fell in love. Gayance, a Montreal-born Haitian artist with a spiritual connection to Brazil, currently residing in the Netherlands effortlessly blends elements of her rich cultures into the tapestry of her music. From house, Broken beat, R&B, and Afrobeat to Brazilian rhythms (to only name a few), she is able to create a sound that is seamlessly her own • Weadee Mombo

Dive Deeper: Keyboard Fantasies is the musical embodiment of its creator: a gentle, creative soul searching for their place in time and space.

Since the discovery of Keyboard Fantasies by an influential Japanese collector, Beverly Glenn-Copeland has become a Canadian icon of earnest joy and sincerity for a new generation. Long before he received the Polaris Heritage Prize in 2020, he was the only black student in the classical program at McGill and one of the few openly queer students at the University. He continued to work in and around the spotlight, writing for Sesame Street, singing backup for Bruce Cockburn, or performing on segments of Mr. Dressup. He released Primal Prayer in 2004, originally under a pseudonym, Phynix, and seemed content to open a theatre school in Miramichi, New Brunswick.

All this changed with Ryota Masuko’s discovery of Glenn-Copeland’s utopian synth album, setting off a chain of events that launched Glenn-Copeland into the spotlight in 2017. Since then, he has embarked on tours across Canada and Europe, won accolades and released a new album in 2023, The Ones Ahead.

Part of Glenn-Copeland’s allure is that he appears as unfazed by a lifetime of relative obscurity as he is by his renaissance, observing his newfound fame with humble gratitude. • Hiroki Tanaka

Gully is the world of Mungala Londe- a storyteller from Winnipeg’s growing hip-hop scene. As a member of The Lytics collective, Gully’s music embodies the raw energy and authentic lyricism of classic boom-bap. With his debut solo EP, Makishi Dance, Gully invites listeners into a world of gritty narratives and infectious beats. Fans of storytelling and soulful boom-bap vibes will find solace in Gully’s captivating sound. • Weajue Mombo

Released on Chaya Harvey’s birthday, June 10th, 2022, Born in Spring is a careful collection of intimate songs drawn from classic folk origins. The EP is no longer than 15 minutes, yet drips of melancholy that lasts an hour. Harvey has taken the folk acoustics of her previous release, Tender Love and stripped them down even further. The songs call little to no attention to themselves, and Harvey seems to hide in their dust. But straining through her hypnotic vocals, it is her exquisite songwriting that roots each song. • Weadee Mombo

When I first met J3M at the River and Sky festival in Sudbury, I was blown away by his energy. J3M is a disco-pop virtuoso redefining the Canadian music scene with his infectious smile and genre-defying sound. Born and raised in Ottawa to a Guyanese family, J3M draws on a diverse range of influences to create vibrant melodies and captivating storytelling. With his debut EP, AFRONAUT, J3M invites listeners on a thrilling journey through grooves tied to irresistible beats. Anyone who is a fan of dance-pop will find themselves loving J3M’s electrifying sound. • Weajue Mombo

Dive Deeper: The Same But By Different Means is the sound of Yves Jarvis chipping away at transcendence.

Ever since the opening crunch of “Bootstrap Jubilee,” Yves Jarvis has held my ears captive with his immersive music. Based in Montreal, he’s the visionary musician behind the enigmatic record, The Zug. Drawing inspiration from the chess concept of zugzwang, Jarvis crafts a sonic experience that transcends conventional boundaries. With a blend of traditional guitar instrumentation and an avant-garde use of basically everything else, The Zug emerges as a testament to Jarvis’s creativity and unwavering cadence. If you like experimentation in music and boundary-pushing soundscapes that feel alive, you’ll find yourself mesmerized by Jarvis’s work. • Weajue Mombo

Dive Deeper: JayWood’s goal with Slingshot was to build momentum and move towards finding his authentic self. Mission more than accomplished.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that an album cover can make or break an album for me. There’s nothing like stumbling across a visually beautiful cover and hearing that the music holds up just as well (if not better). That was no doubt the case when I came across Winnipeg-based artist JayWood and his lovely owls. King of the laid-back indie nonchalant vibe, Jaywood’s music is some of my favourite to relax to. • Weadee Mombo

Rap québ is one of my guilty pleasures. With island/afro beats mixed with stylistic québec colloquialisms, Long jeu is a gem in the Canadian rap canon. You can hear the confidence and charisma of KNLO (also known as Quebec rap artist Kenlo Craqnuques) radiating through his work. The electronic dial tones and broken French is a fun listen, and his flow is immensely good. If you’re looking for somewhere to start, “@ L’Église” has never failed to leave me without a smile on my face and fear not, anglophone friends, most of KNLO’s work is Franglais and even when it’s not, the beat is a vibe nonetheless. • Weadee Mombo

If you need further proof that alternative music was made for Black people, look no further than Camille Léon. Leon is a DIY project straight to the bone. Her sound is full and deep, with riffs that speak to another register of being. Léon is not only a musician, but her creativity sparks wildfires through her amazing outfits and illustrations. Her 2022 EP Near Quaint is evidence that she has taken time to refine her work. It will give goosebumps to anyone who takes the dive into her world. • Weajue Mombo

Dive Deeper: Fourth Album is an artifact of Markus Floats’ ongoing artistic journey and ethos, infusing his palette with vivid hues and newfound depth.

Multidisciplinary artist Markus Lake—aka Markus Floats—has a keen ear for texture and mastery at making beauty from a cacophony of analogue and digital sounds. His work brings electronic, ambient, and experimental music elements to immersive sonic topography that is anything but flat. His series of ordinally named albums expound on each other, taking 2023’s Fourth Album into new territory with a set of collaborators and the inclusion of spoken word. On top of it all, Lake is also responsible for each album’s visual presentation, mirroring the music’s multi-coloured collage-like nature. • Jim Di Gioia

While Toronto can be an unforgiving music scene, Mighloe (Mariah Wheeler) is an artist who has bloomed in the city. Her soulful vocals and raw emotional honesty bring new life into the city. Mighloe’s music not only captivates audiences with her poignant storytelling and infectious energy, but sets herself apart with gorgeous visuals. Seeing her perform live at the NXNE festival for the first time was a truly moving experience. Whether you’re navigating the complexities of love or searching for solace in the depths of emotion, Mighloe’s music offers a powerful soundtrack for life’s journey. Fans of R&B and soulful lyrics will no doubt find themselves drawn to Mighloe’s sound. • Weajue Mombo

Mooki (with no E) is a black sheep, and he owns it. Hailing from the city of Winnipeg and born to Jamaican and Ghanaian parents, his music thrives in places it might not “belong.” If anything, that has only brought out a darker, more mature blend of hip-hop, and lo-fi R&B, which feels reminiscent of acts like Armand Hammer. His spectacular use of samples likewise weaves out narratives that I can’t wait to see continue in future work. • Weajue Mombo

Dive Deeper: Semblance is mature beyond MorMor’s years and yet refreshingly vital, alive, and very much in the now.

It’s fitting that Seth Nyquist, better known by his stage name MorMor, called his 2019 EP Some Place Else, as its ethereal melodies, captivating lyricism, and soulful sound were transportive. He’s since kept the vibe and feel going with 2022’s Semblance. It is a balanced and poised album that emerged just as the world fell into chaos and uncertainty. Listening to it now, on the other side of that initial flush of craziness, it feels as though there isn’t anything that can throw MorMor off his game; he’s the kind of performer that instantly exudes calm, and confidence the moment he opens his mouth, whether he feels that way or not. • Jim Di Gioia

Dive Deeper: Cedric Noel demonstrates how to grapple with some of the struggles unique to people of colour, transforming introspection into something good for others.

Since his breakthrough LP, Nothing Forever, Everything, Cedric Noel has refined his particular strain of lo-fi indie rock. Born in Niger but adopted into a family that moved across the globe often, Noel landed in Fredericton, New Brunswick, where he found himself in a predominantly white music community. Exploring that history and identity has provided ample fodder for his subsequent musical output: The Polaris nominated Hang Time is an expansive collection of songs exploring his identity, belonging and purpose in a distinctive sound all his own, while early recordings on Bandcamp all share that raw, DIY exploration as he sought to express his own identity in a historically white genre. Hang Time, in particular, is as focused on paying homage as it is subverting them. “Allies” starts with characteristic angular guitar strumming, leading into a recording of Malcolm X, only to launch into oversaturated percussion. It’s that kind of deliberate experimentalism that makes for such captivating listening, and you’ll never know where a Cedric Noel song might go next. • Hiroki Tanaka

The OBGMs (The oOoh Baby Gimme Mores) are masters at crafting high-energy punk rock anthems that are perfect for fans of raw and intense music. They are chaos personified. Where else can you find unbridled, authentic punk if not for right here? More than that, the OBGMs represent what punk is all about- offering spaces to marginalized communities to “rise against.” In a world of indifference, they slam emotion into every word. Discovering their work is an electrifying experience that everyone deserves. • Weajue Mombo

No feature about Black Canadian musicians would be complete without some mention of Karim Ouellet and his fantastic playful albums. His passing upset me deeply and came as a shock to many as he was truly the image of Black joy and radiance. Although he is no longer with us, his music still stands today as one of the strongest and finest indie rock productions in this country. • Weadee Mombo

Dive Deeper: poolblood’s debut is a dynamic, open-ended study of relationships and life experiences that offers possible outcomes rather than resolutions.

There is no one in the Canadian music scene that I’ve been more proud to watch grow than Mariam Said, aka poolblood. From their 2019 release, Yummy, to their recent Audiotree live session, poolblood consistently brings comfort to my heart and blossoms across any stage beautifully. From the moment you hit play on their debut album, mole, you are invited to enter the intimate ponderings. Each track feels like a hushed confession, a shared memory, or a whispered desire. It is a heartfelt conversation with an old friend that leaves too soon. I can’t recommend it enough. • Weadee Mombo

After ten years as a band, Toronto-based Pseudo decided to bring the project to a close in 2023, but their album, Renovations, will stand the test of time. The album showcases the band’s creativity and vigorous energy over the course of ten tracks that keep you on your toes with exciting arrangements that find the band seamlessly switching from blistering hardcore punk to delicate piano solos to infectiously melodic group vocals (just try not to sing along, I dare you!) to intricate mathy guitar parts in the blink of an eye. Pseudo not only introduced themselves on Renovations, but they also cemented their place in Canadian punk history with their stellar musicianship, driving energy, and heartfelt lyrics. • Em Moore

Beautiful samples, interludes and even smoother bars. Toronto-based Qonitnue is one to watch.  Everything about this album is perfect; production, album art, lyrics- everything. So many moments that give me goosebumps and are exactly what fans of alternative hip hop/jazz rap love most. It sounds like an old-school lo-fi album but with clean production. • Weadee Mombo

Dive Deeper: At times cold and desolate, at others brimming with life, the effects of Water & Tools will stick with you long after it ends.

Jairus Sharif is rippling musical waves through multiple genres and styles that feel as organic, authentic, experimental, and exploratory. The Calgary-based improviser’s 2022 album, Water & Tools, is deep, vast, and mind-spinning work that walks the tightrope between smooth grooves and gritty dissonance. It’s a record rife with punk energy, jazz improvisation, and a stunning introduction for a mesmerizing talent. • Jim Di Gioia

Super Duty Tough Work, hailing from the (often surprisingly) vibrant music scene of Edmonton, brings a raw and unfiltered energy to the world of hip-hop. With razor-sharp lyricism and infectious beats, their music speaks to the struggles and triumphs of urban life, offering a voice to the voiceless and a soundtrack for the streets. Their music does not apologize whatsoever. SDTW pulls up straight to the colonial heart of so-called Canada. They’re a top recommendation for anyone who loves jazz, rap, and hip-hop. • Weajue Mombo