Erykah Badu　

She grew up listening to ’70s soul and ’80s hip-hop, but Erykah Badu drew more comparisons to Billie Holiday upon her breakout in 1997, after the release of her first album, Baduizm. The groo ..more

Eric Benet　

Eric Benet is a contemporary R＆B singer with mild hip-hop and strong adult contemporary influences. As a teenager, he performed in a family vocal group (appropriately named Benet) with ..more

Air　

Ohio Players　

With their slinky, horn-powered grooves, impeccable musicianship, and eye-popping album covers, the Ohio Players were among the top funk bands of the mid-’70s. Emerging from the musical hotbed of D ..more

Otis Redding　

One of the most influential soul singers of the 1960s, Otis Redding exemplified to many listeners the power of Southern deep soul -- hoarse, gritty vocals, brassy arrangements, and an emoti ..more

Orbital　

Orbital became one of the biggest names in techno during the mid-’90s by solving the irreconcilable differences previously inherent in the genre： to stay true to the dance underground and, at th ..more

Kanye West　

In the span of three short years, Kanye West went from hip-hop beatmaker to worldwide hitmaker, as his stellar production work for Jay-Z led to a major-label recording contract and, ultimately, ..more

Kali Uchis　

Curtis Mayfield　

Perhaps because he didn’t cross over to the pop audience as heavily as Motown’s stars, it may be that the scope of Curtis Mayfield’s talents and contributions have yet to be fully recognized. ..more

Caravan Palace　

Caravan Palace is a self-described electro-swing group from Paris, France, that made its full-length debut in 2008. Comprised of Charles Delaporte (bass, programming), Arnaud Vial (gui ..more

Candi Staton　

Born March 13, 1940, in Hanceville, AL, Candi Stanton sang with the Jewell Gospel Trio as a teenager. They toured the traditional gospel circuit in the 1950s with the Soul Stirrers, C.L. ..more

Khruangbin　

Khruangbin (Thai for airplane, or literally engine fly) are a jet-setting trio from Texas whose smooth, mainly instrumental music is heavily inspired by Thai rock and funk from the ’60s and ’70s, ..more

Cleo Sol　

Cool Million　

Influenced by the ’80s synth funk of the S.O.S. Band, Midnight Star, and Jimmy Jam ＆ Terry Lewis, Cool Million are a European production duo whose mission statement is to take soul bac ..more

Kool & The Gang　

Formed as a jazz ensemble in the mid-’60s, Kool ＆ the Gang became one of the most inspired and influential funk units during the ’70s, and one of the most popular R＆B groups of the ’80s af ..more

The Chemical Brothers　

Electronica mainstay the Chemical Brothers - Ed Simmons and Tom Rowlands - has just released their first career-spanning hits collection, ’Singles 93-03 Collection’. Along with their contemporaries, ..more

Kendrick Lamar　

Platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated rapper Kendrick Lamar is one of the rare artists who has achieved critical and commercial success while earning the respect and support of those who inspired him. ..more

Sam Cooke　

Sam Cooke was the most important soul singer in history -- he was also the inventor of soul music, and its most popular and beloved performer in both the black and white communities. Equally ..more

Sampha　

Sampha Sisay is a singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and producer whose artful and emotive mix of pop, R＆B, and electronic music isn’t easily categorized. He started making music early in his teenage ..more

Zara Larsson　

Swedish vocalist and songwriter Zara Larsson has a penchant for crafting soulful electropop that falls somewhere between Rihanna, Lorde, and Robyn. Born in Solna (a suburb of Stockholm), s ..more