Happy Juneteenth

Juneteenth celebrates the day African Americans were freed from slavery. Without Black artists, there wouldn’t be funk, R&B, and many other genres that are loved today. 

Rick James fought for increased representation of Black artists. When MTV failed to play them during the 1980s, he fought. He emphasized the talent and contributions of Black musicians, urging the executives to change. His efforts, along with those of other artists and activists, ultimately led to changes within MTV, resulting in increased airtime for Black artists and greater diversity in the music industry.

Celebrate Black artists with this playlist

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.