Black Artists: Ones To Watch For In 2022

By Monica Walton. 24 Feb 2022 3:09 PM

Fresh artists, fresh sounds, fresh talent – this Black History Month we’re celebrating the up-and-comers making significant strides in their careers. As we settle into 2022, our eyes are on an impressive roster of breakthrough stars we expect to see on our screens and rising up the ranks in the coming months and years.

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Photo Credit: Savannah Re

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The Nova Twins
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The English rock duo offers the kind of fresh voice we need in 2022, balancing hard rock, punk, rap, and silky pop to deliver a message meant to galvanize global audiences. Touching on Brexit, sexism, acceptance, and more, from showing off their commanding stage presence with the likes of Wolf Alice and Little Simz, to the legendary Tom Morello calling them the ‘best band you've never heard of,’ Nova Twins keep proving themselves worthy to walk among the greats.
Savannah Ré
Photo Credit: Savannah Re
One of Toronto’s brightest R&B stars, Ré is one of 54 artists being championed by the YouTube Black Voices Class of 2022, a program aimed at amplifying Black voices on YouTube by offering artist support with funding and training.
A go-to collaborator for R&B’s upper echelon, the star has written with artists like Babyface, Normani, Daniel Caesar, and Wondagurl, as well as opening for artists like TLC and Jessie Reyez. Her single “Best Is Yet To Come” was selected as one of the 100 Best Songs of the Year by Apple Music.The program, supported by the #YouTubeBlackVoicesFund, includes mentorship from rapper and producer Slick Rick and will be yet another milestone for the singer.
Tati Gabrielle
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Best-known for her role on Netflix’s “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” Tati Gabrielle earned raves for the latest season of “You” which finds her starring with established performers like Penn Badgley and Victoria Pedretti. The California native has quickly established herself as a versatile performer and an exciting face in television, with her success rolling well into 2023. Gabrielle will appear in “Uncharted,” which stars "Spider-Man"‘s Tom Holland in a film adaptation of the popular video game series of the same name. She also nabbed a main role in “Jigsaw,” a new Netflix series set to follow “around the largest heist ever attempted, and the vengeance, scheming, loyalties, and betrayals that surround it.”
Adrienne Warren
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Fresh off her Tony Award-winning performance as Tina Turner in "Tina: The Tina Turner Musical," Adrienne Warren is set to make her equally as impressive mark in the TV/film arena this year. The actress is starting of the year showing what she’s capable of as Mamie Till Mobley, in ABC’s “Women of the Movement” series. Warren will also join Colman Domingo and Audra McDonald in the upcoming Bayard Rustin biopic, “Rustin,” which comes from the Obamas' Higher Ground production company.
Tai Verdes
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He went from making music between shifts at his local Verizon store, to living out his dreams. Tai Verdes transformed TikTok his virality into chart-climbing hits. His sizzling track, "Stuck in the Middle," recorded in his his car, shows the popstar will continue to shine through as he proves to be anything but a one-hit-wonder. Verdes is set on becoming as influential as he is resolute.
Shenseea
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Shenseea has cultivated a reputation as one of hip-hop’s most versatile and talented newbies. After showcasing her versatility on Ye’s Grammy-nominated album “DONDA,” she's now ready to release her long-awaited debut album featuring powerhouse Megan Thee Stallion, Shenseea’s captivating voice and edgy lyricism promises to show up for any and every occasion.
Muni Long
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Described by Rolling Stone as “genre-agnostic,” Muni Long’s talent shone-behind-the-scenes long before it did in the spotlight. Skilled with a talent for storytelling, the singer/songwriter wrote on pop hits such as Rihanna’s “California King Bed,” Fifth Harmony and Kid Ink’s “Worth It,” Grammy-winning country hits, “Somethin’ Bad” from Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert and Pitbull & Kesha’s “Timber.” It wasn’t until late 2021 that the star’s own sensual R&B ballad, “"Hrs and Hrs" got the recognition it deserved — going viral on TikTok and climbing the charts to the top 20.
Moses Ingram
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From her Emmy-nominated performance in "The Queen’s Gambit," to her portrayal of Lady Macduff in Joel Coen's "The Tragedy of Macbeth," 2022 is shaping up to be an even bigger year for actress and writer Moses Ingram. The actress is set to play Whitney Houston's long-time assistant Robyn Crawford in the much anticipated biopic, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody."

She’s also cast in the upcoming Disney Plus Star Wars series, "Obi-Wan Kenobi," alongside Ewan McGregor, who returns to the role after more than 15 years.
Lucien Laviscount
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The British actor rose to prominence in 2007 after appearing in teen drama “Grange Hill". To say that the 29-year-old’s career has levelled up quickly is an understatement. In 2017–18, he starred on Sony Crackle’s crime comedy-drama “Snatch.” Laviscount also played Alexander Cabot in The CW series “Katy Keene,” and in 2015, Laviscount played regular character, Earl Grey, in the first season of the horror comedy “Scream Queens” on Fox. The star is now turning heads as love interest "Alfie" in season 2 of the Netflix original series "Emily in Paris." The opportunity keeps the pressure on him as one of the rising stars in a pocket of the industry that is embracing diversity, if slowly.
Labrinth
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Creating slick tunes that mesh electronic, hip-hop and gospel into one powerful package, the singer, songwriter, producer, and composer behind the deeply human soundtrack for HBO’s hit show, “Euphoria”, Labrinth’s rise has been a remarkably fast one, and rightly so. While the Brit artist’s work on Euphoria can’t be, and shouldn’t be overlooked, his solo work channels the same winning cinematic flair and magnetic melodies.
Jabari Banks
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Embodying the talent, charisma, and sheer swagger to make the iconic role of the “Fresh Prince of Belair” his own, newcomer Jabari Banks is ready for his world to get flipped-turned upside down. Taking the lead role in a 'contemporary reimagining' of the original series that turned Will Smith into a global superstar, the series is one of the most highly anticipated shows of 2022. Banks is a talented rapper who knows his way around the basketball court and he’s West Philadelphia born and raised.
Damson Idris
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The south East London actor has brought his talents on-screen out West, reaching global audiences through American crime drama “Snowfall” in which he plays a 21-year-old drug kingpin and patriarch of "The Family."

The doors continued to open for him, as he garnered a leading role in Netflix's sci-fi action film "Outside the Wire" alongside Anthony Mackie. In 2017, he told Interview magazine he garners inspiration from Denzel Washington, "[Denzel is] phenomenal. I didn't know I wanted to be an actor, but once it found me I looked at whom people were saying were great. I looked at who I wanted to be like. Not just in acting, but in their personal life as well. Being a well-rounded person, a fine example of good taste and prestige and class, that's what I really chased, so he was the person that did it for me.”
Capella Grey
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Bringing the party culture back, Capella Grey, who’s real name is Curtis Jackson, paid homage to his Jamaican heritage with his sun-soaked top 40 summer anthem “Gyalis” and shows no signs of slowing down. The Bronx dance-hall artist, signed by Capitol Records has collaborated with rap icons such as A Boogie, Joey Bada$$ and Russ, but, hungry for more, the rising rapper is readying his debut project, set to be released later this year.
Arya Star
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Captivating legends like Kelly Rowland and Rema, with an intricately woven web of Afropop percussion and R&B, Arya’s a distinct and dynamic voice that brought us global-charting single “Bloody Samaritan” is leading a new class of Nigerian women singing about preserving their power, persevering through heartbreak and protecting their peace. Starr, who is signed to Nigeria’s leading label Mavin Records, is more than ready to step out as a full-fledged solo musician that brims with personality.
Angela Hunte
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Racking up songwriter credits with giants like Rihanna and Britney and Nas, the accomplished American-Trinidadian singer-songwriter and producer already has impressive accomplishments to her name, including a Grammy for her contributions to Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind.” The talented triple-threat is set to release her official debut LP this spring.

Black Artists: Ones To Watch For In 2022

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