February marks Black History Month—a reminder that Black musicians and their talent are a key pillar of music history, and the industry, all year round.
As a mixed-race Black woman myself, I think it’s crucial to recognize the influence of Black artists in every corner of the music world, across a wide variety of genres and styles.
So, here’s some of February’s top picks—keep them playing all year.
Song: “Bigger (feat. Choklate),” De La Soul, Choklate
Hip-hop legends De La Soul are back, and boy am I glad. As a long-time fan of the group, with their iconic record 3 Feet High and Rising—in my humble opinion—enduring as one of the best hip-hop albums to date, I knew I had to give this single a listen, especially considering the group’s recent appearance on streaming services for the first time in 2023.
“Bigger (feat. Choklate)” is a laid-back groove that feels old school—because it is. As part of their rollout for the 20th anniversary of iconic album The Grind Date in March, this previously unreleased single sees the light of day for the first time.
One of two unheard songs from the same session as The Grind Date, originally released in 2004, “Bigger” is in good company with familiar favourites like “Rock Co.Kane Flow” feat. MF DOOM,” and “Shopping Bags (She Got from You).”
With mellow beats, punchy lyrics and smooth vocals from Choklate—an R&B heavyweight in her own right—the song is a blast from the past that still feels relevant in 2025.
Album: EUSEXUA, FKA twigs
EUSEXUA has a strange beauty that makes it all the more memorable. It’s a little weird, but that’s why I like it so much.
To me, it sounds like a welcome return to the subversive and strange for FKA twigs, more similar to her early works LP1
and MAGDALENE. It’s difficult to pin the album down to one genre, with haunting electronica on “Wanderlust,” an erratic, erotic sense of release in “Room Of Fools,” and the more pop-house sound in “Childlike Things,” featuring 11 year old North West.
It’s a mature record that isn’t afraid of the real, with songs like “Sticky” and “Keep It, Hold It,” intensely confessional in tone. The record feels industrial, confronting, and raw, seemingly the closest the audience has been allowed to FKA twigs’ soul.
It’s a departure from her most recent album CAPRISONGS. Though the 2022 record was full of songs I loved, its pop and R&B infusion was familiar and palatable—not straying far from the line.
EUSEXUA remains experimental yet having widespread appeal, reaching mind-boggling streaming numbers after just weeks of its release. “Perfect Stranger” is my favourite, but it’s a difficult choice to make. Ask me again in a week.
Artist: Aqyila
Toronto-based R&B artist Aqyila is making waves in the music world, and she’s played right here on Queen’s campus.
The JUNO award-winning artist first reached my radar with her 2023 EP For the Better, and you might know her from her viral tracks “Vibe for Me (Bob for Me),” and “Bloom” which made the rounds on TikTok last year.
If you thought the singer’s impressive vocals sound good on the recordings, they’re even better live. Aqyila performed at this year’s Orientation Roundtable mystery concert, with an impressive cover of Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain,” that was a testament to her vocal skills, as well as the creative talent seen in her originals.
Currently on tour and playing at Toronto’s Massey Hall on Feb. 19, it’s a show worth making the journey for if R&B is up your alley.
From the Vault: The Sugarhill Gang, Sugarhill Gang
On this day in 1980 in music history, the Sugarhill Gang released their self-titled debut record, Sugarhill Gang.
The group, made up of Master Gee, Wonder Mike and Big Bank Hank, were brought together by producer and founder of Sugar Hill Records Sylvia Robinson. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the record, there’s no doubt you know the now-iconic track “Rapper’s Delight,” persevering as one of the group’s most enduring hits to date.
Capturing the essence of ‘70s hip-hop block parties into what’s considered one of the first recorded hip-hop albums, the record has elements of blues, funk, soul, and disco.
At the time, many thought rap would be a short-lived novelty item, a laughable thought in 2025, but a very real concern at the time.
The record stands the test of time, with “Rappers Reprise (Jam-Jam)” featuring The Sequence, and “ion Play” lurking in groovy obscurity in the shadow of “Rapper’s Delight.”
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