Ukraine Honours Black Music

This year, in honour of Black Music Month, we’re exploring the undeniable impact of Black music and musicians around the world. Ukraine is known for its unique pop scene, which, at present, is going through a renaissance. New artists are not afraid to experiment and actively permeate genre borders; many of them are inspired by Black artists and culture, not only following current trends but also digging to the foundation of them. Alina Pash is a logical continuation of SZA and Azealia Banks’ sounds, while Lil Morty is the most successful hip-hop artist in the local minimalistic trap scene. Elsewhere, alyona alyona is leading Ukrainian hip-hop to new global heights, and Boombox experiments with funk and hip-hop while being one of the most successful Ukrainian bands. Ivan Dorn and his label Masterskaya use soul and funk traditions to put on a spin on their own version of pop music. Dive into our Black Music Month playlist, and if you hear something you like, save it to your library.