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50 great albums by queer artists of color


Rich Fury // Getty Images

50 great albums by queer artists of color

Lil Nas X performing onstage at 2022 Grammys



Everett Collection // Shutterstock

Bessie Smith: ‘Empress of the Blues’ (1940)



Hulton Archive // Getty Images

Josephine Baker: ‘Chansons Américaines’ (1951)



Robert Elfstrom/Villon Films // Getty Images

Bayard Rustin: ‘Bayard Rustin Sings a Program of Spirituals’ (1952)



William Gottlieb // Getty Images

Billie Holiday: ‘Lady Sings the Blues’ (1956)



Tony Evans/Timelapse Library Ltd. // Getty Images

Sister Rosetta Tharpe: ‘Gospel Train’ (1956)



Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images

Little Richard: ‘Here’s Little Richard’ (1957)



V&A Images // Getty Images

Johnny Mathis: ‘Open Fire, Two Guitars’ (1959)



Bill Wagg // Getty Images

Billy Strayhorn: ‘The Peaceful Side’ (1963)



David Redfern // Getty Images

Little Richard: ‘Little Richard Is Back (And There’s a Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On!)’ (1964)



Jeff Goode // Getty Images

Jackie Shane: ‘Jackie Shane Live’ (1967)



Ron Howard // Getty Images

Labi Siffre: ‘Remember My Song’ (1975)



Richard Creamer/Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images

Sylvester: ‘Step II’ (1978)



Fantasy // Discogs

Sylvester: ‘All I Need’ (1982)



Solomon NJie // Getty Images

Jermaine Stewart: ‘The Word Is Out’ (1984)



Tim Mosenfelder // Getty Images

Tracy Chapman: ‘Tracy Chapman’ (1988)



Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Images

King’s X: ‘Gretchen Goes to Nebraska’ (1989)



Sal Idriss // Getty Images

Frankie Knuckles: ‘Beyond the Mix’ (1991)



JC Olivera // Getty Images

RuPaul: ‘Supermodel of the World’ (1993)



Theo Wargo // Getty Images

Meshell Ndegeocello: ‘Plantation Lullabies’ (1993)



Diana Scrimgeour // Getty Images

Tracy Chapman: ‘New Beginning’ (1995)



J. Countess // Getty Images

Frankie Knuckles: ‘Welcome to the Real World’ (1995)



Gilbert Carrasquillo // Getty Images

Meshell Ndegeocello: ‘Bitter’ (1999)



20160609_GTA End Year Dinner // Wikimedia Commons

Gaye Adegbalola: ‘Bittersweet Blues’ (1999)



Erika Goldring // Getty Images

Big Freedia: ‘Queen Diva’ (2003)



Rachel Murray // Getty Images

Tonéx: ‘Out the Box’ (2004)



Larry Counce Jr.

Tori Fixx: ‘Marry Me’ (2005)



Hntrx & Cocktail O’Amore Records // Discogs

Shaun J. Wright: ‘Hercules and Love Affair’ (2008)



Domino // Discogs

Yo Majesty: ‘Futuristically Speaking … Never Be Afraid’ (2008)



Tyler Kaufman // Getty Images

Frank Ocean: ‘Channel Orange’ (2012)



Christie Goodwin // Getty Images

Azealia Banks: ‘Broke with Expensive Taste’ (2014)



Burak Cingi // Getty Images

Kevin Abstract: ‘MTV1987’ (2014)



Robert Ricciuti // Getty Images

Angel Haze: ‘Back to the Woods’ (2015)



Churchkey Records // Discogs

Shirlette Ammons: ‘Language Barrier’ (2015)



Dia Dipasupil // Getty Images

Frank Ocean: ‘Blonde’ (2016)



Rommel Demano // Getty Images

Cakes Da Killa: ‘Hedonism’ (2016)



Santiago Felipe // Getty Images

Mykki Blanco: ‘Mykki’ (2016)



Tim Mosenfelder // Getty Images

Brockhampton: ‘Saturation’ (2017)



Graham Denholm // Getty Images

Syd: ‘Fin’ (2017)



Ilya S. Savenok // Getty images

Honey Dijon: ‘The Best of Both Worlds’ (2017)



Dimitrios Kambouris // Getty Images

Janelle Monáe: ‘Dirty Computer’ (2018)



Joseph Okpako // Getty Images

MNEK: ‘Language’ (2018)



Paras Griffin // Getty Images

Kodie Shane: ‘Young Heartthrob’ (2018)



Gareth Cattermole // Getty Images

Tyler, the Creator: ‘Igor’ (2019)



Dave Simpson // Getty Images

Kaytranada: ‘Bubba’ (2019)



Kevork Djansezian // Getty Images

Brittany Howard: ‘Jaime’ (2019)



Roger Kisby // Getty Images

Kehlani: ‘It Was Good Until It Wasn’t’ (2020)



Scott Legato // Getty Images

Siena Liggins: ‘Ms. Out Tonight’ (2021)



Monica Schipper // Getty Images

Serpentwithfeet: ‘Deacon’ (2021)



David Wolff-Patrick/Redferns via Getty Images

Arlo Parks: ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’ (2021)

Arlo Parks performing onstage in Paris



Rich Fury // Getty Images

Lil Nas X: ‘Montero’ (2021)

Lil Nas X performing onstage at 2022 Grammys


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