Here Are The Underrated Black Creatives, Artists, And Actors You NEED To Start Stanning (If You Aren't Already)
There are a plethora of superstar Black creatives who are household names and generational stars — from Zendaya to Megan Thee Stallion, Daniel Kaluuya to Mj Rodriguez, to name just a few.
But, obviously, there are a bunch of artists — actors, influencers, musicians — who deserve your attention, praise, and hype. From up-and-coming Gen-Z talent who should be on your radar to people who are just incredibly underrated (usually as a result of Hollywood's colorism problem), here are 25 Black creatives you need to stan expeditiously:
1.Ryan Destiny
An actor and singer, Ryan is best known for her roles in Lee Daniels' musical drama Star and a recurring role on Grown-ish. She's also been in several music videos, channeling video vixen energy in Doja Cat's "Need to Know" and Big Sean's "Paradise." She'll soon be the lead in a psychological horror movie called Oracle and will play the main character in Flint Strong, a sports biopic about pro boxer Claressa "T-Rex" Shields. Ryan hive — our time is coming!!!
You can watch a clip of Ryan in Grown-ish below:
2.Coco Jones
Those who grew up on 2000s Disney Channel know this icon well. Coco first rose to prominence by starring in the classic Disney original movie Let It Shine, alongside Tyler James Williams and Trevor Jackson. In 2020, she released a YouTube video where she spoke at length about how her management mishandled her career and how she was told she wasn't "marketable" enough as a result of rampant colorism in the entertainment industry. However, she's now gracing our screens as Hilary Banks in Peacock's Bel-Air, a show that has made it its mission to depict the lives of dark-skinned Black people.
You can watch Coco sing "Me And You" from Let It Shine below:
3.Rico Nasty
Rico Nasty, born Maria-Cecilia Simone Kelly, is a rapper and singer best known for her viral hit "Smack a Bitch," which was made in collaboration with record producer Kenny Beats (who's worked with artists like Dominic Fike, Vince Staples, and Zack Fox). She's been featured on tracks like Doja Cat's "Tia Tamera" and Kali Uchis' "?aquí yo mando!" She coined the term "sugar trap," which aptly describes her pop-punk meets underground rap genre style. Last year, she made her television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with a performance of "OHFR?" off of her first album, Nightmare Vacation. Go give her a listen if you're not already on the Rico train!
You can view Rico's "Smack a Bitch" video below:
4.Normani
Obviously, most people know who Normani is, but that doesn't stop her from being ridiculously underrated in the music industry! Formerly of the girl group Fifth Harmony, the singer has since launched a successful solo career, with hits like "Motivation" and "Wild Side" with Cardi B. We already know her debut album is forthcoming, but recently, the 25-year-old teased an a capella snippet of a single releasing soon! IDK about you, but I'm ready for her to dominate the pop charts.
You can watch Normani's "Wild Side" video below:
5.Maliibu Miitch
A rapper and songwriter, Maliibu actually first came on my radar by being featured in an early Season 1 episode of Euphoria. The track — "Give Her Some Money" — pops up in Episode 3, when Kat (Barbie Ferreira) transfers bitcoin to Fez (Angus Cloud). Anyway, I couldn't get it out of my head for days, if not months — and for good reason, since it's catchy as hell! Her other stellar songs include features on "GUCCI" (by Bree Runway — more on her below) and "XXXTC" by Brooke Candy (also featuring Charli XCX).
You can watch Maliibu's "Give Her Some Money" below:
6.Tierra Whack
A rapper, singer, and songwriter, Tierra's debut album, Whack World, was released in 2018 to critical acclaim. You may have heard the 26-year-old Philadelphia native's hit song "Only Child." She's since collaborated with Lil Yachty, A$AP Rocky, and Tyler, the Creator (on "T.D," marking her first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100) and Melanie Martinez (on "Copy Cat").
You can listen to Tierra's "Only Child" below:
7.Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Yahya is poised to be one of the biggest movie stars in the world, and last year was definitely the beginning of what is yet to come. In 2021, he starred in the rebooted Candyman as well as The Matrix: Resurrections as a sentient computer version of Morpheus. He's got an Emmy under his belt already, and has also been in immensely popular titles like Aquaman, Us, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and more. Personally, I WILL be boasting about the fact that he came on my radar back in 2017, when he portrayed the suave yet domineering kingpin Cadillac in Netflix's The Get Down. Basically, what I'm saying is...get with the program already!
You can watch a clip of Yahya in Candyman below:
8.Teyonah Parris
Teyonah has had a long career in film and TV — spanning more than two decades — but I still feel like she hasn't been given her due! Best known for her roles in movies (she was in Spike Lee's Chi-Raq, the film version of Dear White People, Barry Jenkins' superb If Beale Street Could Talk, and costarred alongside Yahya in Candyman), you probably recently saw her in WandaVision as Monica Rambeau. She'll reprise that role in the upcoming movie The Marvels and star in Netflix's They Cloned Tyrone.
You can watch a clip of Teyonah in WandaVision below:
9.Moses Ingram
Moses first broke out with Netflix's smash hit limited series The Queen's Gambit, for which she earned a well-deserved Emmy nomination. She's since landed a role in the Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand–starring Oscar-nominated The Tragedy of Macbeth. AND she'll also be in Ambulance, Michael Bay's new action-crime heist movie with Yahya and Jake Gyllenhaal, and the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi. It's safe to say her future is very bright, and I can't wait to see what else she's in next!
You can watch a clip of Moses in The Queen's Gambit below:
Moses Ingram (The Queen’s Gambit)This Emmy nominated role is the first acting role she booked after graduating from Yale Drama School.
10.Amindi
You can watch "Slideshow," Amindi's latest project, below:
11.Bree Runway
If you're already working up a playlist for the summer like me, then Bree better be on it! An English singer-songwriter and rapper, she first signed to EMI Records in 2018. Soon after, she released her debut EP, Be Runway (an iconic name, BTW), which spawned the pop anthemic "All Night" (a must-listen-to track). Then came her debut mixtape, 2000AND4EVA, which features collaborations with Missy Elliott and multiple lovely people on this list: Maliibu Miitch, Rico Nasty, and Baby Tate (below).
You can watch Bree's video for "Hot Hot" (one of my personal faves) below:
12.Baby Tate
Born Tate Sequoya Farris, Baby Tate's musical capabilities run in her blood. She's the daughter of soul singer Dionne Farris and producer David Ryan Harris. Her songs have been featured on Euphoria ("Beckham" in the pilot episode) and Insecure (she partnered with Issa Rae's Raedio label to release "Do Me Like That"). The rapper has since signed with Warner Records and released a major label debut single called "Pedi" in late 2021, following the success of viral hits like "I Am" featuring Flo Milli (below), "Rainbow Cadillac," and "Eenie Meenie." Personally, one of my favorites is her collaboration with Marian Hill (you know, the electronic duo who went viral for their 2016 hit "Down") called "Ooo That's My Type." While you're at it, add her to your ever-growing playlist too!
You can watch the video for "Rainbow Cadillac" below:
13.Flo Milli
I feel like everyone knows who Flo is, but, like, where is her Best New Artist Grammy nom?! (Though it's worth noting she snagged a Best New Artist nom at the 2020 BET Hip Hop Awards.) Born in Alabama, the Gen-Z rapper first went mega-viral for her hits "Beef FloMix" and "In the Party," which quickly became the go-to tracks for every fan-cam of everyone ever. After that, she signed a deal with RCA Records and released her debut mixtape, Ho, why is you here?, to critical acclaim. She was also on the soundtrack for Halle Berry's movie Bruised. Her latest song, "PBC," is streaming now!
You can listen to "Beef FloMix" below:
14.Lovie Simone
Lovie is possibly best known for her role as the titular Selah in Amazon's Selah and the Spades. Directed by Tayarisha Poe, the movie tells the story of five underground factions at a prestigious boarding school and how Selah rules them all. Jharrel Jerome and Jesse Williams also star. Lovie's also been in TV shows like Greenleaf and Power Book III: Raising Kanan. Next up, she'll be in The Walk, a 1970s-era drama about school integration alongside Malcolm McDowell and Terrence Howard.
You can watch Lovie in the Selah and the Spades trailer below:
15.Amanda Elimian
You can watch one of her latest videos, on the second season of Euphoria, below:
16.Kirby Howell-Baptiste
IDK about you, but I'm truly ready for Kirby to take over the world. The British actor has already been in so many notable titles, having memorable roles in hits like The Good Place, Killing Eve, Barry, Why Women Kill, and Disney's Cruella. Next up, she'll portray Death in Netflix's The Sandman. So, while you may be thinking "Why the hell is she on this list given that she's so well-known already?" allow me to posit: Where is her rom-com where she's the lead? Where is her star-making thriller? What about a show where she's a coder taking down a tech company, IDK?! In essence, I would like more Kirby Howell-Baptiste content, please and thank you.
17.Omono Okojie
For me, Omono was one of the breakout stars in Legacies, The CW's spinoff of The Originals and The Vampire Diaries. While her role as Cleo was (IMHO) underused and short-lived, I was truly blown away by her performance and really appreciated the show's rich depiction of Nigerian traditions. She also had a small role in Gook, Justin Chon's black-and-white drama about the fallout of the 1992 Rodney King protests as told through the perspective of two Korean American brothers and store owners.
You can watch a clip of Omono in Legacies Season 3 below:
18.Ama Qamata
Ama is a South African actor best known for her role as Puleng Khumalo in Netflix's Blood & Water. She's had two other acting credits and is relatively new on the scene. But if her performance in Blood & Water is any indication, we definitely haven't seen the last of her! And while you're at it, check out the rest of the cast, who does a superb job at this Elite-meets-Switched at Birth thriller-drama series.
You can watch Ama in the Blood & Water trailer below:
19.Dominique Jackson
Of course, the ground-breaking FX series Pose catapulted plenty of stars to fame — namely, Mj Rodriguez and Indya Moore. But please, please, I beg you, let's not forget about Ms. Dominique Jackson, who stole every scene she was in as the haute couture–loving prima donna Elektra. Also an author, activist, and model, Dominique had a three-episode role in American Gods. To anyone reading this who has any decision-making power behind casting: PUT. THIS. WOMAN. IN. MORE. THINGS. PLEASE.
You can watch Dominique as Elektra in this Pose scene — where she rightfully drags an anti-trans restaurant guest — below:
20.Ncuti Gatwa
I'm mainly including Ncuti on this list not because he's unknown, but mostly because he is incredible and talented and merits all the praise. The Rwandan-Scottish actor — best known for being the best part of the best Netflix series to date, Sex Education — was also recently in The Last Letter from Your Lover. It's hard to believe he only has six acting credits to his name, as he already has the presence of a seasoned performer. Regardless, I can't wait to see what he's up to next!
You can watch a compilation of Eric's (Ncuti) best moments on Sex Education below:
21.Damson Idris
In case you're not aware, Damson Idris — the British star of FX's Snowfall — is everywhere. There was a clip of him featuring Saweetie giving him piano lessons, and, of course, the multiple memes that were spawned from Denzel Washington not knowing who he is (calling him "Dancin' Address"). And while he's playing a notorious drug kingpin circa the early '80s in South Los Angeles, he's quickly cemented himself as a Twitter boyfriend right up there in the ranks between Yahya and Timothée Chalamet. And, for the Black Mirror fans out there, you might also recognize him from the Season 5 episode "Smithereens."
You can watch a clip of Damson as Franklin Saint in Snowfall below:
22.Dominique Fishback
A BAFTA-nominated actor for her role opposite Daniel Kaluuya in Judas and the Black Messiah, I just know that an Oscar is in Dominique's future. She's also been in the films Project Power and The Hate U Give, and she gave a beautiful performance in a Season 2 Modern Love episode. She'll next be in the upcoming Transformers movie and the Samuel L. Jackson–starring series The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey.
23.Bolu Babalola
Bolu is a British-Nigerian author, scriptwriter, culture reporter, and self-proclaimed "rom-comoisseur." If you've been on Twitter for a minute, you'll know that she's the leader of the Nick Miller fan club. Her debut collection of short stories — called Love in Color — is a bestseller, and she'll soon be releasing her debut novel — Honey and Spice — in July.
You can watch an interview with the author below:
24.Natasha Rothwell
Natasha — while well-known for her lovely and relatable character Kelli on Insecure — is still in need of her flowers! She's been on TV for more than a decade, appearing in everything from BoJack Horseman to A Black Lady Sketch Show. She had a big year in 2021, starring in The White Lotus, and more is clearly yet to come, with roles in the upcoming Wonka and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Personally, I can't wait for her career to continue blossoming!
25.And finally, Jay Ellis
Also from the Insecure family, Jay is known for his character Lawrence, Issa Dee's on-again, off-again boyfriend on the show. He's so known for this role, in fact, that a fan actually slapped him for something his character did on the series (which, like, what the hell?)! Anyway, he'll soon be in Top Gun: Maverick and the Dave Franco–directed Somebody I Used to Know. If you're curious about his previous roles, he's also been in Masters of Sex, Mrs. America, and The Game. Eagle-eyed fans can also spot him in minor roles in iCarly, How I Met Your Mother, and Grey's Anatomy.
Was this list all over the place? Perhaps. Could I have included at least 50 more people? Definitely. Let me know who I missed and who you've already started a fan club for in the comments below!
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