Nashville Artist of the Month Joy Oladokun captured the spirit of the playlist she created in the title Black People Rock.

Her 16 selections point us to those who made her feel empowered to take up the guitar as a kid (King Sunny Adé and Tracy Chapman) and the kindred spirits of consciousness and craft that she’s found since, spanning generations of folk, soul, rock, pop, hip-hop and R&B voices.

“I don’t know where we’d be without black artists. As a black woman in America, I feel a responsibility to not only share my experience but amplify the amazing art coming from black culture. This playlist is a compilation of black artists and songs that keep me feeling inspired.”

Joy Oladokun