Hallowed Sound: How Black artists influenced music
The National Museum of African American Music recently opened its doors in Nashville, and the Hallowed Sound project hopes to shed light on the contributions of Black voices.
USA TODAY
- Nashville’s “Music City” nickname originated in 1873 after the Fisk Jubilee Singers performed for Queen Victoria.
- Nashville, best known for country music, also has a rich history and thriving scene for genres like blues, R&B, and hip-hop.
- Promoters like LoveNoise and new live series such as “R&Babu” champion Black artists and diverse talent in the city.
- The article highlights several Nashville-based women making waves in Hip-Hop and R&B, including Daisha McBride, The Shindellas, and Joy Oladokun.
Nashville may be the capital of country music, but the city is home to a wide variety of artists. Long before it earned that title, it was dubbed “Music City”— a name born of a rich cultural history and diverse musical heritage.
In 1873, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, a coed a cappella singers from the historically Black college Fisk University, traveled from Nashville to London to perform for Queen Victoria. She praised the group as representing “a Music City,” cementing Nashville’s nickname for generations to come.
Today, Music City is still home to a wide range of musical talents, including blues, folk, R&B, hip-hop, soul and more. Country fusion is also growing, including both Latin country and a mix of hip-hop with country music traditions. Many genre-bending artists such as Reyna Roberts, Britney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Wendy Moten, and others continue to push boundaries within country, Americana and soul music. They are carrying on a long tradition. Songwriter Alice Randall, 66, became one of the first Black women to earn recognition on Music Row for co-writing hit songs with Trisha Yearwood.
In the years to come, Nashville would gain yet another musical nickname thanks to local Black artists. Nashville’s hip-hop scene continues to grow with rappers like Young Buck, known for his affiliation with the rap group G-unit, branding the city “Cashville” in the 2000s and bringing national attention to Tennessee’s rap scene. For over twenty years, promoters such as LoveNoise have showcased and championed Black artists and urban talent in Nashville, ensuring that its history is not only preserved but celebrated.
And, as March marks the celebration of Women’s History Month, Cashville’s wide variety of Black music pioneers continues to inspire young girls across the nation.
To celebrate Women’s History Month, here are some Nashville-based women worth watching as they gain prominence across national hip-hop and R&B scenes—and beyond.
Daisha McBride ‘The Rap Girl’
Daisha McBride, known to many as “The Rap Girl,” is a Knoxville-born and Nashville-based rapper and songwriter. McBride gained widespread attention after a street freestyle racked up over 300 million views across social media.
She’s showed off the versatility of her lyrical stylings in various moments around town, including co-headlining a showcase to open 2024’s New Year’s Eve festivities in Nashville. Her album “People Like Me” came in 2024, right before Mcbride kicked off her first headlining tour, “So much for summer,” in tandem with her EP of the same name. During Women’s History Month, 2026, she released her latest single and music video “2016 Again.”
However, her role in Nashville goes beyond music. Recently, McBride teamed up with AU Pro Basketball in Nashville to create the anthem for the 2026 season, kicking it off with with a special halftime performance in February.
“I feel like when I first really started doing the thing here around 2018, the R&B and hip-hop space was very small, in a way. In my opinion, that’s when pop space was on the rise. And so, but one thing that I love seeing is definitely like a resurgence of Hip-Hop and R&B in the past few years,” McBride told The Tennessean.
McBride says that while these spaces are growing, R&B singers like Robin Raynelle have long held the fort in Nashville’s country-focused music scene.
“I love the wave I’m seeing,” she said. “I think at the end of the day, Nashville is music city, but it also, the business is still very much country music centered and focused.”
McBride not only continues to demand national attention, performing at the BET Awards back in 2023, but she’s setting a new precedent for female rappers in the city.
The Shindellas
The Shindellas are a prominent Nashville-based R&B girl group comprised of Tamara Chauniece, Stacy Johnson and Kasi Jones. The vocal trio officially formed in 2017 and later released their debut album in 2021, “Hits That Stick Like Grits,” blending jazz and soul sounds with R&B.
Their sophomore album, “Shindo,” came in 2023 and was met with top-10 Billboard success for their song “Last Night Was Good For My Soul” on the Adult R&B Airplay Charts.
Known for their tight harmonies, glamorous visuals, and lyrics about both self-love and confidence, The Shindellas represent the new generation of empowered women making their own way in the local R&B scene. As a modern girl group, fans appreciate their intersection of nostalgia and fresh energy.
INK
INK made a name for herself as a powerhouse songwriter and artist long before she signed a deal with Big Loud Records in Nashville in 2025. The Atlanta-raised and Nashville-based singer and songwriter has collaborated with some of the names in music, including Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Jennifer Lopez, Kacey Musgraves, Childish Gambino, SZA and more. She is now one of the most accomplished Black songwriters ever work on Music Row.
Recently, her work received Grammy nods at the 2026 award show, including album of the year and best rap album for her pen power on Kendrick Lamar’s album “GNX,” plus song of the year for co-writing his hit “luther.” Previously, she earned nominations for her work on Beyoncé’s album “Renaissance” as well as her hit singles “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” from “Cowboy Carter.”
Born Atia Chade Boggs, INK defies genres with a unique mix of bluesy R&B, funky hip-hop, country, and more. In October, she released her debut EP, “BIG BUSKIN,'” which pays homage to her roots busking in her hometown of Atlanta. And her momentum is only growing as she continues to release new music and perform at festivals like the Stagecoach Music Festival.
Lauren McClinton
Lauren McClinton is a Nashville-based R&B/soul singer, originally from Los Angeles, whose sound and presence extend far beyond either city. A classically trained vocalist with a deep-rooted passion for music, she began pursuing her artistry in earnest after graduating from two Music City institutions, Fisk University and Lipscomb University. Her career shows how opera techniques can be used across genres.
Since releasing her debut EP “Dawn” in 2019, McClinton went on to perform at the Ryman Auditorium, where she opened for India.Arie, and to perform alongside the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Her versatility has also taken her on tour as a background vocalist for “Nashville” series actress and pop star Lennon Stella. McClinton has also worked with artists such as country music star Chris Stapleton and North Nashville hip-hop performer Reaux Marquez.
Joy Oladokun
Nigerian-American singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun has earned widespread acclaim for her albums “In Defense of My Own Happiness” and “Proof of Life.” She has helped increase the visibility and acceptance of queer performers in country music.
The proudly queer, Nashville-based performer has earned praise from both former President Joe Biden and Dolly Parton, plus Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel. With a unique sound merging folk, R&B, pop, rock, and Americana, her list of notable collaborators includes Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Jason Isbell, Noah Kahan, John Mayer, My Morning Jacket, Tyler Childers, Pink Sweat$, Leon Bridges and Manchester Orchestra, and it continues to grow.
She released her latest single, “Nothing Comes Easy” in January 2026 and is set to kick off her tour this April in Richmond, Virginia.
Sistastrings
Performing under the name SistaStrings, singing sisters Chauntee and Monique Ross are classically trained cellist and violinist who, as a duo, earned the Instrumentalist of the Year Award in 2023 from the Americana Music Association.
Their music, which blends classical training with folk, R&B, gospel and Americana influences, has been co-signed by artists including Brandi Carlile, Joni Mitchell, Maggie Rogers, Ed Sheeran, Allison Russell and more. Hailing from Milwaukee and now based in Nashville, the duo continues to build a dynamic creative catalog and offer unique performances that wow fans across the country.
TEN
TEN is a Chicago‑born, Atlanta‑raised soul singer and songwriter who moved to Nashville to pursue a career in music and now calls her own sound a rich gumbo of genres. She first garnered national attention after being featured on the recently completed Season 25 of “The Voice.” In 2024, she performed at The Shindellas residency in the Eighth Room, alongside numerous other appearances. Since then, she’s become an emblem that shows the diversity of talent working across genres in Music City.
This month, she released her single “Crochet,” available on all platforms. Some of her upcoming work were made in collaboration with Grammy-winning R&B crooner Raheem DeVaughn, as well as Grammy-winning R&B singer Chrisette Michele.
“I want people to know that just because Nashville is (known) for country, there are so many pockets full of talented, R&B, soul, hip-hop artists, and they’re amazing,” TEN told the Tennessean.
While she says the city’s music industry includes diverse genres, there can be challenges for artists who don’t perform traditional country yet want to perform on Broadway, the most prominent street for tourism in Nashville.
“I do find myself struggling trying to get on Broadway in spaces where they’re only doing country and pop music,” she said, adding that this struggle is slightly ironic because “soul music is at the root of all the music they’re playing.”
Despite such hurdles, she remains determined to highlight the city’s diverse music scene. And there’s plenty.
Nashville is home to many rising stars and R&B newcomers garnering national audiences, such as the singer Kyleigh, who released her debut EP in 2025, “Almost Everything.” Meanwhile, R&B songstress Jamiah has started a promising career marked by powerhouse vocals and a unique social media series called “Songs No One Will Ever Hear.”
These women are featured in a new live R&B series called “R&Babu,” curated by DJ Tikaafterdark and hosted by R&B singer Sheldon, held at Cafe Babu on 3rd Avenue South. The upcoming showcase on March 25 will spotlight many other talented Nashville voices, including Mei and Adriana.
Follow USA TODAY Network’s and The Tennessean’s Music Reporter Caché McClay on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.tennessean.com ’
