Artists like Obongjayar

Simbiatu "Simbi" Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, better known by her stage name Little Simz, is an English rapper and actress. She rose to prominence with the independent release of her first three albums: A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons (2015), Stillness in Wonderland (2016) and Grey Area (2019), the last of which was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and won the awards for Best Album at both the Ivor Novello Awards and the NME Awards.

Aria Wells, known professionally as Greentea Peng is an English singer-songwriter. Along with her music, she is also known for her distinctive fashion style with full-body tattoos, many piercings and much jewellery.

Joy Elizabeth Akther Crookes is a British singer-songwriter. She incorporates details about relationships, self-reliance, her culture, her South London roots, and her identity in her music. Crookes has released three extended plays since 2017 and was nominated for the Rising Star Award at the 2020 Brit Awards.

Say She She is an American disco/funk group from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2021. The group is led by classically trained singers Piya Malik, Sabrina Cunningham, and Nya Brown, who are supported by a backing band. Their music, self-described as "discodelic soul" with "dreamy harmonies," prominently combines disco and 70s funk, among other influences. The group cites Nile Rodgers and Chic as major influences on their sound. Their most recent album Cut & Rewind was released in October 2025.

Sampa Tembo, known professionally as Sampa the Great, is a Zambian singer, rapper, and songwriter. Between 2014 and 2020, she was based in Australia. Her debut solo album, The Return, peaked at No. 12 on the ARIA Albums Chart. At the 2019 ARIA Music Awards she won Best Hip Hop Release for her second single, "Final Form". In the following year she won the same category for The Return, as well as Best Female Artist and Best Independent Release. In March 2020 Sampa became the first artist to win the Australian Music Prize twice: for Birds and the Bee9 and The Return. The artist was based back in Zambia from late 2020, where she issued her second studio album, As Above, So Below.

Curtis Harding is an American singer and songwriter. Primarily a soul artist, his "slop 'n' soul" style carries the influence of genres including blues, gospel, psychedelia, R&B, and rock. His first album, Soul Power (2014), was followed by Face Your Fear in 2017, with production from Danger Mouse and Sam Cohen.

Jordan Rakei is a New Zealand–Australian musician, singer, songwriter and record producer currently based in London, United Kingdom. Rakei has also released and performed under the moniker Dan Kye.

Austin Iornongu Iwar Jnr, known professionally as Tay Iwar, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter, composer, sound engineer and record producer known for his vibrant blend of R&B and Afro-fusion, drawing upon classic Afrobeat, hip-hop, and future sounds. Tay Iwar's career can often feel longer than it's been. He was only in his teens when he released his first full-length projects, including 2016's Renascentia. He then rose to wider fame with 2019's Gemini, released with LA-based music collective Soulection.

Ibibio Sound Machine is an English electronic afro-funk band from London. The band currently consists of vocalist Eno Williams, guitarist Alfred Kari Bannerman, percussionist Afla Sackey, drummer Joseph Amoako, bassist Philip PK Ambrose, trombonist/keyboardist Tony Hayden, trumpeter/keyboardist Scott Baylis and saxophonist/keyboardist Max Grunhard.

Brittney Denise Parks, better known by her stage name Sudan Archives, is an American violinist, singer, and songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Parks learned to play the violin by ear as a young child in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Amber Mark is an American singer, songwriter, and producer. Her multifaceted style implements sounds from hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul, and bossa nova. She released her first EP, 3:33am, in May 2017, followed by her EP Conexão in 2018. Her debut album, Three Dimensions Deep, was released in January 2022. Pretty Idea followed as her sophomore album in October 2025.

Zainab Elizabeth Donli, known professionally as Lady Donli, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter associated with Alté music. Her music incorporates elements of alternative R&B, hip hop, jazz, and Afrobeats.

Jalen N'Gonda is an American musician based in England. He came to prominence with the release of his debut studio album Come Around and Love Me (2023), and is known for his Motown-inspired soul music. N'Gonda is primarily a singer, but also plays various instruments during live performances.

Olamide Gbenga Adedeji, known mononymously as Olamide, is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. Olamide, who is regarded as one of the most influential artists in Nigeria and Africa, has been crucial to the creative and commercial success of several Afrobeats music stars. He records in Yoruba and English. In 2011, he released his debut studio album, Rapsodi, while signed to ID Cabasa's Coded Tunes. YBNL, his follow-up album, was released under his label imprint "Yahoo Boy No Laptop", also known as YBNL Nation. The album was supported by the singles "First of All", "Voice of the Street", "Stupid Love", and "Ilefo Illuminati". On 7 November 2013, he released his third studio album, Baddest Guy Ever Liveth. The album's singles include Durosoke" and "Yemi My Lover". On 17 July 2013, Olamide became the first Nigerian to sign an endorsement deal with Cîroc.

Bowofoluwa Olufisayo Odunsi (born June 7, 1996) known professionally as Odunsi the Engine stylized Odunsi (The Engine) is a Nigerian alternative singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer. Odunsi came into the music scene in 2018 with his full-length debut album "Rare" which earned him nominations at The Headies and SoundCity MVP Awards establishing him as a critical figure in the innovative Nigerian Alté music scene, he is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Alte music. In 2019 he was profiled by The New York Times as the new guard of Nigerian music.

Durand Jones & The Indications is an American contemporary R&B and soul group founded by the core songwriting trio of singer Durand Jones, singer/drummer Aaron Frazer, and guitarist Blake Rhein. Formed in 2012, the band came to prominence as part of the soul revivalist movement around the time of the reissue of their debut album in 2018. Their second album American Love Call was released in March 2019, followed by Private Space in July 2021. Their fourth studio album, Flowers, was released in 2025.

Madison McFerrin is an American singer-songwriter. Her debut album, I Hope You Can Forgive Me (2023), was released independently. She released her follow-up album Scorpio on June 24, 2025, and recently collaborated with Tyler, The Creator on his song "Don't You Worry Baby."

Shamir Bailey is an American singer and songwriter from Las Vegas, Nevada. His debut extended play (EP), Northtown, was released in June 2014 to positive reviews. In October 2014, he signed to XL Recordings and released the single "On the Regular". His debut LP Ratchet was released on May 19, 2015 in the United States. Since then he has released seven independent studio albums, Hope (2017), Revelations (2017), Resolution (2018), Be the Yee, Here Comes the Haw (2019), Cataclysm (2019), Shamir (2020), and Heterosexuality (2022).