June is African-American Music Appreciation Month, according to President Obama, who last year designated the start of summer as a celebration for all the black “musicians, composers, singers, and songwriters [who] have made enormous contributions to our culture.”
In this spirit, we look at 10 black artists currently redefining the music industry with their particular brand of rap, hip hop and smart producer wits: Rihanna, Drake, Beyonce, Kanye, Jay-Z, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Jennifer Hudson and Lil Wayne.