Rock bands with people of color are pretty rare.

[Lint]

Tbh the black community always ditched rock as white boy's music.
They always had black options (if I may), rap, black music, MJ, reggae, funk, soul, r&b.
Curiously enough ska, a rhythm known for having a beef against racism, was considered white in America by most black music sources. (afaict)

Disclaimer part: Not taking away anything from them, I'm sure I spent more time listening to black people than otherwise.

 

[rikwebb]

 

[THEfightsAREfixed]

Why did you feel the need to preface with you don't subscribe to diversity is strength? How do you reconcile your deep seeded racism with the theme of this post ?

 

[Jimmy McGill]

 

[Bluesbreaker]

If your a blues or jazz player why would you lower your standards to play rock? If your a rapper why would you engage in a genre that hasn't advanced or done anything new since the 90s?

Rock has advanced and if you took the time to actually look you'll find a ton of bands who have helped to push the genre into new directions.

If you're a rapper, why would you engage with something that requires talent?

 

[Winter-John]

Rock has advanced and if you took the time to actually look you'll find a ton of bands who have helped to push the genre into new directions.

Like who?

 

[jericksen5]

More experimental rock than classic rock though.

Wolf like me is one of my go to workout jams. Shit gets me pumped!

 

[Poids Moyen]

Fishbone, pure dope

 

[Poids Moyen]

I don't subscribe to the diversity is strength mentality but I always find it quite sad that rock type music is mostly abandoned by non-whites in favor of catchy but mostly derivative pop/rap music.

A few notable exceptions exist of couse... Are there any more that exist?


Animals as Leaders (fyi, the most talented band you've never heard of, trust me)



God Forbid



Sevendust

This one is even better

 

[Poids Moyen]

90's muthafoks

 

[Raksas]

 

[Cantalope]

 

[jefferz]

Jimi Hendrix, Lenny Kravitz, and Living Color are probably the three most notable black rock acts. But, if you look back at the history, there are a lot of early black Blues and Doo Wop legends that helped build the foundation for "rock and roll."

if you're going to include Lenny, you've got include Prince.

 

[OneManOrgy]

Bad Brains is definitely the answer here, hardcore punk legends which ended up fusing a lot of genres into their later albums. I Against I is my favorite album ever.

 

[Satanical Eve]

Like who?

Just to name a few.

 

[Philo-Publius]

if you're going to include Lenny, you've got include Prince.

Prince and Michael are both technically "rock" acts, but I get the impression the OP was going for a heavier style. I don't put Prince or Micheal on the same level as Lenny (in terms of degrees of heaviness).

 

[Post 2 Decision]

I can't think of any black people in the bands I listen to

I guess I am a racist

 

[KawhiDoh]

Rock and Roll bands with mostly if not all white players were more marketable.

Rock was created by black musicians though, it became something entirely different in the late 60's and 70's, but still.

It's not cool, but that's how it was back then.

This is why Rap and RnB is so cherished in the black community, it's something that's theirs and was never taken from them to be given to young white musicians. It's their way of expression and a way to fame and out of poverty.

 

[Winter-John]

Just to name a few.

They're not doing anything that hasn't been done before. Sleep are a great band. So are Om and High on Fire but there's been no leap forward in rock music since grunge. Rap and house music is where most of the innovation has been coming from over the last few decades. I'm not saying there aren't plenty of good rock bands around but it's safe to say that the genre has been pretty stagnant for a long time

 

[Bamboozled]

Did you listen to the Animals as Leaders vid? Black and Latino dudes have the propensity to be among the best ever. It's just outside of their culture sadly. Has been since the 50s.

Doesn't matter where you're from. The best people who express their culture through music come from any background.

Rock and Roll bands with mostly if not all white players were more marketable.

Rock was created by black musicians though, it became something entirely different in the late 60's and 70's, but still.

It's not cool, but that's how it was back then.

This is why Rap and RnB is so cherished in the black community, it's something that's theirs and was never taken from them to be given to young white musicians. It's their way of expression and a way to fame and out of poverty.

Rap was started as beat poetry by white dudes who found out about weed in college