5 African American Trailblazers in Pop Culture

 

Table Of Contents

 

Power of Black Culture

Over the years, the lines between black and pop culture have slowly begun to blur. As black creators have become the gauge for what's “popular”, we have seen that the black culture is at the forefront of pop culture. Therefore black and pop culture are all the same thing. Black creators and artists have been the gauge for what's “popular” for a long time and will continue to be so for time to come. So let's continue to eliminate this notion that there's a difference between the two and start to ingratiate all culture as pop culture moving forward!

Whether it's music, tv, film, fashion, sports, you name it, black culture has been the trendsetters and trailblazers for all. In this blog, Hollywood Branded shares some of the most iconic black figures in pop culture and how they contributed to their respective industries.




Allen Iverson

You can’t spell culture without AI! Well, you can but you get the point. Allen Iverson is one of the most iconic professional basketball players to touch the court and his influence reached far beyond just basketball. He was born in Hampton, Virginia in 1975, and spent 14 years in the NBA. Whether it was his killer crossover, fashion sense, the iconic braids, or his hip-hop connection, AI was an icon in all aspects of pop culture.

Iverson was not only a huge influence in the connection between fashion and NBA players that we see today, but he also helped bridge the gap between hip hop and basketball as well. With over 36 references from huge artists such as Jay Z, Nas, Kanye West, Ludacris, Mac Miller, Ghostface Killah, and more, it's safe to say AI was a well-respected figure in pop culture.


Missy Elliott

Missy, the legend in a trash bag! If you don’t know what I'm referring to, I’m talking about her video for the song “The Rain”, which is one of the many iconic videos she directed herself. When it comes to creativity in their music videos, Missy is hands down one of the top five artists to think outside the box when it came to presenting their art. Born in Portsmith, Virginia in 1971, Missy single-handly changed the way artist approach their videos today.

With her outlandish creativity and themes, we have seen Missy’s influence span over artists today such as Dababy, Nicki Minaj, Tierra Whack, and more. She even recently directed the video for The City Girls platinum-selling single “Twekulator”. She has won several awards for her creativity including winning a Grammy in 2006 for her video for “Lose Control”. Clearly, Missy’s influence stood the test of time and has become a point of reference for artists today.


Pharrell Williams

Skateboard P, aka the Ice Cream Man, aka the man that ages backward, Pharell Williams! Born in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1973, Pharrell is known for his iconic contributions to both music and fashion and never looking a day over 25. P is most known today for his unique style, gracing the cover of multiple iconic fashion magazines such as GQ, Esquire, Vanity Fair, and more. He has also quietly taken over the underground streetwear scene with his “Human Race” collab shoe with Adidas only being rivaled by Yeezys’, and his clothing brand Billionaire Boys Club.

But, Pharells’ contributions to fashion are not a new thing. Pharell has been credited as one of the pioneers in the rise of the Bape brand, as he was one of the first artists seen wearing the brand before its rise in popularity. Beyond his contributions to the fashion world, Pharell has produced timeless hits for both himself and others being credited as a producer for artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Jay-z, The Weeknd, and many more!


Venus and Serena Williams

"She always brings the racquet like Venus and Serena!” Venus and Serena are two of the most iconic women in sports history. For over 30 years they have been two very polarizing figures in the world of tennis. And, their influence has since gone beyond just tennis, being the only tennis stars to have an impact on pop culture other than Tiger Woods. Born in Compton, California, Venus and Serena have dominated the sport of tennis and been a trailblazer for African-American women in the sport. Winning over four gold medals each in the Olympics, they have proven themselves on some of the biggest stages.

With their great success came the respect of many artists who have named dropped the stars in the song. Artists such as Drake, Ludacris, Chris Brown, the Game, and Nicki Minaj have all paid homage to the pair. And to almost cement their importance to pop culture, the film “King Richard” which was based on their childhood and growing up with their father in Compton, has recently been nominated for several Oscars!


Snoop Dogg

Last but definitely not least, the G-rated dog himself, Snoop Dogg! This is probably my favorite on this list. Snoop Dogg is one of the most iconic figures we’ve seen in the last 30 years and there’s no debating it. If you were born in the past 15 years, you definitely know Snoop but have no idea he even rapped at one point. Born in Long Beach, California in 1971, Snoop turned himself into such a polarizing figure, it’s hard to box him into one category.

Whether it’s doing cooking shows with Martha Stewart, being a sports broadcaster, acting in television shows and films, or gaming, rapping is probably the last thing he is known for at this point. But don’t get it twisted, he’ll still drop some bars for younger artists like NBA Youngboy, Lil Wayne, and others. At this point in his career, nothing is more pop culture than the Dogg!


Black Culture is Pop Culture

We often see a divide put in place in society when it comes to black and pop culture. Whether it's how music is defined, actors, or tv/film, there's always considered to be a difference between the two. Well, I think it's time we end this notion and come to the realization that black culture is what's at the forefront of culture. Therefore black and pop culture are all the same thing. Black creators and artists have been the gauge for what's “popular” for a long time and will continue to be so for time to come. So let's continue to eliminate this notion that there's a difference between the two and start to ingratiate all culture as pop culture moving forward!


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