Chika: Black Pride

“These songs are the key to a queer girl’s lil heart,” says Alabama MC Chika Oranika (or just Chika, as she’s known to fans). One of the many times Chika went viral was back in 2017 when she covered Ed Sheeran's “Shape of You,” turning the hookup love letter into a LGBTQ+ anthem called “Proud.” Her version may not have made it onto the charts (the original was an established hit, after all), but it made for a fitting introduction to a young star ready to speak to her community. For Black Music Month 2019, Chika created a playlist for Apple Music centered around her identity, Black and LGBTQ+ proud.