I first met Aloe Vera at A Child of Night show. I did not know they were a musician until a few hours later when they were telling someone else about their work. And I was like I had no idea, where can I find your work. They told me and as soon as I got home that night, I gave them a listen. I was instantly a fan. Aloe Vera is one of those musicians you cannot put in a specific area of hip-hop, they are just hip-hop, and I dig that. Aloe also is part of a collective called D.A.N.K. They are getting ready to go on a small tour of Ohio. The Columbus date is June 7^th. If you like hip-hop in the least bit or simply good music, I’d suggest checking them out.

So here are Five albums that mean the world to Aloe Vera. Enjoy!

KeiyaA-Forever, Ya Girl

Gripping self-love ballads about being discerning. The album sounds like my

sister’s hug. It is foundational in the funk of being and doing better for yourself and

others.

Cake! -Koshka

No holds and here to play. Explicitly black and queer in a way that affirms

those from mud multiply and birth styles of being. Warm beats and break-ya-neck

lyrics in perfect harmony.

Backxwash-Black Sailor Moon

The way this would have changed my life if I were young. Proud and tenacious like a

street fight where transphobia gets smacked up because it does not have hands. Trend

setting but in a way that invites instead of being scarcity-minded.

Scallops Hotel-Too much of life is Mood.

The way this album changed my life when I was young. Deliberately

bathed in the tradition of hip-hop but gets mad freaky with it. Like a spliff with pan

Africanism instead of tobacco.

Darwin Deez-Songs for imaginative people

Existentially freaky fun lyrics but deeply indie pop. I love this album like my middle

school librarian who stocked college-level reading just for me. The vibe is silly but

heartfelt.