Can someone please point me towards the really creative black music right now?

Over the past 3 years nearly every song or CD that has really resonated for me as been either a pop joint or a vanilla soul release. My favorite artists and releases recently have included: Madonna, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Amy Winehouse, Pussycat Dolls, Rihanna, Robin Thicke, Sara Barialles, Maroon 5, Ingrid Michaeleson and my latest not so guilty pleasure Duffy.

I grew up on hip hop, 70's and 80's pop, and R&B. My moms bathed my childhood in classic soul. Her favorite artists were people like Al Green, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass, The Whispers, Motown, Aretha, The O'Jays and more. I loved disco, soul, funky rock and new wave music. Some of my favs include: Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Donny Hathaway, Roberta Flack, Sly and The Family Stone and of course Prince who is my fav artist of all time. I also got deep into New Wave and punk acts like The Clash, Blondie, The Police, Talking Heads, Duran Duran, Yaz, Culture Club and other 80's pop acts as well.

I liked a lot of R&B/Hip Hop in the 90's including New Jack Swing, Janet Jackson, Babyface, Whitney, Mariah, early neo-soul and I may have been the biggest Lauryn Hill fan on earth. I also got into: Usher, Mary J. Blige, Aaliyah, Missy, Beyonce, Brandy, Tupac, Biggie. Foxy Brown, Lil Kim and more. Then somewhere along the way the radio sorta started to bore me a lil.

People of color are incredibly creative and our history proves it. However, our creative instincts are often suppressed by the fear of being ostracized for "not being black enough". For me the question is this: did someone steal the soul and if so how do we get it back? Is the answer to once again become fearlessly creative, innovate at every opportunity and not be afraid to try something new EVERYTIME? Is it to just make music that is entertaining, passionate and sincere?

For now I guess imma keep Duffy, Amy Winehouse, Madonna, Britney Spears, Robin Thicke, Kanye West and Lil Wayne on shuffle. Shout out to Lil Wayne and Kanye for giving us some kind of reason to keep hope alive. Ciara, Brandy, Alicia and Jazmin Sullivan...I see you too (wink).

Yo I'm scared because I'm not sure if music has changed for the worse, changed for the better or I'm simply older now and a lil out of touch. How do you feel? What's in your ipod? I wanna hear from ya.