Philly’s Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight and the Black women in music who paved the way in the ‘60s, ‘70s

Singers Gladys Knight, left, and Dionne Warwick, right, join Patti LaBelle on the set of LaBelle's new television show "Out All Night," during a taping of the show in Los Angeles, Oct. 29, 1992. (AP Photo/Craig Fujii)AP via PennLive. — Singers Gladys Knight, left, and Dionne Warwick, right, join Patti LaBelle on the set of LaBelle’s new television show “Out All Night,” during a taping of the show in Los Angeles, Oct. 29, 1992. (AP Photo/Craig Fujii)AP via PennLive.

Auntiechella. That’s what folk are calling the latest Verzuz battle between soul legends Gladys Knight and Patti Labelle (with a special appearance from Dionne Warwick). Though, their reunion felt more like a celebration of two living legends who paved the way and laid out the blueprint for future generations of not only Black women in music, but popular artists across genres, gender and race.

Iconic hip-hop producers Timbaland and Swiss Beatz created Verzuz TV via Instagram Live to entertain millions of both hip-hop and R&B fans with a DJ battle soon after quarantining and social distancing for Covid-19 was mandated in the U.S. Starting with these two producers, two artists who are contemporaries in skill, talent and genre would team up to give fans a musical experience that would take them on a journey through their catalogs and evolution as artists.

Fans went down memory lane with: R&B singer-songwriters and producers Babyface and Teddy Riley, popular ’00s hip-hop artists Nelly and Ludacris, forever R&B princesses Brandy and Monica, and more. Verzuz is doing it for the culture—Black culture, which is popular culture.

Hence, Knight and Labelle’s Verzuz “battle” was a jubilation of Black woman legends who stood with them in paving the way. Starting with these two legends, here they are with their sisters who broke down barriers in the music industry—shaping popular music and influencing the artistry of Black women, women in general and yes, any or every popular artist in subsequent contemporary music eras. Yep, you heard it right. All of these Black women listed below inspired generations of artists to come after, while remaining relevant themselves.