Washington D.C. is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. With so many places to explore, it’s no wonder that the city has a lot to offer visitors. From the Smithsonian Museum of American History to the National Gallery of Art, many places to see and do in Washington D.C. But what about the music? Well, there are a lot of great music singers and bands in D.C., but we’ve put together a roundup of the best for you.
1. The Roots
The Roots have been making music for over 20 years, playing worldwide, even winning two Grammys along the way. In fact, “Tootie” Hamilton was actually the first artist signed by Def Jam Recordings; he released his debut album “Things Fall Apart” in 1989. The Roots were part of an important musical movement that would come to be known as Hip Hop. The group helped change the way people thought about Rap music because they could combine different styles into something that sounded whole and unique.
2. Black Eyed Peas
The band formed out of Los Angeles, California, back in 1997 when will.i.am and Fergie started working together. They began doing cover songs at karaoke bars, then eventually writing their material. Their first single, “Shut Up,” went straight to number 1 on Billboard magazine’s Hot 100 chart. Since then, the band has released four more singles that have hit the top 10 in America. They also won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score with John Legend for “Glory.” The band has sold over 50 million records worldwide.
3. Outkast
OutKast is an American hip-hop duo from Atlanta, Georgia. André 3000 (Andre Benjamin) and Big Boi (Antwan Patton) met while attending Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts in 1992. Despite being discovered through the local underground rap scene, OutKast became one of the biggest acts in the world thanks to the success of their self-titled debut studio album, which featured the hits “Player’s Ball” and “Bombs Over Baghdad.” The duo released three more albums throughout the 90s before going on hiatus in 2004.
4. Backstreet Boys
You might not recognize everyone’s name, but the chances are that you know every word to every song these guys ever recorded. This boy band broke onto the music scene in 1993 after having 5 members, each between 12 and 15 years old. Though they haven’t always seen the best of success, this boyband is still around today. Thanks to such beloved songs as “Quit Playing Games With My Heart,” “I Want It That Way,” “As Long As You Love Me,” “Larger Than Life,” and “Back Together,” they’re one of the hottest groups around right now.
