When I wasn't playing dress-up or scribbling in journals as a child, you could find me dancing or singing. I watched BET's "Video Soul" and "Planet Groove" with my big brother Daryl and created dance routines to albums ordered from Columbia House CD Club. My house was always filled with music. And how could I forget the times my mom would let me stay up past bedtime to watch "The Arsenio Hall Show."

As I grew older, I looked to artists like Michael Jackson, Queen Latifah and Brandy on how to dress. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who has experimented with tube socks and penny loafers, oversized Cross Colours jackets and box braid hairstyles.

In honor of Black Music Month, we're taking a look back at artists that have left a powerful imprint on not just me, but the rest of the world with their unique sound and style. Vote on all their looks in the slideshow below and tell us who is your black music fashion icon.

Meanwhile, check out 25 black models who have helped to reshape the standard of beauty.

Want more? Be sure to check out Stylelist on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Pinterest.

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  • Billie Holiday

    Photo: Hulton Archive

  • Etta James

    Photo: House Of Fame LLC/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images

  • The Supremes

    Photo: Keystone/Getty Images

  • Diana Ross

    Photo: Larry Ellis/Express/Getty Images

  • The Jackson Five

    Photo: Frank Barratt/Getty Images

  • Marvin Gaye

    Photo: John Minihan/Evening Standard/Getty Images

  • The Isley Brothers

    Photo: Chris Ware/Keystone Features/Getty Images

  • Little Richard

    Photo: Evening Standard/Getty Images

  • The Temptations

    Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

  • Jimi Hendrix

    Photo: Central Press/Getty Images

  • James Brown

    Photo: Evening Standard/Getty Images

  • Michael Jackson

    Photo: SUSAN RAGAN/AFP/Getty Images

  • Tina Turner

    Photo: Gary Merrin/Getty Images

  • Earth Wind & Fire

    Photo: GAB Archive/Redferns

  • Ashford & Simpson

    Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

  • Stevie Wonder

    Photo: Chris Walter/WireImage

  • Patti Labelle

    Photo: GAB Archive/Redferns

  • Prince

    Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

  • Rick James

    Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

  • Whitney Houston

    Photo: Ebet Roberts/Redferns

  • Grace Jones

    Photo: Larry Ellis/Getty Images

  • Phyllis Hyman

    Photo: GAB Archive

  • Kid 'N Play

    Photo: Janette Beckman/Getty Images

  • Lenny Kravitz

    Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect

  • Bobby Brown

    Photo: Stephen Wright/Redferns

  • Run DMC

    Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect

  • MC Lyte

    Photo: Waring Abbott/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

  • LL Cool J

    Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

  • DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince

    Photo: David Corio/Redferns

  • Janet Jackson

    Photo: Michael Grecco/Hulton Archive

  • Queen Latifah

    Photo: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

  • Eric B. & Rakim

    Photo: David Corio/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

  • Salt-N-Pepa

    Photo: Janette Beckman/Getty Images

  • Slick Rick

    Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

  • A Tribe Called Quest

    Photo: Janette Beckman/Getty Images

  • Jodeci

    Photo: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

  • Busta Rhymes

    Photo: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

  • Boyz II Men

    Photo: Michel Linssen/Redferns

  • Lauryn Hill

    Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

  • Brandy

    Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

  • MC Hammer

    Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

  • Puff Daddy

    Photo: Brenda Chase

  • Toni Braxton

    Photo: Scott Gries/ImageDirect

  • TLC

    Photo: HENNY RAY ABRAMS/AFP/Getty Images

  • Monica

    Photo: LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP/Getty Images

  • Missy Elliott

    Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images

  • Aaliyah

    Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

  • Notorious B.I.G.

    Photo: Clarence Davis/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

  • Mary J. Blige

    Photo: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

  • Outkast

    Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect

  • Destiny's Child

    Photo: Getty Images

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this post misidentified Jimi Hendrix as Lenny Kravitz.