YouTube Turns 20: This Beloved Singer Became A Digital Pioneer

In 2025, YouTube celebrates its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of revolutionizing how we share and consume video content. We celebrate this milestone with a little known fact about the first Black woman artist to upload her music video to the platform. Find out who the singer is inside.

From its humble beginnings with the first-ever video, “Me at the zoo,” uploaded by co-founder Jawed Karim in 2005, YouTube has grown into a global platform hosting over 20 billion videos and facilitating more than 20 million uploads daily, according to statistics gathered by Tube Filter.​

As we reflect on YouTube’s impactful journey, it’s essential to honor the trailblazers who paved the way for diverse voices in the digital space. Among them is Goapele, a beloved R&B artist whose music video for “Closer” holds the distinction of being the first by a Black woman uploaded to YouTube. This milestone not only showcased her glowing talent, but it also set a precedent for representation and inclusivity on the platform.​

Goapele’s “Closer,” originally released in 2001, resonated with audiences for its soulful melody and poignant lyrics. By sharing her work on YouTube, she harnessed the power of the Internet to reach a broader audience. This showcased the platform’s potential to democratize content distribution.​ (Which it absolutely has since then). The video has amassed over 24 million views since it was released 13 years ago.

Watch Goapele’s “Closer” below:

In celebrating its 20th anniversary, social media has acknowledged the contributions of artists like Goapele, whose early adoption of the platform helped shape YouTube’s diverse and vibrant community. Her pioneering presence highlights the importance of representation in digital media and the role YouTube has played in amplifying underrepresented voices.​

As we look ahead, Goapele’s legacy serves as a reminder of the transformative power of technology in the arts and the ongoing need to support and celebrate diversity in all its forms.​

Check out the viral post published by “Essence of Black Culture” on Threads:

View on Threads

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