Shirlette Ammons

Shirlette Ammons is an American hip-hop artist, poet, and producer from Durham, North Carolina. She is known for her interdisciplinary work combining music, poetry, and film, and for exploring themes of race, gender, and sexuality. One of her most notable works is "Get Dressed" from Twilight For Gladys Bentley is in honor of 1920s Harlem Renaissance blues singer Gladys Bentley, who was lesbian.

Early life and education

Ammons was raised in Mount Olive, North Carolina and later moved to Durham. She grew up with a twin sister and began writing poetry at a young age.

Career Ammons first gained recognition in the North Carolina arts community through her poetry and spoken word performances. In 2024, she released Spectacles, an album that reflects on visibility and identity as a Black queer artist, followed by a remix album Spectacles RMXD later that year. She also directed the short documentary The Hook, which received the 2016 Pitch Black Prize from Black Public Media.

Themes and style Ammons's work often addresses intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and Southern identity.

Discography Twilight for Gladys Bentley (2012) Language Barrier (2016) Spectacles (2024) Spectacles RMXD (2024) All Down (single, 2025)