Monday, October 06, 2003

Billboard's New Record
For the first time in Billboard's chart history, the top 10 songs on this week's Billboard Hot 100 list are by African-American artists. Aside from Beyonce's "Baby Boy," the other nine are by rappers including the latest from Nelly, P. Diddy, Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, Chingy, Pharrell and Jay-Z, YoungBloodZ, 50 Cent, Fabolous, Ludacris and Black Eyed Peas.

Otan, you read this? Will we still be able to "crack" into the top 10 with our "Pat Boone funk"?

Red, this is cool. I know it has been hard for black artists to get into the top 10, especially in the States. It seems like in the last few years black music really has taken over the charts and that record companies push black music just as hard (or maybe even harder!) as white music. Eventhough I'm not too fond of most rap music, it is cool to notice that chances of making it in the music industry have improved for black people.

It's only too bad that often they need to emphasize certain stereotypes about black people (pimping hoes, making money, big cars, big booties, hustling, violence, drug dealing) to achieve that succes. I believe it would be the next step to let go of all that bullshit, build up a more positive image and maintain the same kind of succes.

With that I'm not saying most white bands have such a positive image, most of the ones that sell well nowadays(the nu-metal scene, Marilyn Manson, Eminem etc.) have an image built on negativity as well. People unfortunately seem to love negativity these days. But don't get me started on that, because I just won't stop ranting about the current state of mankind...

Yes, this is quite a feat. I've seen top 5 in the 60's with the Mowtown surge, but to 'crack' the top 10 says alot.