purplecam said

Dude, we are on the same page on this topic. The main reason why I'm not as big a fan of R&B, Hip-Hop or Pop music is because of the loss of individuality and originality. These "stars" are so busy trying to prove to the public that they are relatable and that they are still like them that there's no sense of mystery to them. They don't seem to realize that if they are so much like me, then why are they riding around in limos and Benz's while I'm driving around in a hooptie or riding the bus and/or subway to work? They need to get it through their brain housing groups that they aren't like us anymore. They are stars or so they claim to be.

Plus they keep singing/rapping about the same thing. How many different ways to I have to hear about how rough someones life was in the ghetto? You found a way out of there. You should be singing about that and what it's like to be free from there (and I'm not knocking it, I'm from Harlem so I know what it's like). It's like what I said earlier, they want to prove to folks that they are no different than they are and it's not even true. The record labels don't even go to the neighborhoods to see for themselves what's up. It's pisses me off to see this. That's why Prince is still around after 26 years. We need someone with guts to come out and be different and sing about something different. This is why I can't get with Kanye West. While he's rapping about something other than money, hoes and guns, he looks no different than anyone else. We need the FULL package. The music world needs a rude awakening and they need it NOW.

theAudience said

So at the very least, they're losing out on the ability to keep some money out of the hands of the "gummint".
(that's government in southern lingo)

Assuming you're talking about "gangsta rap" and the similarly sad Top 40 songs that pass for rap and R&B these days:

"Black music" became aggressive for the same reason that reality TV has replaced actual plots, for the same reason that William Hung became an overnight sensation, for the same reason that Paris Hilton is a celebrity and that a draft-dodging con artist's soundbites beat the mess out of a war hero in 2004:

ADD-riddled America has an eternal love affair with the lowest common denominator, stereotypes and the exploitation of marginalized demographics. The prurient thrill of consuming material produced by stereotypically animalistic artists by "mainstream" kids became a cycle that has fueled the entertainment, fashion and food industries. Here's the shorthand: Big business.

Hell, today's music is dull and boring so why shouldn't the clothes be dull and boring also? If they can't come up with a melody for their own songs instead of using other people's, why would they be able to come up with their own look either? All they wear is jeans and athletic wear. Hell, you can buy that shit in Wal-Mart. Sure, it won't have the brand name but who the hell cares? It still all looks the same and there is nothing unique looking about it to make that star an individual and to make him stand out in a crowd.

Then there's the ones that start their own clothing line. First of all, the clothes they make all look "normal". Hell, I like something that stands out and looks unusual, not something that blends in with everyone else. Second of all, if you have a clothing line, then you have loads of other people dressing like you. A real star would be pissed if someone else looked like them.

I have absolutely no problem with having an aggressive look but their look is totally "ordinary", "blend in with the crowd", and a "common" look. A real star may have an aggressive look but it is done in an "over the top", "FAR from down to earth", "wild", "not a hair out of place", "totally an individual", "I'm better than you" kind of look.

As for the gay thing, in the 1980s it was totally different. If you weren't gay back then, well dammit you had better look like you were if you wanted to be a star. The majority of the music scene looked like gays pissed off at the world and I was loving it.

dancerella said

I agree with you about the images of some of these stars. That's why i love artists like kelis, gwen stefani, and of course grace jones back in the day was very stylish. andre 3000 is up there as well. at least he tries to do something different.

I don't like Andre 3000's music but I love his look. He gets my total respect for being an individual in a field of music that has absolutely no individuality.