This was pretty much discussed in a heated dialogue on another thread.

This article, and that thread, got me to thinking.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8882717/

Musicians, even talented ones, try so hard to market themselves to establish their uniqueness as a performer. Musicians often will play the "fame game" or have it thrust upon them in order to sell records and make a good living. But what happens when they achieve their success?

It seems that many artists who try to craft that image or play the fame game and sell big then try to distance themselves from the very images they themselves created. Prince milked his own mythology and image and rode the Purple Rain train to glory. Then he distanced himself from it, often calling it an "albatross" around his neck. Dre3K is now distancing himself from "Andre 3000," but "Andre 3000" made him famous. He wants to be known for more than that.

I'm not faulting these musicians for wanting to do that. You hate to be typecast in anything. But isn't that the flip side of fame? Isn't typecasting a risk you take when you try to carve out a niche for yourself?

Just questions. Your thoughts?

i think a good artist knows how to shed his or her personas and craft their image to support their next project. if it happens to be a big, splashy, commercial thing, they know how to tone it down and go a little bit underground for something quieter. i think where problems occur is when they want it both ways - they want to be seen as a big star even when they're working on something small and experimental. i think it's important for these folks to put the artistry first before the fame, unless they're content to be seen as a media star first and an artist second.

i think bjork, david bowie and annie lennox have done a good job of maintaining this balance.

namepeace said:

Ok, its great that the young brotha wants to broaden his horizons. However, a lot of us can't forget that he started out in a rap group that used to rap about getting , s, babymamas, and riding in Cadillacs.

Now, there's a great distinction between Dre3K and P. Prince has always been on the cutting edge from day one. So whatever different direction he took over the years really wasn't revelation for the true followers of his musical b/c we know he's on top of his game.
[Edited 8/12/05 14:42pm]

Andre3000 is a great artist. There is no getting around that.

2freaky4church1 said:

Year by year, he keeps evolving and improving himself.

2freaky4church1 said:

I don't dispute that he's good and I hope no one has that impression.

People grow & change, see things differently. I dunno man

more power to him...

CalhounSq said:

That's all it is.



and he was pretty good in Four Brothers!!!

Rhondab said:

supposed to check this movie out today.

Since we're talking about Andre 3000, does anybody think that Andre kinda sounds like Morris Day when he says in the song "Happy Valentine's Day" (off "The Love Below" CD): "Well keep on runnin' player, cos I got my good shoes on! And I got them tied up tight!". I've always thought that Andre was trying to sound like Morris in this part of the song.
[Edited 8/13/05 7:52am]

Anxiety said:

you mean a smart business minded artist.....sure, you pointed examples of some who are business/marketing savy but also creative geniuses...

but folks like kyle, madonnna and janet are image savy but arent all there in the brain when it comes to the craft of making music..

cha know what i mean?

psychodelicide said:

You know! That's a good point!

sosgemini said:

That sh*t only matters when you're looking for pop love. MeShell never changes her image, nor do many other artists who do what they do. Image is all about pop love. If you're not interested in it, you don't have to keep changing for fickle-minded people who lose interest in you if you don't.

BlaqueKnight said:

CreamyThighs said:

Thanks.

Andre was (and STILL is) the better half of OutKast. And both he and Big Boi will continue to change the game in the music industry because they dare to be different from everyone else.

And if Andre wants the sing more and rap less, so be it.

As long as the music sounds good to my ears, I'll buy it!

CalhounSq said:

I don't doubt that.

But when you work so hard to foster the public's perception of you in a certain image, you make yourself work even harder when that change occurs. That's one pf the pitfalls of the fame game.

BlaqueKnight said:

always got a brain blaque...i can dig it

BlaqueKnight said:

i disagree. image doesn't have to be all theatrics and costumes. i think me'shell has gone through several changes in musical style and focus, all the while keeping a throughline of her own "sound" going through everything she does. it's not as obvious as changing your hairstyle or all of a sudden not dressing in drag anymore, but i do think she's kept her work fresh over the years by shedding her skin a few times.

2freaky4church1 said:

I agree.He's one of the few hip-hop artists that I actually like.