AnckSuNamun said:

There is a SERIOUS shortage of real talent out there right now. I remember when they were calling Babyface and R Kelly genius.....that always made me cringe.

my dick!
Oh wait, it says "in" black music, not "with"

Thriller81 said:

Preach it!

I just saw her last night! No one can compare!

GaryMF said:

Gladys can.

One of these people better win:

Michael Jackson, Prince, James Brown or Stevie Wonder

If none of them win, then I'm out. Never again will I care about these polls.
Oh wait, I already don't care. Oh well. Here is to someone with REAL talent winning. (Sorry Usher and Chris..you gotta wait a few more decades.)

The only people that belong on that list that they have are:

Prince
Michael Jackson
James Brown


come on now... where's Stevie Wonder, Sammy Davis Jr., Jimi Hendrix????

JasonStar said:

Well Stevie can't win because he ain't listed. "the Godfather" and "the Artist" have a long way to go as JB has 2% and Prince has 6%

"King of Pop" is at the front with 57% more then the rest of the list combined.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

But that's probably due to rabib fans who are so desperate to prove Michael is best so they bombard the lines.
[Edited 6/25/07 2:41am]

Prince is losing to Janet.....who simply just performs her videos live

and is tied with Chris BrownT


he end is near...the end is near....
[Edited 6/25/07 6:27am]

MsLegs said:

Preach it! What a bogus list.

I say we file a class action lawsuit against BET for false advertising! This list just further demonstrates the fact that BET doesn't know shit about Black Entertainment!!

In terms of a multi-faceted performer, Sammy Davis Jr. is hard to beat.

Name someone else who...

Acts well (stage & screen)
Sings well
Dances well
Does impressions & comedy
Multi-instrumentalist

...has all those bases covered.



tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Hell, no one's mentioned Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane or The Quintet, but hey, jazz is just arguably black America's crowning cultural achievement. No biggie.

In any event, Sly Stone walking out and singing one chorus of "Take You Higher" at the Grammys last year is miles ahead of half of the folks on this list.

theAudience said:

Co-sign. Love definitely has to be given to the orginal Candyman and Rat Packer.

theAudience said:

No question. U are correct.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's never heard of Chris Brown.

And what about Jimi Hendrix? He's responsible several of the most iconic live images of all time.

I feel so let down by prince.org. All these responses and no debate about who actually qualifies as a black performer? Wait...maybe I'm impressed!

i stopped taking BET seriously years ago when they put that ghetto cartoon chick on to host a video show.

missfee said:

is this poll gonna be announced today at the awards or is this just for fun?

missfee said:

What you didn't like Cita. Thats the only reason I used to watch BET sometimes, her and Hits.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

"Say what? I don't know what you talkin' 'bout, okay? I'm a chitty mess!"

LittleBLUECorvette said:

what in the world kind of list is that? Half of these people don't (ie.can'T) even sing live.

This poll is flawed, regardless of the people they put in it.

There should be some criteria established (such as years in business, tours done/TV appearances) to give this some credibility.

COMPUTERBLUE1984 said:

BET + credibility =


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

Absolutely. That answer to your equation is obsolete/non-existent.

i rather watch betj then bet they have a bunch of cornballs hosting the show's

I think this poll would have us take into consideration not only an artist's singing or instrumental prowess (which would slough off half the list right there), but their overall presence, sense of theatre and ability to truly own a crowd.

My brother above mentioned Miles, and while I'm sold on the fact that man was a GENIUS on that horn, wasn't it true he often performed with his back to the audience or let his accompanying musicians lead with their solos, etc? I'm truly ignorant, so educate me.

On the other hand, we have these new-school pretty girls and boys who can dance and give good face, but couldn't carry a note in a bucket and would downright RUN from an instrument!

I have to agree that Sammy should be up top as a universal master, and I'd maybe put MJ second. Prince was ferocious in his heyday, but I recall seeing girls screaming, fainting and suffering nosebleeds at MJ concerts! I don't know what it is about him, but brother has some sort of otherwordly gift of charisma.

I'd maybe tie Prince with James Brown in third. And I'd definitely put Patti LaBelle in with them.

As an aside, my parents always told me Little Richard, believe it or not, was NOTHING to play with live. The Jimi footage I've seen has also been impressive, but I wonder if an entire concert of him would be breathtaking only if I had dropped some acid.
[Edited 6/26/07 13:01pm]

Lammastide said:

I remeber on Def Jam or Comicview someyears ago some performer siad MJcan make the hardest toughest thug cry like a bitch.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Ice-T said that.

I believe if most of the kids of today saw the Housequake performance from the Sign of the Times film, many of them would see Prince in a new light in terms of performing. That was a classic performance.