So, does one have to be in constant connection with the black community for a black artist not to be considered a sell out? What if one marries someone of a different race? And how does class factor in here (if at all)? Some black entertainers are from more affluent background than others and have had little to no contact with people of their own race who are from lower-income families, and have more in common, one could argue, with white middle and upper-class Americans. Must a black artist limit him/herself to a genre of music that is dominated by blacks in order not to be considered a sell out? I feel as if I am touching sensitive ground, and I apologize to anyone beforehand if my comments are in any way offensive.

alphastreet said:

listen to the second disc of HIStory, then listen to Bad, then go back and watch some of the videos he has done throughout his career and tell me that ain't the definition of selling out.

Dear Jesus,
Please do not allow this thread to turn into a Michael Jackson thread.

TIA,
PurpleCharm

Dear Jesus,
Please do not allow this thread to turn into a Michael Jackson thread.

TIA,
PurpleCharm

silverchild said:

it may be selling out to some people, but for him it could have been as simple as expressing his feelings through music. He was obviously having a lot of issues and that was coming out in his music, but people just wanted him to sing and dance and be all happy. I love off thew all, thriller and the jacksons albums and I myself am ready for something happy and dancy once again cause while I enjoyed the angry songs, he could do so much better and has done so before.

Marvin Gaye
P-Funk/George Clinton
Millie Jackson
James Brown
Curtis Mayfield
Chaka Khan - she played in a variety of styles but she remained true to herself
Nona Hendryx - girl said "fuck a genre/label, I'm gonna do ME!"
Patti LaBelle
B.B. King

Timmy84 said:

Great choices, Timmy!

So, does one have to be in constant connection with the black community for a black artist not to be considered a sell out? What if one marries someone of a different race? And how does class factor in here (if at all)? Some black entertainers are from more affluent background than others and have had little to no contact with people of their own race who are from lower-income families, and have more in common, one could argue, with white middle and upper-class Americans. Must a black artist limit him/herself to a genre of music that is dominated by blacks in order not to be considered a sell out? I feel as if I am touching sensitive ground, and I apologize to anyone beforehand if my comments are in any way offensive.

And in the end do all big-time Black Artists have to sell out to make it?

Rodya24 said:

I don't think an individual's taste of music limits him/her because of what class factor or environment they grew up in. I know African-American/Blacks artists from every class group, and their taste of music or what form of music they chose to focus on as their interest is up to the individual. On my block when I was younger, we had a drummer (who plays with Vanessa Williams) who was more into rock when he was younger, but late in his career also did pop/funk/jazz. I think it's great when an artist doesn't stick to one form of music, because then it's "expected" of that person to do that type of music and it is pretty much limiting yourself to your craft. I look at Tina Turner and the girl can do rock & roll and blues and I never knew what to expect from her. As far as Prince, he's done just about every form of music from rock/r&b/blues/ballads/jazz so you just never know what to expect from him, which is a good thing and makes his music much more interesting.

These days, it's best to learn all forms of music, makes you more marketable. I noticed since American Idol and Star Search came out, I find more white artists going into "Soul/R&B" because society always seem to expect them to do rock&roll/pop. So now we're seeing a wave of White R&B soul singers coming out. At the same time, I noticed a larger growth of Black artists going pop and doing more rock (Corinne Bailey). So now you have both groups going opposite of what the public expect of them when they are presented in the media. I like the change that's going on with music, as far as artists from various backgrounds taking advantage of the art of music altogether and not limiting themselves. It's time we stop putting everyone in a "box" anyway.
[Edited 8/9/07 10:28am]

Marvin Gaye
P-Funk/George Clinton
Millie Jackson
James Brown
Curtis Mayfield
Chaka Khan - she played in a variety of styles but she remained true to herself
Nona Hendryx - girl said "fuck a genre/label, I'm gonna do ME!"
Patti LaBelle
B.B. King

Timmy84 said:

I would disagree with Marvin Gaye (the man needed his fans too much and was always thirsty for a hit... What's Going On and Here My Dear are the only primary examples of him sticking to his guns) and James Brown (ahem...Living In America... for the Rocky IV soundtrack... I'm Real & Static produced by Full Force)

and don't forget "The Original Disco Man" ...and his Jazzy B productions later on

.

bsk3601 said:

and don't forget "The Original Disco Man" ...and his Jazzy B productions later on

.
[Edited 8/9/07 12:36pm]

Dancelot said:

Hola senor! Long time no rede. How's your family?

Marvin Gaye made Vulnerable in an attempt to be "The Black Sinatra". "Midnight Love" was deliberately conceived as a "party album" (according to David Ritz, who was with him throughout its conception) - not that I'd ever call this "selling out". Marvin was just trying to make a hit album to pay off his ex-wives, the IRS and have some leftover cash for some toot. Give the guy a break!

Prince
Curtis Mayfield
Rick James
Anita Baker
Isley Brothers
The Roots
Common
Donny Hathaway
Roberta Flack

I'm sorry to sound ignorant, but maybe some people 'sell out' as you put it because they're tired of doing the same type of music over and over again and being ghettoized. If anything, you should be happy about mainstream accepting black artists at a phenomenal level. A lot of you also realize that it was blacks that created rock and roll, right? Even if they weren't allowed to perform their music back in the 50's. So actually, "selling out" and going pop/rock for mainstream audiences is just a mentality and covering up the fact that doing rock is doing music that blacks were already doing. Some black artists could go for that sound and very well NOT be accepted in mainstream. Another time, an urban sounding song may be well received by mainstream and become a hit, that doesn't mean selling out. And if you ask me, this is the same kind of mentality when people in the schoolyard are called white for not talking in ebonics and wanting to go to a good college...very immature

as for dangerous and invincible, a lot of people my age bought the CD back then and were very much into r&b, hip hop, rap, reggae and pop, some alternative/rock as well. I can think of at least 20 people that I know have it

from what I've heard, songs like butterflies, break of dawn and heaven can wait were heavily played on r&b/urban radio and could have easily become hits had mj chosen to release those and capitalize on the audience that was feeling him the most, but he was so out of it during that time period
[Edited 8/9/07 8:21am]
[Edited 8/9/07 8:22am]

And in the end do all big-time Black Artists have to sell out to make it?

and another example of the underlying racial tension on this site.

these threads don't seem to serve any purpose