http://www.hhnlive.com/fe...s/more/322

TZ: I get lots of Janet and Michael comparisons. I take them as compliments. But I also think there's a deeper cultural reason behind them.

Any young black man in pop culture who isn't hypermasculine is held to a racist double-standard. Because Aaron Carter is not hypermasculine. Clay Aiken is not hypermasculine. None of the boy-bands were hypermasculine. But there's this idea that because I'm a young black male, I've got to look hypermasculine. I've got to look "urban." I can't just be the wholesome, ordinary, bleach-blonde boy-band singer.

Comparisons to Janet and Michael partly happen because people have a limited vocabulary of what young black men can be. So they think "Hmm . . . who's a young black man who was not hypermasculine? Michael!" People need to ask themselves why young black men don't have the same freedom to present themselves that young white men do. Because many young white men choose to be hypermasculine. But as soon as a young black man chooses the ordinary suburban-kid look, all of a sudden he violates the prejudice of pop culture.

But you can't blame this prejudice on everyday people. Because the fantasy that all young black males must be hypermasculine, whereas young white males can be wholesome boy-band members, is promoted by business interests that need categories in which people will be predictable consumers. People are sick of these categories. They see themselves in the eyes of pop music marketers and know it's not who they are.

This is why corporate sales are down across the entire industry. It's not because everyone is stealing music. It's because they woke up to the fact that musical categories, racial categories, and all these other things that are sold to them as their identity, are contrived. They are just the most reliable way to grow the next economic quarter.

The comparisons to Michael and Janet are flattering. But I think they come from people who are trying to hold onto a sense of category in a world where everyone is making their own categories. I defy category. I'm the new route to the next economic quarter. My demographic isn't black, white, brown, young, old, straight, gay, or any of the above. It's real people. People who don't need labels as shortcuts to who they are.

lilgish said:

All you need is the title of the thread alone. But the pic really puts the icing on the cake.

On a serious note there's some truth in that blip.

It seems theres two Chocolate Rain threads today I guess Chocolate Rain is blowing up

I would like to see the lyrics printed without "Chocolate rain" before every line.

He's right about the music industry marketing certain musics to certain demographics... The connection is based upon image... even lyrics... but not the music itself... music itself isn't masculine, feminine, gay or straight... the image of the artist may take on those ideas... but when I'm listening to music I'm not thinking about social categories... music is an abstract art...

HE'S BLACK





im tired of seeing thug looking black guys too... its so hard to find a surburban guy..... everyone wants to be a lil thug.... I wish boys like new edition and backstreet boys were around....

I can't even look at that picture

"Hi EVERYBODY! YAY!"

TotalAlisa said:

He's a BOY?!

Cinnie said:

"Chocolate Rain"


Some stay dry and others feel the pain

A baby born will die before the sin


The school books say it can't be here again

The prisons make you wonder where it went


Build a tent and say the world is dry

Zoom the camera out and see the lie


Forecast to be falling yesterday

Only in the past is what they say


Raised your neighborhood insurance rates

Makes us happy 'livin in a gate


Made me cross the street the other day

Made you turn your head the other way

(Chorus)

History quickly crashing through your veins

Using you to fall back down again
[Repeat]


Seldom mentioned on the radio

Its the fear your leaders call control

Worse than swearing worse than calling names

Say it publicly and you're insane


No one wants to hear about it now

Wish real hard it goes away somehow


Makes the best of friends begin to fight

But did they know each other in the light?


Every February washed away

The same crime has a higher price to pay

The judge and jury swear it's not the face

(Chorus)


Dirty secrets of economy

Turns that body into GDP


The bell curve blames the baby's DNA

But test scores are how much the parents make


'Flippin cars in France the other night

Cleans the sewers out beneath Mumbai


'Cross the world and back its all the same

Angels cry and shake their heads in shame


Lifts the ark of paradise in sin

Which part do you think you're 'livin in?


More than 'marchin more than passing law

Remake how we got to where we are.

(Chorus) (more)

bboy87 said:

I knew it was some deep shit! But I was thrown off by the constant brainwash of "chocolate rain" and his um unique voice and digital piano arrangement.