Why do african americans prefer MJ over Prince ?

krayzie said:

idk, but think it's bullshit

what are you talking about

idk? what's that?

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

i don't know?

Krayzie, not this bullshit again

While I don't know how one quantifies them, I sense the preferences have shifted, albeit slightly, over the years. But MJ's sound has always been less eclectic. Even Prince's biggest-selling album wasn't apparently as well received from many of his old-school fans, and after that, he got even more adventurous. But his longevity and influence have helped him maintain a good level of popularity given his age..

OK, I don't bring MJ up very much to black folk but I am surprised at how little love Prince does get sometimes. I grew up assuming that most black folk loved Prince and so when I would bring him up thinkin I was about to get in a killer conversation about how great the man and his music is, I usually ended up nearly getting killed In my expeirience, there has been a serious lack of love for P among some of the black people I have known. Thought it would have been a given, but it's not. Maybe it's an LA thing....

It probably has to do with Prince's appearance when he first started
The bikini and high heeled boots might have been to much for some to digest
I'm glad my mom's and pops didn't let that stop them from buying Prince

krayzie said:

I can't imagine why you think this conjecture makes any sense

Maybe for the same reasons for which Jimi Hendrix wasn't a hero for the Afro Americans.. ( not only Afro-Americans but non-musicians black folks in general I think..).
[Edited 4/21/08 12:25pm]

krayzie said:

What?

Rather than ask you what in the HAY-ELL you're talking about or asking what country or planet you inhabit, I'm just going to assume you're trolling. From my experience there's not much that's true about that statement...at all.

Although every thing Michael has been through in the past 20 years, Michael is still loved by the black community. Alot of us grew up with Michael, there's that emotional connection and the music that's he's released brings more.

Prince, on the other hand, has always been Prince. It may also have to do with the fact that alot of people STILL don't know who Prince is

I don't know. I grew up loving both of them

How about this?


How about I ask some of my fellow African Americans this very question?

bboy87 said:

not before you ask some folk what they think

banks said:

Interestingly enough, my folks were able to embrace Prince because in their old school mind because they could pull his influences on a dime, and could even write off his perms and pompadours to every African American performer who he copied in doing it. For Michael, however, in my home and in my African-american community he kind of lost folks after the " BAD" era, with the plastic surgery and skin lightening

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

because the same bull is gonna be said

krayzie said:

pop vs. funk (better music, less popular)

Ottensen said:

Yeah... the hood was riding with Michal until then

bboy87 said:

from your friends?

banks said:

and alot of them still do. Overseas, Michael's fanbase is different colors, but his American fanbase is still mostly black

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

no, from some of ya'll


and I thought we were friends, Supa

bboy87 said:

I was just askin

IMO a ton of reasons. Appearance, musical style. A biggie, MJs earlier childhood success. MJs preceived humbleness, Prince's preceived arrogance/mysteriousness. The whole tight-knitted family thing. The heavy emphasis on his dancing ability. and tons more.

morningsong said:

well, damn, you pretty much said it all

krayzie said:

This is my take on it, people, especially my fellow black people, 1st saw MJ as a kid and they watched him grow up before their eyes so there is a soft spot in the black community for him just based on the work he did with the Jackson 5. That will NEVER go away. Most of his music wasn't threatening, even as a solo artist. It was safe pop music. Where Prince is concerned, the biggest complaint I've heard from black people with P is that they think that he's gay based on his appearances over the years and some of his weird behavior too. Add to that, the lyrics that he's sang in the past were nowhere near as kid-friendly as MJ's were. MJ was the safe one and Prince was the dangerous one. I have noticed that ever since Musicology, I've met more black people who dig Prince or respect him more now than say 10 years ago and it's great. It's seems to be the opposite for MJ with the child molestation charges and the lightening of his skin but there is still love for MJ based on what I said earlier.
[Edited 4/21/08 12:56pm]

krayzie said:

For the moment (some thanks to Timbaland), Madonna sounds more "black", "urban", and/or "hood" than Michael or Prince put together.