Noted producer and recording artist The Dream has never been one to shy away from being bluntly honest but, was his statement that black singers can't sing "soul anymore" accurate?

Speaking with The Guardian over the weekend, The Dream questioned the admiration Adele ("21") receives for singing soul versus Beyonce ("4").

"It's called rhythm and blues; they just took the blues out of it for so long. What's crazy is that blacks can't do soul records any more. We love Adele singing it, but Beyoncé singing it? No," says The Dream.

So what works for "blacks"? According to The Dream, a club hit.

"No, the tempo's too slow, gimme the club hit. Now the blacks in America are responsible for the pop records, and everybody else is singing soulful records," says The Dream. "It's weird to me. We're pigeonholed over there."

So is that really where music stands, at least in the U.S.?

In related news, The Dream is logging studio time with Rita Ora, Bridget Kelly and X Factor's Tulisa Contostavlos following songs like "1+1, Beyonce" and "Roc, Love IV"

http://www.singersroom.com/news/8163/The-Dream-Blacks-Cant-Do-Soul-Records-Anymore#ixzz1pasvr4oT

LOL @ "the blacks". I blame Donald Trump.

And the fuck he's talking about "They?" He contributed to the problem too, with his d cup having ass. Please.

The soul is not in the mainstream and the dream not doing shit for soul either (I like his music but just saying)

This idiot...

Has he ever stopped to consider he's part of the issue?

Well he does have a point. And he's part of the problem himself.

It's interesting how white women from Europe (Winehouse, Duffy, Adele) know more about black tradition than a lot of these wack artists. Because they've studied and have an appreciation and respect.

Harle-girl, who's that in your profile pic?

scriptgirl said:

Harle-girl, who's that in your profile pic?

http://prince.org/msg/8/375300

I'm a new fan after watching that.

the dream is not part of the the problem, the industry is the problem. this industry used to allow artist to put out what they think is soul music. now u have record exec walking into recording studios telling artist what is a hit or good music.

Well HE ain't contributing nothing to help out. Fuckers talk a good game but don't do shit. Fuck outta here with that bullshit.

And there's still soul music, just not on the radio. When are folks gonna learn that?

I'm a musician. I make soul/R&B music. Bitch die.

your pic is of roger sanchez, harle?

jackson35 said:

the dream is not part of the the problem, the industry is the problem. this industry used to allow artist to put out what they think is soul music. now u have record exec walking into recording studios telling artist what is a hit or good music.

He's producing the same music he deems as such, ergo, he is.

And its late in the day to cop any plea for him, he has the ability and the means to put his money where his mouth us, produce and even recruit talents that cater to the R&B/Soul tastes, but until then, he should let Nelson George worry about the demise of R&B/Soul.

scriptgirl said:

your pic is of roger sanchez, harle?

Nah baby, its Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Thanks, Harle!!

This dude is DUMB AND IGNORANT

People got tired of all the bullshit.. THATS why Adele was successful and she makes good music. Beyonce has NEVER done soul music so I dont even know why he used her as an example... "4" was FAR from anything I would label as soulful.

And maybe if "black" artist would make more soulful records instead of pop hop club bullshit they might get more respect...

mjscarousal said:

This dude is DUMB AND IGNORANT

People got tired of all the bullshit.. THATS why Adele was successful and she makes good music. Beyonce has NEVER done soul music so I dont even know why he used her as an example... "4" was FAR from anything I would label as soulful.

And maybe if "black" artist would make more soulful records instead of pop hop club bullshit they might get more respect...

But Love On Top IS Soul. (*Uber-stan argument*)

Harlepolis said:

scriptgirl said:

your pic is of roger sanchez, harle?

Nah baby, its Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

not to threadjack (too late!), i went to the stax museum in memphis a couple of years ago and she was in the little documentary they show you before you tour the exhibits. i had never heard of sister rosetta before, and i sat there with my mouth open, totally blown away!

musicjunky318 said:

mjscarousal said:

This dude is DUMB AND IGNORANT

People got tired of all the bullshit.. THATS why Adele was successful and she makes good music. Beyonce has NEVER done soul music so I dont even know why he used her as an example... "4" was FAR from anything I would label as soulful.

And maybe if "black" artist would make more soulful records instead of pop hop club bullshit they might get more respect...

But Love On Top IS Soul. (*Uber-stan argument*)

Technically not Soul.. its more r&b than soul and ONE song doesnt make an ENTIRE album soulful...

Soul is On and On, Getting Late, Butterflies... Love on Top still has a pop feel to the song but its R&B.

One song doesnt mean an artist IS soulful or makes an ENTIRE album soulful which Dream was implying...

[Edited 3/19/12 20:38pm]

mjscarousal said:

musicjunky318 said:

But Love On Top IS Soul. (*Uber-stan argument*)

Technically not Soul.. its more r&b than soul and ONE song doesnt make an ENTIRE album soulful...

Soul is On and On, Getting Late, Butterflies... Love on Top still has a pop feel to the song but its R&B.

One song doesnt mean an artist IS soulful or makes an ENTIRE album soulful which Dream was implying...

[Edited 3/19/12 20:38pm]

LOL I know. I was joking about what the uber-stans would come in and say.

smoothcriminal12 said:

I'm a musician. I make soul/R&B music. Bitch die.

could you link me to some of your stuff?

I love new discoveries

it beats the crap on the radio right now

far as the dream, screw him

he never retweets me

and I give the mutha fucka props!

musicjunky318 said:

mjscarousal said:

Technically not Soul.. its more r&b than soul and ONE song doesnt make an ENTIRE album soulful...

Soul is On and On, Getting Late, Butterflies... Love on Top still has a pop feel to the song but its R&B.

One song doesnt mean an artist IS soulful or makes an ENTIRE album soulful which Dream was implying...

[Edited 3/19/12 20:38pm]

LOL I know. I was joking about what the uber-stans would come in and say.

LOL and I was giving my responce to a "uber stan "

DirtyChris said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

I'm a musician. I make soul/R&B music. Bitch die.

could you link me to some of your stuff?

I love new discoveries

it beats the crap on the radio right now

far as the dream, screw him

he never retweets me

and I give the mutha fucka props!

That Teddy Ruxpin lookin' mothafucka...

Harlepolis said:

LOL @ "the blacks". I blame Donald Trump.

And the fuck he's talking about "They?" He contributed to the problem too, with his d cup having ass. Please.

Very ignorant statement. Somebody doesn't know the difference between pop ballads and "soul" music.

Adele's 21 isn't a soul album, neither is 4.

I'm tired of people giving credit where it's not due. Yes, we're all proud of Adele for bringing back "real" music but she hasn't done anything different. She jocked Etta James singing style and sings songs that are borderline suicide letters. What I will credit her doing is making the ballad mainstream again. "Someone Like You" is the first ballad to be number one in how many years?

But let's be honest, she doesn't really have "soul" in her voice. She's soulful for a white girl (yeah I said it) I guess, but Beyonce has more soul than Adele. It's just that Beyonce doesn't make listenable music.

And if you want to hear real soul music (not neo-soul), look up someone like Sam Cooke or Aretha Franklin.

Soul music was killed (or should I say replaced) by funk music beginning in the 70s.

WHY IS ALWAYS DRAGGING BEYONCE INTO A STATEMENT. THIS GUY IS A BUM. PRODUCING ISNT WHAT IT USED TO BE.

BobbyDrake said:

WHY IS ALWAYS DRAGGING BEYONCE INTO A STATEMENT. THIS GUY IS A BUM. PRODUCING ISNT WHAT IT USED TO BE.

Right its SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO annoying and SOOOOO unnessary. Like She makes the BEST music of today and GOD forbid if she doesnt win anything or get any attention something is wrong... Dream needs to take his ignorant behind back to grade school...

Sad when these people go on these rants about how music is today they FAIL to mention acts like Mint, Jill, Janelle, Max etc Like Beyonce and Adele are the ONLY artists that makes music out now

[Edited 3/19/12 22:14pm]

Terrib3Towel said:

Very ignorant statement. Somebody doesn't know the difference between pop ballads and "soul" music.

Adele's 21 isn't a soul album, neither is 4.

I'm tired of people giving credit where it's not due. Yes, we're all proud of Adele for bringing back "real" music but she hasn't done anything different. She jocked Etta James singing style and sings songs that are borderline suicide letters. What I will credit her doing is making the ballad mainstream again. "Someone Like You" is the first ballad to be number one in how many years?

But let's be honest, she doesn't really have "soul" in her voice. She's soulful for a white girl (yeah I said it) I guess, but Beyonce has more soul than Adele. It's just that Beyonce doesn't make listenable music.

And if you want to hear real soul music (not neo-soul), look up someone like Sam Cooke or Aretha Franklin.

Soul music was killed (or should I say replaced) by funk music beginning in the 70s.

THAT was a ignorant statement.

Skin color or race doesnt mean you have more soul or less. Beyonce doesnt have an ounce of soul in her body to be convincing at all..

Someone that is soulful CONVEYS that to audiences through emotion and in how they sing... its more to being soulful than singing soulful music.

I am SO tired of that cliche bullshit...

Soulful - Can Sing

Aretha Franklin

Gladys Knight

Amy Winehouse

Etta James

Duffy

Joss Stone

Non-Soulful - Can Sing

Barbra Streisand

Diana Ross

Beyonce

Carrie Underwood

Tina Turner

Celine Dion

...And that's the difference.