smoothcriminal12 said:

The real question should be why are black listeners afraid to try new things?

Ahh! The chicken and the egg, grasshopper.

Another thing is there is no black alternative. At least white folk have alternative culture. lol

babybugz said:

Identity said:

The majority of those musically eclectic and adventurous Black artists are on indie labels and can't achieve airplay. If you're looking for proof, check out Timmy's New Music thread.

Oh i'm aware .. that thread should be a sticky.

So, you've visted that thread, and yet you pose this question?

2freaky4church1 said:

Another thing is there is no black alternative. At least white folk have alternative culture. lol

What is the name of that subculture?

I think it boils down to stereotypes and narrow-thinking from black folks AND non-black folks alike when it comes to music. A few weeks ago, there was a black female listening to Lenny Kravitz and some hood chick was talking to the girl playing Lenny like, "Do you listen to music like this for real? Like, to listen to?" I was floored. I also am a black female who loves Lenny and other genres of music but when you have what seems to be legions of chickhead/hoodrat types who only like what's popular (i.e. whatever autone dribble is hot at the moment), the record companies cater to them because they are easily persuaded and influenced....the ignorance of that chick's comments really floored me...

I remember picking up a rock disc and giving it to a perplexed Black female cashier at a Wrecka Stow checkout counter. She asked more than once if I bought it to give to a White person.

On another occasion, a White clerk assumed wrongly that I visted his store looking for the latest rap releases. I was there for an older album by McCartney.

aardvark15 said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

Music has become to intermixed to really claim that something is "too white" anyways.

Eminem's the most successful rapper for God's sake

Because he's white

He actually says it in one of his songs

[Edited 6/18/12 10:49am]

Let me give you guys a different perspective. My band Heavy Mojo was signed to Universal. We signed to a hip hop sub label. We recorded an album, went on tour, etc. We stalled out when the marketing got involved. Nobody could figure out where to place a mixed race rock, soul and hip hop band. What genre are you? What market can we push you too? Not placing all the blame on them at all. There is confusion with race / genre in music still sadly/

Another thing I notice is we play rock venues with no issue. The crowds loved it and buy merch. HOWEVER when we play an 'Urban/ black venue' people wait as if they want to be sure it is ok to enjoy. I notice this not just for my band but black music venues in general. If a DJ throws on a new song at a black club that is not on the radio and hasn't been getting spins that is the time folks hit up the bar. It is almost like we all are supposed to like the same things or be considered a "hater".

I can't stomach mainstream hip hop or R&B the soul production doesn't move me too often. But I will say a lot of artist are afraid to try new things as they are afraid that people will not support it.

What new things? Really, when our foot as as been in every genre/sub genre of music to come out of the US/Americas.

How in the world are you going to try new things when you have a generation of artist whos whole career has been based on using some one else's music to create a beat? Your asking them to think out the box BIG TIME. Many "mainstream" artists can't produce music that's half way decent at this point.

Of course I don't hear anyone asking Country & Western artist, "Why aren't you making a R&B/hip hop album either. This question in my opinion has little merit.

TD3 said:

What new things? Really, when our foot as as been in every genre/sub genre of music to come out of the US/Americas.

How in the world are you going to try new things when you have a generation of artist whos whole career has been based on using some one else's music to create a beat? Your asking them to think out the box BIG TIME. Many "mainstream" artists can't produce music that's half way decent at this point.

Of course I don't hear anyone asking Country & Western artist, "Why aren't you making a R&B/hip hop album either. This question in my opinion has little merit.

Good point. The lack of instrumentalists is a big issue here. Funnily enough I've been watching the old Soul Train eps on Bounce. It's amazing to be reminded of just how diverse RnB really was at one point. I figure the big diff between then and now is that there were BANDS as well as solo acts. Those bands played music and so did many of the solo acts.

Today I don't know how a real band would even be seen/marketed/etc because we are so used to solo acts that don't play instruments.

Ask their record labels

If you can figure out why Black Americans, today and yesterday, for

the most part, don't appreciate Jimi Hendrix, then you'll have your

answer.

I hold Hendrix as the first pop artist on the scene who defied what it

meant to be a "Black" star recording artist; he was certainly a Black

artist who was not afraid to try "new things" whatever that means. But

yeah - Hendrix openly mourned the fact that Blacks pretty much weren't

attending his shows.

Two cents and all that shit...where are the two pennies at?

^^I remember a Lenny Kravitz interview where he was also bemoaing the fact that not too many blacks attend his shows.

duccichucka said:

If you can figure out why Black Americans, today and yesterday, for

the most part, don't appreciate Jimi Hendrix, then you'll have your

answer.

I hold Hendrix as the first pop artist on the scene who defied what it

meant to be a "Black" star recording artist; he was certainly a Black

artist who was not afraid to try "new things" whatever that means. But

yeah - Hendrix openly mourned the fact that Blacks pretty much weren't

attending his shows.

Two cents and all that shit...where are the two pennies at?

Being Black..a woman..AND a Hendrix stan all at the same time is truly a lonely place!

You're right about this because he broke the mold of the matching suits/steps RnB of the 60s-early 70s. People like Bob Marley, Prince, Rick James, Living Colour, Lenny, etc...probably wouldn't have gotten a chance to do their thang if not for Jimi breaking those barriers.

Lord, it really trips me out when I hear young black people these days refer to anything that's not shit hop or what's considered "R&B" today as being "too white" or "not black enough". Apparently, they are very young and stupid because what has forever been known as stereotypical "black" music has been uptempo, rhythmic music with lots of drums and a good bassline and what has forever been known as stereotypical "white" music has been slow to midtempo, extremely dull, and no drums or bass.

Now, turn on current black radio these days and if you want to go by stereotypes, which apparently they do since they still say things like "white folks music" or "black folks music", going by stereotypes, 99% of what is on black radio today could be considered WHITE music because it fits every uncool dorky white stereotype for decades before the rock and roll era changed things. It's slow to midtempo, it's boring as hell, and it has no rhythm whatsoever, no drums, no bassline, absolutely nothing that's stereotypically "black". And Lord knows enough white folks listen to their music these days in droves. If it was so "black", only the cool white folks would be listening to it and the others would have never heard of it. I mean, how many white folks had even heard of folks like Con Funk Shun, Skyy, The Barkays, Cameo, Slave, Brick, etc. until the major crossover era occurred?

Hell, I just laugh at these little young dumbasses these days that make statements like that. "Ewwww, that's white folks music"....when the very music they are listening to themselves fits every white stereotype in the book and there are millions of white people listening to it also. Hell, if white people weren't listening to it, the bullshit might finally go out of style.

babybugz said:

mjscarousal said:

Well I think thats a very judgemental thing to say or maybe you havent been exposed but there are alot of black artists that do explore new styles of genres.

I'm not being judgemental at all it's something I notice. But in general there are a Majority that won't t explore outside those main genres. And i'm aware that there are those that do in the underground I guess i'm speaking from a mainstream point when I say a lot.

Don't you know that you're supposed to be "searching" these days? Nevermind that it's wrong and rediculous that you should have to search, you're supposed to search because it's like a sexual fetish around here these days.

TD3 said:

What new things? Really, when our foot as as been in every genre/sub genre of music to come out of the US/Americas.

How in the world are you going to try new things when you have a generation of artist whos whole career has been based on using some one else's music to create a beat? Your asking them to think out the box BIG TIME. Many "mainstream" artists can't produce music that's half way decent at this point.

Of course I don't hear anyone asking Country & Western artist, "Why aren't you making a R&B/hip hop album either. This question in my opinion has little merit.

HEY!!! Stop bitching and making sense! Somebody might eventually listen and others might start bitching and a change might come! You're supposed to just accept bullshit the way it is, let them think you're just getting "old", never tell the real deal that they have no talent whatsoever, and go off somewhere like a damn fool and "search" for something you like. We must never say anyting that might get people to thinking about a change.

.

.

.

[Edited 6/18/12 14:16pm]

Identity said:

I remember picking up a rock disc and giving it to a perplexed Black female cashier at a Wrecka Stow checkout counter. She asked more than once if I bought it to give to a White person.

On another occasion, a White clerk assumed wrongly that I visted his store looking for the latest rap releases. I was there for an older album by McCartney.

Now see, that's just stupid. Least I don't get that question when I gave Jack White's album to a black female cashier.

Azz said:

aardvark15 said:

Eminem's the most successful rapper for God's sake

Because he's white

He actually says it in one of his songs

[Edited 6/18/12 10:49am]

Timmy84 said:

Identity said:

I remember picking up a rock disc and giving it to a perplexed Black female cashier at a Wrecka Stow checkout counter. She asked more than once if I bought it to give to a White person.

On another occasion, a White clerk assumed wrongly that I visted his store looking for the latest rap releases. I was there for an older album by McCartney.

Now see, that's just stupid. Least I don't get that question when I gave Jack White's album to a black female cashier.

She gives you "the look" though doesn't she?

babybugz said:

I was just thinking that a lot of black artists prefer to just stay in R&B or Hip Hop... why don't some try to explore other genres? I'm black and open to new styles but this is not the case for some

Oh, man... You know you are opening the flood gates with this post, don't you?!

aardvark15 said:

Timmy84 said:

Now see, that's just stupid. Least I don't get that question when I gave Jack White's album to a black female cashier.

She gives you "the look" though doesn't she?

No she didn't. She just took the CD through the thing and put it in my bag.

Timmy84 said:

aardvark15 said:

She gives you "the look" though doesn't she?

No she didn't. She just took the CD through the thing and put it in my bag.

Hell I got Madonna and the guy here didn't even flinch.

smoothcriminal12 said:

Timmy84 said:

No she didn't. She just took the CD through the thing and put it in my bag.

Hell I got Madonna and the guy here didn't even flinch.

Yeah it don't matter to some folks. Depends on who you encounter I guess.

Timmy84 said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

Hell I got Madonna and the guy here didn't even flinch.

Yeah it don't matter to some folks. Depends on who you encounter I guess.

Yeah. Most of them have been go to me.

Timmy84 said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

Hell I got Madonna and the guy here didn't even flinch.

Yeah it don't matter to some folks. Depends on who you encounter I guess.

Don't even get me started on one women's reaction when I bought Misecuation

duccichucka said:

If you can figure out why Black Americans, today and yesterday, for

the most part, don't appreciate Jimi Hendrix, then you'll have your

answer.

I hold Hendrix as the first pop artist on the scene who defied what it

meant to be a "Black" star recording artist; he was certainly a Black

artist who was not afraid to try "new things" whatever that means. But

yeah - Hendrix openly mourned the fact that Blacks pretty much weren't

attending his shows.

Two cents and all that shit...where are the two pennies at?

^^^Great point!

From an old thread...

Most people here know I have a great deal of respect for Jimi Hendrix.
Getting to meet him one afternoon on Bleeker Street in Greenwich Village didn't hurt either.
But the reason for his inclusion in this set goes far beyond the innovative guitar and studio work.


The first time I heard him was during one of those late night transistor radio listening sessions.
While tuned in to Murray The K (a pioneer during the "free-form" FM radio days), he played Hey Joe. Hearing this incredible music was one thing but when I finally saw what he looked like, I experienced what can only be described as a mental emancipation. It was if a great weight had been lifted. I was no longer restricted to the box (by White & Black people) of how Black people were categorized. What type of music you were expected to listen to or play, how you were supposed to talk, how you were supposed to dress or how you were supposed to think.

Thank you sir. Till we shake hands again "on the next one".

...http://prince.org/msg/8/284764



Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

smoothcriminal12 said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah it don't matter to some folks. Depends on who you encounter I guess.

Yeah. Most of them have been go to me.

My sister once heard me playing Marvin and thought I "wasn't up on new stuff". So it also depends if you play older shit too no matter which shade or complexion of your melanin you are.

Timmy84 said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

Yeah. Most of them have been go to me.

My sister once heard me playing Marvin and thought I "wasn't up on new stuff". So it also depends if you play older shit too no matter which shade or complexion of your melanin you are.

Right.

And did I say "go"? I meant good.

Timmy84 said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

Yeah. Most of them have been go to me.

My sister once heard me playing Marvin and thought I "wasn't up on new stuff". So it also depends if you play older shit too no matter which shade or complexion of your melanin you are.

Ha! How old is your sister? I remember being a teenager listening to "old" music and there's a lot of younger folks who like "old music" so perhaps your sister is being a bit narrow-minded?