By Gail Mitchell, Los Angeles | February 21, 2014 2:30 PM EST

Robin Thicke

No song spent more time atop the Billboard Hot 100 last year than Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," which logged 12 weeks at No. 1 and set the all-time record for radio audience when it reached 229 million listeners in a week. It did so by tapping the sound of classic R&B, which has sparked both controversy – its groove is close enough to Marvin Gaye's 1977 No. 1 hit "Got to Give It Up" to have sparked a since-settled suit involving the Gaye family – and ongoing discussion. That's because 2013 was also a year that didn't have a single black artist top the Hot 100 as a lead performer – the first time that's happened in the chart's 55-year history.

Why? The increasing dominance of pop at radio – across all formats – is one reason. But a satirical commentary by Sebastien Elkouby published onRapRehab.com the day of the Grammy Awards (Jan. 26) took aim at the marginalization of black artists in popular culture in general. It struck a nerve – especially in light of the apology Macklemore made the following day to Kendrick Lamar for "robbing" him at the Grammys.

"This letter is sad because it's not far from the truth," says the co-founder of one R&B independent label. The head of an R&B-focused marketing and branding agency boils down colleagues' universal reaction to the posting in six words: "I was thinking the same thing." An executive who works in the U.K. R&B music industry, adds, "[It] summarized a long-held feeling or fear about what's happening with black music, but [people] haven't felt confident enough to raise these issues."

One person who does is Jeff Robinson, president-CEO of MBK Entertainment. Robinson helped guide Alicia Keys to stardom and helms the careers of R&B singer-songwriters K. Michelle and Elle Varner. He says it was tough to break an R&B artist in 2001, when Keys' debut album, Songs in A Minor, hit No. 1, and it's even tougher now.

"With radio all playing the same songs by the same artists it's difficult to break through," says Robinson. "Even top producers are reluctant to work with new artists, preferring to take the easier way out to work with more established ones." Labels and radio have moved in the direction of branding the music as "adult R&B," whether it's from an established artist like Toni Braxton (whose recent album with Babyface, 'Love, Marriage & Divorce,' debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200) or a new artist like Varner. "So they tend to not believe in its selling power as they once did," says Robinson. "I couldn't disagree more."

"R&B has to be given a chance," says Reggie Rouse, PD of Atlanta mainstay WVEE, which plays a notable amount of new R&B music for its 18-54 audience. On WVEE, alongside Drake and Ace Hood you'll hear Tamar Braxton and Miguel as well as R. Kelly, Jill Scott and Anthony Hamilton. "I know we have to get ratings, but we jump off R&B records too quickly because it takes longer to research than hip-hop. R&B is the core, the foundation for pop, hip-hop and other music."

But radio playlists have indeed tightened, in part due to Nielsen Audio's Portable People Meter, which monitors listening more accurately than diaries once did. For some R&B stations this has meant playing a higher quotient of oldies or switching to another format altogether to retain audience and advertising dollars. Elsewhere it's created a drive to find the songs that get the biggest and broadest audience response, which often are pop songs that can work as cross-format smashes – like "Blurred Lines" or Lorde's "Royals," a hit on the Hot 100, as well as the alternative, hip-hop and Latin charts.

It's "killing our culture," laments the head of one indie label. "We're hitting a glass ceiling with such limited exposure." R&B industry executives and managers worry that the genre, like jazz before it, will continue to shrink in exposure and audience. Others say the music simply isn't strong enough right now, and point to the emergence of R&B alternative artists like The Weeknd and Frank Ocean as the future.

One thing that may soon change is the drought for black artists atop the Hot 100. Pharrell's "Happy" is No. 2 on the chart dated March 1, and has the momentum to go to No. 1. If it does, Pharrell will be the first lead black act to top the chart since Rihanna in December 2012 with "Diamonds." The only thing in the way right now? The reigning No. 1: Katy Perry's "Dark Horse," which is fueled by a hip-hop assist from Juicy J. If Perry's new video posts big numbers, the Hot 100 blackout may continue.

Hopefully Pharrell's smash hit "Happy" will break this sad cycle..I'm rooting for him!!!!!!

[Edited 2/22/14 8:14am]

Read Elkouby's piece and a break down of some its key points.

Notice To Black Artists: Your Services Are No Longer Needed

Dear Black Artists,

We regret to inform you that the need for your services will soon come to an end as we enter a critical restructuring period. Fortunately, after having spent nearly a century meticulously studying your art, language, fashion, and lifestyle, we have learned enough to confidently move forward without your assistance. We thank you for your contributions but have decided to make some necessary changes as a result of your decreasing value. Focus groups show that consumers are looking for more relatable images. While 2013 marked the first time in Billboard’s 55 year history that there were no black artists on the Hot 100 chart,² this was a great year for us with Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, and Macklemore claiming the #1 spot on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart, proving that market demands are shifting. Consequently, in the next few months, we will be gradually phasing out your positions as we finalize this reorganization. In the meantime, we ask you to continue with business as usual, training your replacements Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber until instructed otherwise.

Your severance package includes a lifetime supply of Air Jordans, unlimited access to reruns of "Love and Hip Hop", a new 30 piece Tom Ford wardrobe, and the latest iPhone. Your medical coverage will be provided through ObamaCare.

We want you to know that your termination is in no way a statement about the quality of your work with us. As such, we would like to acknowledge your outstanding contributions to the industry over the past decades.

In music, we’d like to thank Kendrick Lamar’s thought-provoking body of work which has opened the door for Macklemore, a shining example of what intelligent rap looks like.³

In business, Jay Z's partnership with Samsung was historical as the Korean mobile company paid the rapper a mere $5 million and his company Roc Nation, another $15 million, a bargain deal relative to their standard annual $4 billion marketing budget and $220 billion net worth.⁴

In fashion, while Kanye West may be experiencing difficulties launching his own brand, his loyalty to European designers continues to add value to an already thriving industry that other entertainers like Migos seem to enjoy promoting for free.⁵

In cinema, "The Butler" and "12 Years a Slave" were Oscar-worthy gems, showcasing the strength and pride of a resilient people. We understand that this year, you will continue this tradition of inspiring historical films with the May release of "Belle" and the History Channel's forthcoming reboot of the groundbreaking 70's televised series, "Roots". Your work did not go unnoticed as it has inspired us to produce new historical movies of our own, depicting our rich cultural heritage. Upcoming releases include:

* "Son of God" produced by reality TV pioneer Mark Burnett and starring Diogo Morgado
* "Noah" starring Russell Crowe
* "Exodus" starring Christian Bale as Moses
* "Mary, Mother of Christ" starring 16 year old Odeya Rush

Just as your movies depict the struggles and achievements of your best and brightest, these powerful films are meant to inspire and remind us of our glorious past and divine lineage.

In an attempt to capitalize on the recent trend in movies that focus on triumphs of the African-American experience, we have recently begun developing films with similar themes. Channing Tatum has just been cast as the lead in the Nat Turner Story while Scarlett Johansson is reported to have accepted the role of Harriet Tubman in a forthcoming biopic. Like Quentin Tarentino’s "Django Unchained", both movies promise to offer the perfect balance between shoot-em-up style action and social commentary while boasting two smash-hit soundtracks featuring Eminem, Katy Perry, and Ke$ha.

Again, none of this could have been accomplished without your unwavering commitment and dedication to our mission. We trust that your transition will be smooth and wish you continued success with your new journey into Electronic Dance.

1. This posting on RapRehab.com appeared Jan. 26 the day of the Grammys. The author Sebastien Elkouby is a former publicist for KRS-One who now works as a creative consultant, freelancer writer for RapRehab and an educator.

2. There's a chart wather's nuance here: t was the first year in the chart's history that no black artist topped the chart as a lead performer. However four songs featuring black artists did claim No. 1 last year: "Thrift Shop" (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz), "Can't Hold Us" (Macklemore & Lewis featuring Ray Dalton), "Blurred Lines" (Robin Thicke featuring T.I. adn Pharrell) and "The Monster" (Eminem featuring Rihanna).

3. After winning best new artist, best rap song, best rap performance and best rap album, Macklemore Instagrammed a screen grab of an apology text he sent Kendrick Lamar, who was nominiated for seven Grammys and won none. "You got robbed," it read in part. "I robbed you."

4. The value of Jay Z's deal with Samsung was actually $30 million. Samsung's global marketing budget is actually $14 billion, though its U.S. budget for 2013 was estimated to be $1 billion.

5. West has complained of his power struggles in the fashion industry, and recently left Nike for a deal with Adidas. Atlanta trio Migos released the single, "Versace," which repeats the designer's name more than 35 times in a row as a hook. The Versace store in Atlanta reportedly had a rise in sales after the song became a hit in September.

I predicted this years ago......

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/5915608/notice-to-black-artists-behind-rbs-struggle-at-radio-the-letter?page=0%2C1

IT'S OVER......we better get used to it......

I"ve reached this conclusion 10 years ago after witnessing the total obliteration of culture that occured over time 17 years prior....

our culture has been tricked and misled into embracing the greatest illusion in the history of music

AKA The Pop Ascension

and they used HIP-HOP to do it......

now artists like Tank are complaining about it, but the signs were screaming years before what was about to happen

the power brokers came w/the juggernaut on this one......

[Edited 2/22/14 8:37am]

Usher is threatening a return to form this year. At this point he's the only hope for a forceful african american R&B presence. His talent and X-factor are undeniable. He just has to live up to the promise of returning to form. I have no hope that D'Angelo, the most respected living R&B artist, will have an album release this year.

Cute or Catastrophic?

>

There's always acts like Sweet Angel, Mel Waiters, & Sir Charles Jones, but they're mostly on really small labels that doesn't have the money to really get them out there or for fancy production and artwork. You never really see them on TV or written about in magazines. Their music might be too old fashioned for modern mainstream audiences though, silmilar to others like Shamekia Copeland, Sharon Jones, Alice Russell, & Vintage Trouble.

Scorp said:

IT'S OVER......we better get used to it......

I"ve reached this conclusion 10 years ago after witnessing the total obliteration of culture that occured over time 17 years prior....

our culture has been tricked and misled into embracing the greatest illusion in the history of music

AKA The Pop Ascension

and they used HIP-HOP to do it......

now artists like Tank are complaining about it, but the signs were screaming years before what was about to happen

the power brokers came w/the juggernaut on this one......

[Edited 2/22/14 8:37am]

We've been on here for YEARS talking about this. R&B as mainstream may be dead but as long as someof us keep the love for it going, it will still thrive in pockets. The problem is we as a culture have been accepted and placed in mainstream and we have forgotten how to opt out of it. It will take that to kepp true R&B alive.

It was OVER when U had R&B Legends "New Jack Swingin' It" just 2 get over!!!!!

I hate to say it, but black youth and youth in general have dropped the ball. They are not pushing and creating new cultures in which new music is born. Almost all of modern music had its seeds planted in the black youth movements of the 20th century. Of course, other groups and races around the world took those seeds and expanded on it. For the first time, the well of innovation has dried up and everyone is spinning their wheels in mud.

Think of the early days of hip hop where black and latino youth strove to create in the most dire situations. I can't get access to music education or instruments. Then I will use turntables and make my own. I can't find a venue to perform. Then I will plug my turntables and speakers into a lamp post and rock a show out in the park. I can't get exposure to that arts. Then I will dance in the streets on cardboard or use a cheap spray can to paint. Where is that passion to create now? Where is the ego to say fuck everything that came before and I'm creating something new.

The demise of r & b is just a symptom of greater problem. If you look around almost of genres are suffering financially and creatively. Pop music is becoming the all purpose, no purpose music of the ages. Pop used to draw inspiration from various genres of music. Now its like vampire sucking them lifeless. The problem is there are no new genres or sub cultures that can push and drag modern music forward.

Is it not ironic that the biggest single last year (apart from maybe Royals) sounded 100% like classic r&b?!

.

Why are the big R&B artists doing music that sounds more like EDM than R&B?

.

Surely "Blurred Lines" proved a hole in the market for R&B being promoted as singles?

woogiebear said:

i know,right?

i just listen to the music in my collection.(70's,80's,90's R&B,Funk,New Jack)

I have said this A MILLION times already and maybe one day people will catch on. A big issue is AGE-ism, now this goes on across the board in all genres BUT in RB and also POP its HUGE. ALSO people talk about how the "walls" came down and we are all in the same BOX, that is total fucking bullshit, just like the term "great music if you look for it". Music now has never been more segregated, just because a pop chart has Rihanna and Taylor Swift and Maroon 5 on it doesnt mean "the walls have come down". People forget that at one time you had George Michael, Bruce Springsteen, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Prince, Lionel Richie, Kool and the Gang, Aretha Franklin, Richard Marx, Cyndi Lauper, Bon Jovi, And so much more were all on the same chart and SAME STATION! No one ever made a BIG FUCKING DEAL when Elton John was on Soul Train and had an RB number one hit. Imagine the uproar if that "happend" now, tell me again that "PEOPLES EYES ARE OPEN" bullshit.

RB needs to take a HINT from a show like "that metal show" im not even a fan of 90% of the artists that go on or are talk about that show, but PROPS for saving a culture young and OLD which is important, RB and POP shut the door at a certain age. MTV used to play music now it plays 16 and pregnant, why dont they call that show, "breeding more assholes".

THAT letter that has industry BUZZING is way off because it almost puts blame on people like Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke, looking for blame, look in the mirror.

woogiebear said:

It was OVER when U had R&B Legends "New Jack Swingin' It" just 2 get over!!!!!

Sad but true. That's when we started to stray and lose our vibe. People jump on what's hot because they are scared they ain't gonna make money if they don't.

nd33 said:

Is it not ironic that the biggest single last year (apart from maybe Royals) sounded 100% like classic r&b?!

.

Why are the big R&B artists doing music that sounds more like EDM than R&B?

.

Surely "Blurred Lines" proved a hole in the market for R&B being promoted as singles?

Its misdirection. I keep posting music on here proving this. Its about where the cameras get pointed. The R&B artists that jump on trends are more concerned about selling records than making good music. Janelle dropped a jewel and even though she got a bit of press, if this had been the mid-late 80s, there would be 4-5 singles off that record. Its the game of misdirection.

lastdecember said:

I have said this A MILLION times already and maybe one day people will catch on. A big issue is AGE-ism, now this goes on across the board in all genres BUT in RB and also POP its HUGE. ..

And a million times you are correct. We grew up on grown folks making music but now its all kids, which is why the music is so immature and the growth is stunned.

[Edited 2/23/14 6:58am]

BlaqueKnight said:

woogiebear said:

It was OVER when U had R&B Legends "New Jack Swingin' It" just 2 get over!!!!!

Sad but true. That's when we started to stray and lose our vibe. People jump on what's hot because they are scared they ain't gonna make money if they don't.

Its misdirection. I keep posting music on here proving this. Its about where the cameras get pointed. The R&B artists that jump on trends are more concerned about selling records than making good music. Janelle dropped a jewel and even though she got a bit of press, if this had been the mid-late 80s, there would be 4-5 singles off that record. Its the game of misdirection.

lastdecember said:

I have said this A MILLION times already and maybe one day people will catch on. A big issue is AGE-ism, now this goes on across the board in all genres BUT in RB and also POP its HUGE. ..

And a million times you are correct. We grew up on grown folks making music but now its all kids, which is why the music is so immature and the growth is stunned.

[Edited 2/23/14 6:58am]

.

I don't know if you can blame age. You could easily make the argument that many of the great artists of the 20th century made their best work early on in their youthful days:

.

When Stevie Wonder was 24, which is the same age as Chris Brown is now, he'd already written and produced "Music Of My Mind", Talking Book", "Innervisions" and "Fulfillingness First Finale".

.

When MJ was 24 he'd already released (and written much of) "Off The Wall" and "Thriller".

.

When the boys in Outkast were 24, they'd already written and released "Southernplayalistic", "Atliens" and "Aquemini".

.

When Prince was 24, he'd already written and produced "For You", "Prince", "Dirty Mind", "Controversy" and "1999".

.

Amazing, really!

nd33 said:

BlaqueKnight said:

And a million times you are correct. We grew up on grown folks making music but now its all kids, which is why the music is so immature and the growth is stunned.

[Edited 2/23/14 6:58am]

.

I don't know if you can blame age. You could easily make the argument that many of the great artists of the 20th century made their best work early on in their youthful days:

.

When Stevie Wonder was 24, which is the same age as Chris Brown is now, he'd already written and produced "Music Of My Mind", Talking Book", "Innervisions" and "Fulfillingness First Finale".

.

When MJ was 24 he'd already released (and written much of) "Off The Wall" and "Thriller".

.

When the boys in Outkast were 24, they'd already written and released "Southernplayalistic", "Atliens" and "Aquemini".

.

When PRINCE was 24, he'd already written and produced "For You", "Prince", "Dirty Mind", "Controversy" and "1999".

.

Amazing, really!

Those artist mentioned are gifted geniuses! that can't be repeated ANYMORE....

nd33 said:

BlaqueKnight said:

And a million times you are correct. We grew up on grown folks making music but now its all kids, which is why the music is so immature and the growth is stunned.

[Edited 2/23/14 6:58am]

.

I don't know if you can blame age. You could easily make the argument that many of the great artists of the 20th century made their best work early on in their youthful days:

.

When Stevie Wonder was 24, which is the same age as Chris Brown is now, he'd already written and produced "Music Of My Mind", Talking Book", "Innervisions" and "Fulfillingness First Finale".

.

When MJ was 24 he'd already released (and written much of) "Off The Wall" and "Thriller".

.

When the boys in Outkast were 24, they'd already written and released "Southernplayalistic", "Atliens" and "Aquemini".

.

When Prince was 24, he'd already written and produced "For You", "Prince", "Dirty Mind", "Controversy" and "1999".

.

Amazing, really!

Ageism - prejudice or discrimination against a particular age-group and especially the elderly

For example, let's take 1985.

Billboard chart toppers for the R&B charts included Diana Ross, Freddie Jackson, Maze & Frankie Beverly, Kool & the Gang, Midnight Star, Eugene Wilde, Isley-Jasper-Isley, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. All of these artists were 30+ or had members who were 30+. You look at the charts now and its full of teens and 20-somethings.

If you are female and over 30 and you aren't coasting off your previous fame - forgetaboutit. You are NOT going to get any chart love. If you are a guy, you MIGHT, as long as you are pretending to be a grown ass kid. Its still unlikely. There are a couple of exceptions but not many.

The artists I grew up on were already grown when I was a kid listening to them. They were leading by example. They made mature music. I could hear Luther and New Edition. I could hear the Isley Bros. and Debarges. I could hear Prince, MJ and The Jets. There was balance. Now, its all immature bullshit. Like I said in another thread, its misdirection. Its not like the music is not being made; its that they won't point the cameras in that direction, so people think it doesn't exist.

If it does, Pharrell will be the first lead black act to top the chart since Rihanna in December 2012 with "Diamonds." The only thing in the way right now? The reigning No. 1: Katy Perry's "Dark Horse," which is fueled by a hip-hop assist from Juicy J. If Perry's new video posts big numbers, the Hot 100 blackout may continue.

MickyDolenz said:

If it does, Pharrell will be the first lead black act to top the chart since Rihanna in December 2012 with "Diamonds." The only thing in the way right now? The reigning No. 1: Katy Perry's "Dark Horse," which is fueled by a hip-hop assist from Juicy J. If Perry's new video posts big numbers, the Hot 100 blackout may continue.

I'm pretty sure Black performers get played more and get hits more often (#1 or otherwise) on the Top 100 than Native Americans, Samoans, Chinese, Mexicans, Indians, Arabs, Polynesians, etc.

That's because most of the American music people listen to at its core is made by black people - ESPECIALLY R&B. Current pop music exists because it is an offshoot of R&B and there are black people "in the kitchen" cooking it up and then white people come in and sing over it. When that's not the case, there is a lot of mimicking, interpolating and re-tooling of black music going on. Let's not pretend, here.

Everyone else you named has their own culture. Even Native Americans have their own traditional music that nobody else gets in on. Everybody else has their own countries where their cultures are the focus and music is made by them for them. So, there's that.

BlaqueKnight said:

MickyDolenz said:

I'm pretty sure Black performers get played more and get hits more often (#1 or otherwise) on the Top 100 than Native Americans, Samoans, Chinese, Mexicans, Indians, Arabs, Polynesians, etc.

That's because most of the American music people listen to at its core is made by black people - ESPECIALLY R&B. Current pop music exists because it is an offshoot of R&B and there are black people "in the kitchen" cooking it up and then white people come in and sing over it. When that's not the case, there is a lot of mimicking, interpolating and re-tooling of black music going on. Let's not pretend, here.

Everyone else you named has their own culture. Even Native Americans have their own traditional music that nobody else gets in on. Everybody else has their own countries where their cultures are the focus and music is made by them for them. So, there's that.

That doesn't have anything to do with them not getting played on Top 40 radio. They're not seen much on network TV (NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC) or in the average Hollywood movie either, and most network TV programs has nothing to do with black culture. A lot of the shows that had majority black casts had white writers and producers.

BlaqueKnight said:

MickyDolenz said:

I'm pretty sure Black performers get played more and get hits more often (#1 or otherwise) on the Top 100 than Native Americans, Samoans, Chinese, Mexicans, Indians, Arabs, Polynesians, etc.

That's because most of the American music people listen to at its core is made by black people - ESPECIALLY R&B. Current pop music exists because it is an offshoot of R&B and there are black people "in the kitchen" cooking it up and then white people come in and sing over it. When that's not the case, there is a lot of mimicking, interpolating and re-tooling of black music going on. Let's not pretend, here.

Everyone else you named has their own culture. Even Native Americans have their own traditional music that nobody else gets in on. Everybody else has their own countries where their cultures are the focus and music is made by them for them. So, there's that.

all excellent points......much respected......

I particularly enjoyed what u said about other countries making their own music for there own culture of people which is the way it should be, or at least to the point where people are in position to control the output

and what u highlighted is the problem black culture has experienced that is a very unique circumstance...our experience has been shaped by the external forces that has created it

so in reality, our culture was cultivated as a coping mechanism to confront and exist w/in those challenges

what it boils down to is that every other culture of people around the globe has something that we as black people in america don't have

we do not have a country..and that's the problem

and as of the 21st centry, we don't have a culture either even though we've been given the impression we still do

when a people don't have a country to call its own, it's easer to be exploited

[Edited 2/23/14 10:51am]

To me those are group fights that have to be championed by their own group. You don't expect white people to champion MORE black representation do you? So if a Native American feels they're not being properly represented then that group will most likely have to fight for that. The gay community is a good example.

yikes - everyone here is sounding old and racist like my dead grandfather!!

MickyDolenz said:

BlaqueKnight said:

That's because most of the American music people listen to at its core is made by black people - ESPECIALLY R&B. Current pop music exists because it is an offshoot of R&B and there are black people "in the kitchen" cooking it up and then white people come in and sing over it. When that's not the case, there is a lot of mimicking, interpolating and re-tooling of black music going on. Let's not pretend, here.

Everyone else you named has their own culture. Even Native Americans have their own traditional music that nobody else gets in on. Everybody else has their own countries where their cultures are the focus and music is made by them for them. So, there's that.

That doesn't have anything to do with them not getting played on Top 40 radio. They're not seen much on network TV (NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC) or in the average Hollywood movie either, and most network TV programs has nothing to do with black culture. A lot of the shows that had majority black casts had white writers and producers.

That's because when you have your own, YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT THE MAINSTREAM WANTS.

They don't NEED NBC, Fox, etc. They don't need Mtv, VH-1 and whatever else. They have their own channels speaking to their own people in their own languages. Black Americans are the only culture that has assimilated itself into complacency and let everyone else define it, so much so that non-black people speak with arrogant athority on what is what in black culture. That has to change.

Scorp said:

I particularly enjoyed what u said about other countries making their own music for there own culture of people which is the way it should be, or at least to the point where people are in position to control the output

That doesn't make any sense. Not every one in a country or even a ethnicity has a common culture. If you go to Nigeria, they don't all do the same things, nor do people in Russia. There is no common culture for all of Africa which is majority black people, so what does "black culture" even mean? Do black people in Brazil do the same things as ones in Canada? If there is a common black culture, then hip hop could have been created by black people who were millionaires and listened to classical, just as well as street kids in NYC who rapped over disco and funk songs. What about places where the government controls or censors the entertainment and media? They determine whatever culture is for their country.

BlaqueKnight said:

That's because when you have your own, YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT THE MAINSTREAM WANTS.

They don't NEED NBC, Fox, etc. They don't need Mtv, VH-1 and whatever else. They have their own channels speaking to their own people in their own languages. Black Americans are the only culture that has assimilated itself into complacency and let everyone else define it, so much so that non-black people speak with arrogant athority on what is what in black culture. That has to change.

If that is what you think, why even comment in this thread? Since it's about charting on the Top 100, which is mainstream. As far as language, what is their own language? I know Mexicans who can't speak or understand Spanish, which is not their original language anyway. It came from Spain and Portugese came from Portugal (both are European countries) as they came and conquered Mexico and South American countries countries from the natives. On US network TV, there is English spoken, not Italian, Yiddish, French, or Irish.

MickyDolenz said:

Scorp said:

I particularly enjoyed what u said about other countries making their own music for there own culture of people which is the way it should be, or at least to the point where people are in position to control the output

That doesn't make any sense. Not every one in a country or even a ethnicity has a common culture. If you go to Nigeria, they don't all do the same things, nor do people in Russia. There is no common culture for all of Africa which is majority black people, so what does "black culture" even mean? Do black people in Brazil do the same things as ones in Canada? If there is a common black culture, then hip hop could have been created by black people who were millionaires and listened to classical, just as well as street kids in NYC who rapped over disco and funk songs. What about places where the government controls or censors the entertainment and media? They determine whatever culture is for their country.

Get outta here with that bullshit. "Black culture" is used in reference to the black American community. There is nothing I despise more than a liar who tries to pretend they don't know something. That makes you look very dishonest and insincere as well as transparent. Don't stoop to that level. You're not an idiot.

Hip-hop was born on the streets of NY and there is nowhere else and no one else that could have birthed it other than the community that did. It was created by black Americans FOR black Americans and if it had never made any money, mainstream America woouldn't give two shits about it other than to vulture from it and assimilate it into pop musiuc. Stop bullshitting. You know this. Since it became a cash cow, mainstream has all but rewritten history to claim it.

White Americans would never try to do what they have done with R&B and hip-hop to Bhangra, Bolero or any other non-American form of music because it would be ineffective. The only reason that mainstream America gets away with it is because at this point in history, black America is in a state of disarray and is not concerned with protecting its musical cultural assets.

CynicKill said:

Cute or Catastrophic?

>

Pathetic is more like it.

BlaqueKnight said:

MickyDolenz said:

That doesn't make any sense. Not every one in a country or even a ethnicity has a common culture. If you go to Nigeria, they don't all do the same things, nor do people in Russia. There is no common culture for all of Africa which is majority black people, so what does "black culture" even mean? Do black people in Brazil do the same things as ones in Canada? If there is a common black culture, then hip hop could have been created by black people who were millionaires and listened to classical, just as well as street kids in NYC who rapped over disco and funk songs. What about places where the government controls or censors the entertainment and media? They determine whatever culture is for their country.

Get outta here with that bullshit. "Black culture" is used in reference to the black American community. There is nothing I despise more than a liar who tries to pretend they don't know something. That makes you look very dishonest and insincere as well as transparent. Don't stoop to that level. You're not an idiot.

Hip-hop was born on the streets of NY and there is nowhere else and no one else that could have birthed it other than the community that did. It was created by black Americans FOR black Americans and if it had never made any money, mainstream America woouldn't give two shits about it other than to vulture from it and assimilate it into pop musiuc. Stop bullshitting. You know this. Since it became a cash cow, mainstream has all but rewritten history to claim it.

White Americans would never try to do what they have done with R&B and hip-hop to Bhangra, Bolero or any other non-American form of music because it would be ineffective. The only reason that mainstream America gets away with it is because at this point in history, black America is in a state of disarray and is not concerned with protecting its musical cultural assets.

excellent points

we are in disarray because our culture has been exploited, obliterated, tapped out, and left null and void

and because that is the reality, those black figure who are visible in the current realm of the music industry, their sole focus is getting as much money as they can while the gettin's good

but the gettin's isn't going be good too much longer, because there won't be any left to tap into

and this dissarray has let artists such as Tank to try and figure out what's going on, but the signs were there screaming for well over 2 decades....

the term OLD SCHOOL was a term introduced by the opportunists to seperate each new generation from the one who preceded, while at teh same time, exploiting the virtue from teh past to capitalize from, while at teh same time, not give credit to the people they were borrowing, sampling, interpolating, and down right stealing from......

that's why I refuse to use that term