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In this issue, I wanna discuss sellin’
out. We’ve heard it before, and it’s always associated
with black people (this time as it pertains 2 the business of
music).
Why is it that when a black artist starts
to appeal to the masses, other black folk wanna label ‘em
a sell out. I thought the name of the game was to sell music and
make money. Talk of an artist sellin’ out is usually started
by another artist whose sells aren’t doin’ much, or
someone who use to hold the top spot and got knocked off.
Some black artists who come to mind, and
were labeled “Sell Outs” include : MC Hammer, Ja Rule,
& Lionel Ritchie. In the early 90’s, nobody was hotter
than Hammer. He was doin’ albums, commercials, talk shows,
and buying up everything. Hammer was critized by the likes of
Ice Cube, L.L. Cool J., and Third Bass, for just tryin’
to make that paper and better himself. They said his clothes were
shiny, there was too much dancin’, and that he was tryin’
to appeal to white people by being in commercials, and changing
his name, by droppin’ the MC from MC Hammer. Now fast forward
and look at where rap is today. Everybody and their mama’s
got choreography in their videos. Everybody wants to act. Kats
like Ice Cube and LL have done as many movies as albums. LL had
a tv show, and has been in Fubu and Gap commercials. What the
F*@k !! And Third Bass, we’ll we all see how talented they
were. Where are they now ?
This is a business. Anyone who doesn’t
understand that, is gonna learn the hard way. If u ain’t
in this to get as much as u can out of it, why are u doin’
it ? 4 the artistry ? Bullshit !! Nobody wants 2 buy music 2 see
how artistic u are. People want what sounds good, and what they
like like to listen to.
Once the public starts hearing these celebrities,
whom they assume all know each other, saying so and so is a sell
out, they start to buy into it. Yeah, We all know there are some
artists who really appear to have sold out. I grew up listening
to The Commodores (with Lionel Ritchie). This brotha did a 180,
stopped doin’ r&b, started doin’ pop, and lost
most of his black fanbase. When he tried to come back after a
long absence, his first song back sounded like an old Commodores
ballad. It didn’t work.
All I can say is, let these artist xpress
themselves. Good music is good music. If u don’t like what
they’re doin’, don’t buy it.
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