[liberalmusiclover]

Originally posted by atrlster

Yeah, Rihanna is a really special situation. What I find really interesting is that almost every single she releases to urban becomes huge. Yet, her releases to that format are far more irregular than her constant releases to pop radio.

Any other artist who would have tried to have irregular releases to that format while catering much more to pop would have had a backlash.

I mean, even when artists try to cater to both formats equally now, they still get backlash!

Yet, she's able to not cater to them all the time, and they don't care. And yet, they're always hungry for her new releases. It's really something else

Rihanna makes hits though. None of her urban releases have been sub-par

[Sláy]

Originally posted by liberalmusiclover

Rihanna makes hits though. None of her urban releases have been sub-par

That is true. But it matters not what the song is, Diamonds (which in the UK got a meh reception from people at first), WFL, SOS, she's hammered. Interesting, her urban cuts are pop orientated too though. She's still an odd case though.

[t.A.T.u.]

more than enough

[PopNStuff]

This thread affirms why there's a need for ethnic study courses in America, I can't believe so many people didn't understand the term "womyn of color" and some even got offended.

Let's be honest, there's a reason why Eminem went on to become the most successful rapper, or why JT was considered RnB. Whether people want to acknowledge it or not, race matters in terms of marketing and broad appeal. They're both talented artists, but it also helped that they are white. It's no surprise Shakira completely changed her image before making her English album.

[jinzo]

I've had a think about this since the thread opened.

Really, this all comes down to the stranglehold on the US music industry that the privileged few have on the passive many. Radio is divided up into such static, anarchic portions and contingents that certain artists are expected to fulfil archetypal roles. Just as the older white man does rock, urban is the preserve of primarily black artists. Henceforth, record companies don't want to break away from where they determine the money and the fanbase to be. That's why we make such noise over a "crossover" hit.

So the crux of it- when the powers that be start to get inclinations that certain genres or artistic choices are unfashionable- eg R&B- they're far less willing to invest or even associate themselves. Often, it all boils down to pretty primitive economics based on an instinct. So it's not often about your talent, but about your ability to adapt to the existing structures. So if what you're doing is deemed unpopular by the select few, it then does inevitably become unpopular and unused by us all. In summary, I often think our decisions are already made for us.

Many acts are doomed before they get their feet off the ground. Really, this is a kind of determinism that can only be solved by either a wider sea change in the music landscape (eg, the end of dividing radio and promo and tv up into specialist contingents), or by the audience themselves becoming a more active decision maker through the likes of streaming.

I hesitate to say that image is 99% of the brand, but there's plenty of undertones to suggest there's more at work in the decision making process of the music business than at first meets the eye. Unfortunately, black artists currently find themselves at the bottom rung on the music industry's ladder. They'll eventually climb. Well, unless you're Rihanna or Flo Rida.

(/essay)

[Sláy]

well said Jinzo.

[Cheriah]

This is a great thread with some really interesting intelligent commentary and perspectives. We need more discussions like this on ATRL. Good work guys!

[rihannafan]

Rihanna keeping R&B alive.

The R in R&B definitely stands for Rihanna now.

The B stands for... No one i guess, maybe Brandy

[RainMan]

imma try and keep it cute on this subject but remember ten years ago when 90% of the Hot100 was black and hip hop music



its like they were over represented back then and now under represented

[Mons†erMuscle™]

It's only because R&B isn't popular. If more artists would sell out we'd have more.

Originally posted by rihannafan

Rihanna keeping R&B alive.

[Chemist]

1. R'n'B is in a bad stage
2. Black singers are automatically deemed as R'n'B/Hip-Hop and there are few out there that would really like to make pop music without the black community support

Black community should show more their support to their people, it doesn't matter if they are making "white" music

[Sláy]

^EXACTLY. But we don't. It pisses me off.

[SebaMonster]

Originally posted by Guernica

The bigger concern is where are the asian females. We need an asian female pop star that is on the same level as Rihanna or Katy Perry.

Nicki is just as Asian as she is black. She's half black and half Indian fyi.

[blasianlove]

Beyonce, Keri, and even Ciara missed it by one year.
I don't think its that big a deal tbh.

[atrlster]

Originally posted by blasianlove

Beyonce, Keri, and even Ciara missed it by one year.
I don't think its that big a deal tbh.

LOL That's a really good point

Originally posted by SebaMonster

Nicki is just as Asian as she is black. She's half black and half Indian fyi.

Really? I had no idea. And you don't mean Native Americans right? I had heard she was biracial before but never got around to checking that out.

[SebaMonster]

Originally posted by atrlster

Really? I had no idea. And you don't mean Native Americans right? I had heard she was biracial before but never got around to checking that out.

Yeah, there are both Indian and black people in Trinidad & Tobago and Nicki is both. Her eyes show that tbh and she's also more yellow-ish than other black people. No one ever mentions it though.

[atrlster]

I totally agree. Her eyes really stand out to me.

[PULSE.]

It's all about making music that's IN today and pop/dance-pop music is IN right now, Rihanna and Nicki have singles for today's time, as I said b4 you don't see their r&b/hip-hop stuff in the Top 10 on the pop charts.

[STMG23]

Originally posted by Great Username

This being the most liked facebook post in history makes me so uncomfortable.

"your image is cancerous to this earth"
"genuinely would treat a piece of dog **** with more respect than you"
"how many brainless teenage girls you have corrupted"
"I don't think you even deserve to be treated with basic sincerity"

He claims to be a comedian and says not everything is to taken seriously though. I don't know him but maybe you should not get too worked up about it?

[Soda Pop Queen]

and I don't really like that there are people just boiling it down to "well that particular genre is not popular anymore" or "they should make dance music". NO. It's not just about genres not being trendy anymore because in the 90s there was a plethora of blacks in different genres and styles getting shine... not just blacks in R&B/Hip-Hop. Ever heard of Tracy Chapman? Living Colour? Hootie and the Blowfish?

Also, the public has been brainwashed to be a lot more colorstruck these days. We can forget about any female that looks like Lauryn Hill or Brandy in this day and age making it big

Regression at it's finest.