> I agree. Our music isn't "black" enough. It's too fast, there's no
> rappin, mackin and pimpin in it, it's not "urban" enough. House is too
> "gay". I have stopped worrying about it. If I was waiting to get paid
> from negroes, I'd be living under the overpass on I-75 and Mack. Or
> living in a refrigerator box like my man Jean-Michel Basquiat.
This is something that really bothers me. Although I am white (or
caucasian, or whatever) , I think that cultural diversity and a strong
black influence are what make Detroits music excell. Think about this-
how many cheesy trance djs or happy hardcore djs are black? Without the
black influence, or any cultural influence on dance music, the music
becomes bland, boring, and lame.
One reason behind this, is that 90% of Americans think that "techno" or
electronic music in general is a European thing. The mainstream music
industry adapts to such a belief and markets thier product of dance music
to a white audience. Its amazing how well this works, for even when you
have an alleged "underground rave scene" which has grown nationwide, yet
still attracts a largely white suburban audience- despite the fact that
the music originated in Black communities, and despite the fact that
"ravers" cling to that stupid, hypocritical slogan "PLUR." Market
segmentation, audience building, and stereotyping are very sucessful tools
used by the media coroporations.
To be able to go agianst the current black musician stereotype is VERY
difficult. The media has burned in the minds of America's youth that
black culture is all about "chillin in the ghetto," and sex. A lot of
these racist stereotypes have been around for hundreds of years. The
current "pimp" stereotype of a black man is very insulting and dangerous
as it is reminicent of the old stereotype of black men as sexual
preditors. It was this stereotype that slowed the growth of early rock
and roll, as parents were scared that thier young, teenage daughters were
idolizing Black men. I recall Mos Def once saying that in the media,
whenever you see a white "pimp" they are always running legal businesses,
and they are always referred to as "businessmen" with a very professional
appeareance. Black "pimps" however are always fitting the same stereotype,
and are often linked with sexual violence.
Sorry about this rant, I can go on about this forever. It just scares me
that dance music MIGHT fall down the same path as rock, r'n'b, etc. It is
already heading that way with trance.
-christos
