Is black musical innovation dead?

[90sgoat]

Most new music genres of the 1900s were initially black, blues, jazz, rock, disco, r&b, rap.

Since rap made its way black music has basically stopped evolving, there is literally almost no other black music than variations of rap.

I have my theories, what do you think?

[L.Kizzle]

Blacks don't have a chance to showcase their innovate styles anymore. When music execs are looking for the next rapper and nothing more. It's hard for black to be anything but associated with hip-hop today to be successful in music.

For example. LA Reid, is one of the top music execs in America today. He comes from 80s R&B and Funk band The Deele, (which also featured Babyface. Hence the hot 90s record label LA Face Records.) This great pop/R&B songwriter and musician (talking about LA Reid) would rather sign a hot rapper from the streets than the next Prince.

That's just the way it is now. If young Babyface auditioned for Reid and Bobby Smurda also auditioned for him. Babyface would not have a record deal.

[Im Still Ballin]

Music innovation as a whole is dead

[Akrazotile]

Blacks don't have a chance to showcase their innovate styles anymore. When music execs are looking for the next rapper and nothing more. It's hard for black to be anything but associated with hip-hop today to be successful in music.

For example. LA Reid, is one of the top music execs in America today. He comes from 80s R&B and Funk band The Deele, (which also featured Babyface. Hence the hot 90s record label LA Face Records.) This great pop/R&B songwriter and musician (talking about LA Reid) would rather sign a hot rapper from the streets than the next Prince.

That's just the way it is now. If young Babyface auditioned for Reid and Bobby Smurda also auditioned for him. Babyface would not have a record deal.


What about ya boy Leon Bridges??

[L.Kizzle]

What about ya boy Leon Bridges??
I mentioned him when he first came out a year or so ago. Still not sure how he became bigger than Gary Clark Jr. though. But I ain't mad at him.

Sam Cooke is back!!!! (New artist Leon Bridges) (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=375853)

[navy]

You're right, but is white/other music innovation really thriving or are they just playing around with different electronic sounds? The same can be said for blacks as "rap" production has an even bigger pallet.

[Akrazotile]

You're right, but is white/other music innovation really thriving or are they just playing around with different electronic sounds? The same can be said for blacks as "rap" production has an even bigger pallet.


Tbh I'm not sure there's a whole lot more to innovate. Maybe every kind of style/genre that has legit appeal has had its moment in the mainstream. It may just be pop and rehashes from here on out.

Most 'musicians' today are just throwing random noises together, giving themselves a gimmicky name and putting on dark glasses, think they're some big shot DJ. Shit's corny as F.

[NumberSix]

There's not a lot of musical innovation of any kind right now.

[LJJ]

What about ya boy Leon Bridges??

Aren't artists like Leon Bridges the point, besides rappers.

All Leon Bridges is doing is trying to copy a sound that was considered outdated 50 years ago. Coming Home was all right, he's a good singer. But trying to sound like the music they made in the early 60s is the opposite of innovation.

[Akrazotile]

Aren't artists like Leon Bridges the point, besides rappers.

All Leon Bridges is doing is trying to copy a sound that was considered outdated 50 years ago. Coming Home was all right, he's a good singer. But trying to sound like the music they made in the early 60s is the opposite of innovation.


Right but what I was referring to specifically was his statement that execs wont let black acts be anything but hip hop today, which is absurd.

[eriX]

Tbh I'm not sure there's a whole lot more to innovate. Maybe every kind of style/genre that has legit appeal has had its moment in the mainstream. It may just be pop and rehashes from here on out.

Most 'musicians' today are just throwing random noises together, giving themselves a gimmicky name and putting on dark glasses, think they're some big shot DJ. Shit's corny as F.

Give us some examples brah.

[Trollsmasher]

that's a good thing

let's face it, once blacks got into music it went to shit

[tmacattack33]

Most new music genres of the 1900s were initially black, blues, jazz, rock, disco, r&b, rap.

Since rap made its way black music has basically stopped evolving, there is literally almost no other black music than variations of rap.

I have my theories, what do you think?

Yes.

[masonanddixon]

Rock wasn't black.

Jazz was mostly a black innovation (many white jazz players accomplishments have been suppressed) but they essentially raided the compositions of white classicists.

[fiddy]

Tbh I'm not sure there's a whole lot more to innovate. Maybe every kind of style/genre that has legit appeal has had its moment in the mainstream. It may just be pop and rehashes from here on out.

Most 'musicians' today are just throwing random noises together, giving themselves a gimmicky name and putting on dark glasses, think they're some big shot DJ. Shit's corny as F.
smh :facepalm