The Official "Ask A Brotha" Thread - Part 2

[terry78]

As Kravitz said in an interview, black people invented rock and roll and now we act like we don't want to have anything to do with it.

 

[chamber-music]

Its weird because most black people like some sort of rock music be it pop rock, blues rock, indie rock, punk rock, funk rock, ect so it is strange that its deemed off limits for black people.

 

[terry78]

You have the occasional black rocker but most of us either rap, DJ or sing soul.

 

[Octoberist]

It's changing because these days, people are more initiative than that. Thank you, internet. I really don't think older generations are giving the millennials enough credit.

Usually in big cities, people don't react like that, vs less dense areas i.e. Also known as the 'Fly Over States', according to scientists.

 

[Anubis]

I barely even listen to rap anymore. It's mostly alt rock for me at this point. R&B is dead, I still don't know who young Jeezy is, and Rick Ross looks like he's got a flock seagulls living in his beard.

 

[Arach Knight]

My mother was as likely to listen to Chaka Khan or the Stylistics as she was to Eric Clapton, Cat Stevens or Jimi Hendrix. So I never felt as though I had to be limited to a certain style of music. I grew up listening to Nirvana, Soundgarden, the Stereophonics etc. I also grew up listening to Tupac, WuTang Clan, Sugar Free, DJ Quik etc. For me, music was just music.

However, after reaching the age of 13, I found myself having to constantly be on the defense. White children were constantly criticizing rap music as requiring no real talent, while Black children dismissed rock as indecipherable noise. From that point forward, I was more or less judged for my listening choices.

I entered into a long period of lashing out. I wore leather spiked bracelets, chucks, bandannas and listened to a LOT of metal music. This eventually evolved into seeking out musical acts which featured Black members, such as Sevendust, Skunk Anansi, Living Colour, Fishbone, Bad Brains, Bloc Party, Killswitch Engage (Howard Jones era) etc. I became a bit of an "Afro Punk" (community term, look it up).

These days, I simply appreciate the fact that rock n roll is a Black American art form that is played all over the world. I am less concerned with how many (if any) members of a given band are Black, and just tend to seek out music that sounds good, regardless of genre.

 

[Arach Knight]

I barely even listen to rap anymore. It's mostly alt rock for me at this point. R&B is dead, I still don't know who young Jeezy is, and Rick Ross looks like he's got a flock seagulls living in his beard.

You know, I find that as you get older, rap music just doesn't age all that well. You have party songs, songs about drug use, or songs about violence. There is little range to most rap songs, thematically speaking. Though, I will forever love "Infernal Affairs" by Pharoahe Monch, because of the song "Queens." Great beat, great story. It is a rap song with an actual STORY. Not enough of that in rap music these days. Also a fan of MF Doom.

I go through cycles though. There are times where I mostly listen to rock. Then there are cycles where I mostly listen to hip hop/rap. I have electronic music phases (Square Pusher!). These days, I am in a rock mood. Started teaching myself some new riffs on my Ibanez. I am currently working on "The Metal" by Tenacious D. I have it down...mostly.

 

[chamber-music]

There is a group of American brothers called Radkey who play Rock music that seem to of generated a bit of hype last year over here.

I've been to see a number of bands and there are only a handful of black people there. You get the odd white person looking at you like 'WTF are you doing here?'

Hell I've saw NERD play a couple times and hardly any black people were there.

I barely even listen to rap anymore. It's mostly alt rock for me at this point. R&B is dead, I still don't know who young Jeezy is, and Rick Ross looks like he's got a flock seagulls living in his beard.

The only R&B I listen to is guys like Jai Paul and Ben Khan.

Rick Ross just shouts the same lines over and over or makes grunt noises. I honestly can't understand why people think he is such a great rapper

 

[Octoberist]

There's great hip-hop but you have to actively search for them. There's so many channel to find good music that just listening to the radio is no longer valid. Being proactive is the key, and some folks are not like that.

I still have a theory that people who like music casually stop listening to new stuff right after high school. Sometimes there's a grace period. So for example, if you meet a 30 year old, his taste is based on stuff that was popular 10-12 years ago.

With me I've always try to keep up with music. It just keeps me in check, so I don't end up being an out of touch dodo in the future. Also, I think when I have kids, it's a nice bonding session. Music is so universal.

 

[chamber-music]

You know, I find that as you get older, rap music just doesn't age all that well. You have party songs, songs about drug use, or songs about violence. There is little range to most rap songs, thematically speaking. Though, I will forever love "Infernal Affairs" by Pharoahe Monch, because of the song "Queens." Great beat, great story. It is a rap song with an actual STORY. Not enough of that in rap music these days. Also a fan of MF Doom.

I live MF Doom and Pharoahe Monch as well.

Guys like XV, Roots Manuva, Cyhi The Prynce, Talib Kweli and Lupe Fiasco actually rap about stuff and have story telling ability.

I think most rappers make tracks for the club these days because that is where the money is.

 

[Arach Knight]

"Radkey" looks like an all grown up version of "Unlocking The Truth"

[YT]/watch?v=BjMfdzjbl_Q[/YT]

 

[Arach Knight]

There's great hip-hop but you have to actively search for them. There's so many channel to find good music that just listening to the radio is no longer valid. Being proactive is the key, and some folks are not like that.

I still have a theory that people who like music casually stop listening to new stuff right after high school. Sometimes there's a grace period. So for example, if you meet a 30 year old, his taste is based on stuff that was popular 10-12 years ago.

With me I've always try to keep up with music. It just keeps me in check, so I don't end up being an out of touch dodo in the future. Also, I think when I have kids, it's a nice bonding session. Music is so universal.

I'm 30 lol. While I do enjoy older musical acts, I also listen to acts that are mostly considered "obscure" (in which obscure is a synonym for "not on the radio"). I listen to acts that are fairly current such as Crystal Antlers, Dengue Fever, Broken Social Scene, Inuit, The Black Keys etc. My hip hop tastes however probably are horrifically dated. I think the newest person I listen to is Boonie Mayfield, and he doesn't rap. He just produces instrumentals.

While on the subject of music and age though, I find that kids who listen to rock music, tend to mostly listen to older bands. I am currently subbing a music class, and during guitar class I teach the kids riffs to older songs that they are surprisingly familiar with (e.g. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "When I Come Around"). When I asked them about their listening choices, several of them told me they prefer older bands and music because older music is better than current music. I was shocked and joyed. There may be hope for the future lol.

 

[chamber-music]

There's great hip-hop but you have to actively search for them. There's so many channel to find good music that just listening to the radio is no longer valid. Being proactive is the key, and some folks are not like that.

I still have a theory that people who like music casually stop listening to new stuff right after high school. Sometimes there's a grace period. So for example, if you meet a 30 year old, his taste is based on stuff that was popular 10-12 years ago.

With me I've always try to keep up with music. It just keeps me in check, so I don't end up being an out of touch dodo in the future. Also, I think when I have kids, it's a nice bonding session. Music is so universal.

When I was 16 was when I felt like I really got interested in music and the more musicians I found that I liked the more my taste broadened as I might look up similar musicians which would lead me to some other group.

 

[Arach Knight]

I live MF Doom and Pharoahe Monch as well.

Guys like XV, Roots Manuva, Cyhi The Prynce, Talib Kweli and Lupe Fiasco actually rap about stuff and have story telling ability.

I think most rappers make tracks for the club these days because that is where the money is.

Folks like Yasiin Bey and Kweli are also rare. I really miss East Coast hip hop. In particular, the Philly era. Acts like Bahamadia, The Roots, Mountain Brothers. Those folks had beats and lyricism. Plus, The Roots and the Mountain Brothers largely made their beats from scratch rather than just sampling. But yeah, there are quality acts to listen to. I tend to rely on Bandcamp to find rare gems. But even then, the effort does not match the yield. At least as far as my efforts are concerned.

 

[PyroChamber]

I barely even listen to rap anymore. It's mostly alt rock for me at this point. R&B is dead, I still don't know who young Jeezy is, and Rick Ross looks like he's got a flock seagulls living in his beard.

Me neither, I say right around the time I turned 19 I started listening to more rock starting with Nirvana; since then my music taste have gotten more eclectic, I mean I don't know any other black people that listen to punk rock other than me.

Hip hop for me stopped at around 2005, all the rap I do listen to is old school.

Although I do admit, I've kind of been getting into Childish Gambino lately.

 

[BLACKVULCAN]

hmmmm well as one with the "older generation" i listen to new stuff. Gaga's "Do what you want with my body" is the jam! and so is Katy perry's " Dark horse" that ^& has a killer beat! people are people no matter their age! some are old when they are 20 with a close mind and refuse to learn anything new and some are as young in their 50 or 60 coming to a internet forum. Age is inconsequential! that why some "Millennials" ( that will never be as cool sounding as "Generation X") who when you try to talk to them tell the older ones " they dont know what they are talking about!"we know things too! hehe

for the young at heart music is music ! it transcends race and age!if it good music it was always find a place and dumb ass songs like Soldier boy's "Superman" will disappear never to be heard from again! i think alot of these rappers know their stuff is crap and is just trying to get their money while they can!

I entered into a long period of lashing out. I wore leather spiked bracelets, chucks, bandannas and listened to a LOT of metal music. This eventually evolved into seeking out musical acts which featured Black members, such as Sevendust, Skunk Anansi, Living Colour, Fishbone, Bad Brains, Bloc Party, Killswitch Engage (Howard Jones era) etc. I became a bit of an "Afro Punk" (community term, look it up).

Hahahahaha man i totally understand this! thats like me digging comics walking around high school with a def leppard "Union Jack" British flag shirt on! People didnt know what to make of me at all!... thank god! i didnt give a rat's what they did or i might have grew up and went into politics!

 

[Lencho01]

Is it weird that Chappelle is huge now?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...hows-bulging-biceps-puffs-away-cigarette.html

 

[Anubis]

Well, he's definitely bigger, but he's not all that buff. I mean, he ain't lookin' like Carrot Top or anything.

 

[Warhammer]

I've always listened to rap, R&B, rock, pop, and electronic since I was a 10. I never understood why some brothas think that if you aren't listening to only rap and R&B, you're aren't black enough. You've got some white and Asian people who don't listen to rap for no real reason. It's all ignorant, really. I feel as though there is too much music out there to limit yourself to only a couple of genres. Like someone else said, branch out. There is something out there in the massive genres of rap, rock, electronic, or whatever that you will love.

 

[Anubis]

It's all part of being a well rounded person.

 

[Manic]

I think a lot of black people listen to stuff like rock, pop, and electronic music in secret. As soon as the genres start crossing over with one another, black rap & R&B fans are like the first people to jump in.

"Elton John? Nah, that's some old ass white people mess. I don't listen to him."
[Mary J. Blige samples "Benny and the Jets"]
"Ah snap, it's Mary J. with that Elton John ish!"

 

[terry78]

Collabos are when we start to listen.

 

[PyroChamber]

That's why you got brothas suddenly getting into Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry.

 

[terry78]

Yes....that's why.....

 

[PyroChamber]

Well, one of the reasons; for Katy anyway.