What Color Is Your Music: Can One Race Really Monopolize a Genre?
June is Black Music Month, a time when some honor soul, funk, R&B, hip-hop, jazz and any other genre that is influenced by black folks. But when it comes to the arts, and specifically music, can one race really be associated with a certain genre?
While many would consider hip-hop and R&B to be distinctively “black” music, its largest consumers are white. Conversely, some think of rock and roll as “white” music despite its foundations being very much rooted in black culture.
Like with a lot of things in life, people look to categorize things in order to make sense of it, but should music fall into this narrow trap?
Recently, a video by OTHER, Pharrell Williams’ YouTube network, challenged this idea. In the video, the host took to the streets of Brooklyn to figure out is music actually had a color by asking people to share their musical tastes and to define what makes music black or white. What he found was interesting.
Check it out and tell us what you think!
Is there really such a thing as “black” or “white” music? You tell us!
Yes. That is true for those who see everything in terms of race/color. Probably the same people who believe that when a Black person speaks Standard English, they are ‘acting White’.
Well for me its Soca, Dub and Reggae.
I’m versatile with my musical taste. I will NOT listen to metal rock, that’s Satanic music to me.
Hey Baby Sis!!
LOL @ satanic music
Hey siisssy!!!!
The devil is a liar, and so is that music!!!lool
Have a great day mama!
You too! :)
Satanic music…really? As a metal listener, a lot of the lyrics are the same level as R&B a lot of the time, except they use harder drums and vocals and an electric guitar. Unfortunately, the likes of Marilyn Manson have been made the face of metal. He and his ilk are a small minority of metal. You’re entitled to your opinion, but pigeonholing a whole genre of music…c’mon. It’s done enough.
to appease you, DEATH metal, why should I die of metal, why oh why?!
What color is my music? All the colors of the rainbow.
I really loved the video and LMBO at “Harvard Pea Coat Negro” I’m a fan thus far of the iamOther movement!!!