The Mind of Urban Music

[Shanb504]

In the words of Mr. Gaye, "What's Going On?" There once was a time when music artists didn't take issues into their own hands. There once was a time when record companies cheated artists out of everything: their money, time, material things, and self-respect. There was also a time when all artists wanted to do was to be heard loud and clear through their spoken words. Their words were spiritual, sexually healing, uplifting, and just plain ol' good music. But, with today's artists, major recod labels, and music being distributed, we have little to look forward to as the future arrives. If we don't evaluate our music of today, we won't have anything left to enhance.

:rolleyes:

There are so many issues in hip hop that need to be addressed. We don't know where we are headed. The killing of one another, the sudden spats, beefs, and all are better left alone. Like in that past, leave it on the record. Or better yet, leave it alone. How many times must consumers hear who was shot, what you have that others don't, or who battling who and then matters got out of hand? It's cool and all to pump up record sales. But, what then? But many seem to not care; as long as it's away from here. Lack of creativity, inspiration, and basically, some real music, the result of urban music will lead to a deficit. We have a surplus of entertainers, but not artists. I don't know how much of a facelift we can need, how much of change can made, or even if we can do anything to improve on the things that musicians have already created. But, what I can say is that we need to come with it.

The recent incident with r&b artist, Houston, brings the words, "wow," "whoa," and the expression, "W.T.F.," to mind. Is the industry really that bad off, corrupt, or twisted? Or is that artists are getting that crazy, stressed out, or incomprehensible? As an outsider and aspiring singer/songwriter, I don't know what to believe,think, or say? Who is at fault? Should all artists seek professional help with all problems? Should they ask for more protection, not from fans, but from themselves,family members, and their record labels? Should record companies not expect so much from their prodigy? Should we, fans, not expect so much from artists? I don't know........ But, we damn sure better find out before we lose another promising horizon.

[DudeAsInCool]

Well spoken...

[Shawn]

That's good powerful writing.

[KiwiCoromandel]

many good questions in there...i hope that you get many right answers to them...... ;) ;)

[Kooperman]

The music industry is a tough business. Kings can be created almost overnight and they can also be destroyed just as quickly. No matter how much success artists have, there's insecurity and paranoia waiting somewhere along their journey. For black artists, societal pressures are always there and too often violence accompanies those pressures. Even introspective artists of the past, like Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke, fell victim to that environment of violence...both died from gunshot wounds, with Gaye murdered by his own father. Now, three or four decades later, the problems have only intensified. The only answer is changing the environment of violence that these artists were born into, and I don't see that happening as long as politicians continue to cast aside the poorest and neediest parts of our society.

[slum_goddess]

The only answer is changing the environment of violence that these artists were born into, and I don't see that happening as long as politicians continue to cast aside the poorest and neediest parts of our society.

exactly.