The Black Artist Appreciation Thread

[katara]

With everything that's happening right now, I thought it'd be cool for us all to share some awesome music from great black artists.

Preferably only one artist per post with an accompanying audio/video component.

I'll start.

Jimi Hendrix - The Star Spangled Banner Live at Woodstock '69

[theimage13]

Wesley Willis was a pretty unconventional artist. His musical style was simple: hit one of the demo buttons on the keyboard, and use the same lyrical format but with different strange, strange lyrics. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, but garnered a cult following for his extremely distinct style. Ever use Winamp? Ever hear the "it whip's the llama's ass" sound that played the first time you opened it? He wrote that line. He loved talking to fans before / after shows, and instead of a handshake or a fistbump, he always wanted to headbutt you. It was just his thing. It kind of hurt (he made me do it twice; guess one wasn't enough), but it was endearing. I've never seen another artist quite like him.

[theimage13]

Danielle Ponder - former public defender who decided to pursue music full time.

[theimage13]

Okay, last one for now. This collaboration. As the kids today would say (at least, I think they would)....this version slaps.

[GulDukat]

[dlb]

This song's been stuck in my head for a few days now while I've been enjoying more and more black artists from the late 60s and early 70s lately. A very tragic coincidence with the news these days:

[elevenism]

A stunning recent contribution from Miss Amerykah Badu, Queen of Dallas:

[mqhanlon]

I like the idea behind this thread, and I really value when people take a moment to consider the diversity in their music (or movie, or book) collection. But... surely some/all of these artists would merit having their own thread on the forum? Take a look at the pinned "A-Z of Artists" at the top and consider that we apparently don't have a dedicated thread for Prince. Or that all information on Run the Jewels (new album this week, free!) is found under the "El-P" thread, which isn't a great look.

[katara]

I like the idea behind this thread, and I really value when people take a moment to consider the diversity in their music (or movie, or book) collection. But... surely some/all of these artists would merit having their own thread on the forum? Take a look at the pinned "A-Z of Artists" at the top and consider that we apparently don't have a dedicated thread for Prince. Or that all information on Run the Jewels (new album this week, free!) is found under the "El-P" thread, which isn't a great look.

I was hoping that this thread might raise some awareness. It wasn't intended to be a 'catch-all' dumping ground, so I apologise if it seems that way. If there's someone you think deserves their own thread, please, go ahead!

Does seem strange that a Prince topic is absent from the forum. I admit I don't know much about his music. Any pointers about where to start?

[piggy]

Does seem strange that a Prince topic is absent from the forum. I admit I don't know much about his music. Any pointers about where to start?

For a compilation, you can't go wrong with either The Very Best Of Prince or 4Ever. For proper albums, Purple Rain or Sign O' The Times are probably good starting points.

[mqhanlon]

I was hoping that this thread might raise some awareness. It wasn't intended to be a 'catch-all' dumping ground, so I apologise if it seems that way. If there's someone you think deserves their own thread, please, go ahead!

Does seem strange that a Prince topic is absent from the forum. I admit I don't know much about his music. Any pointers about where to start?

I totally see your intention, and I know you, and others, are posting here for altruistic reasons. But to be blunt, yeah it does sort of feel like a dumping ground. A place to say, “look, I listen to black artists.” This section of the board has dozens (hundreds?) of threads for all sorts of white artists, both prominent and incredibly niche, but there are surprisingly few threads for black artists.

Let’s not kid ourselves, there are absolutely zero protesters on the street demanding police reform AND equal representation on Nine Inch Nails fan forums, so the stakes here are so low they’re in the cellar. However, there is (and has been for years) talk about how black Americans are marginalized in systems all across the country. So, the maybe the forum is worth some consideration anyway as a microcosm of the whole. Someone else brought up the comparison to “Black History Month,” which is actually a great metaphor because it comes with its own complications (https://www.mcall.com/opinion/mc-opi...outputType=amp). The argument boils down to “if we have one month set aside to study black history, we can ignore it for the rest of the year.”

If we agree that this board should be celebrating more diverse music, then we should be doing that with designated threads of the artists we want to talk about. If someone’s favorite musician is Nina Simone or favorite band is Living Colour, then make a post that puts them on the landing page. Make those artists visible.

[thelastdisciple]

A place to say, “look, I listen to black artists.” This section of the board has dozens (hundreds?) of threads for all sorts of white artists, both prominent and incredibly niche, but there are surprisingly few threads for black artists.

Someone else brought up the comparison to “Black History Month,” which is actually a great metaphor because it comes with its own complications (https://www.mcall.com/opinion/mc-opi...outputType=amp). The argument boils down to “if we have one month set aside to study black history, we can ignore it for the rest of the year.”


If we agree that this board should be celebrating more diverse music, then we should be doing that with designated threads of the artists we want to talk about. If someone’s favorite musician is Nina Simone or favorite band is Living Colour, then make a post that puts them on the landing page. Make those artists visible.

You're right, there absolutely should be more threads discussing music from various black artists, however is this not just a symptom of there already being so many damn white people making music to begin with? Especially so If the majority of folks on this board didn't listen to genres that were predominantly black to begin with, OF COURSE there would be fewer threads/topics.

So that's not exactly a surprise, since some of us do happen to listen to a wide variety of stuff and maybe we're not the type to always be making threads something like this would make sense to post in.

The only crime i see from this is that it came too late.

As far as Black History Month, I'm sure there are people with that mindset but the recognition shouldn't begin and end there at all. Hell no.

People unfortunately have such shorter attention spans with each passing day, that some need a national day or month of XYZ shouldn't really be all that surprising either.

[mfte]

all information on Run the Jewels (new album this week, free!) is found under the "El-P" thread, which isn't a great look.

The thread was made before RTJ was a thing. The Patton thread is a catch all as well.


I drink wine in a dark and listen to this and lament over lost love

[Toadflax]

Not music related, but I rewatched If Beale Street Could Talk last night. Beautiful and very relevant film. Check it out if you haven't seen it.

[bobbie solo]

Not music related, but I rewatched If Beale Street Could Talk last night. Beautiful and very relevant film. Check it out if you haven't seen it.

The way this is shot and paced is just gorgeous.

[tony.parente]

[allegate]

ton of good ones in there.

[Toadflax]

ton of good ones in there.

Very nice. Didn't see Skunk Anansie in there, so I'll add them here:

[MrLobster]

[MrLobster]

[eversonpoe]

some of my favorite black artists / bands

bad brains
death (the punk band)
bloc party
tv on the radio
curtis mayfield
john coltrane
art blakey
robert lowe (aka lichens, who was also in the touring band for tv on the radio for a while)
roots manuva (especially the stuff he's done with the cinematic orchestra)
napoleon murphy brock & george duke (both played with zappa for a while)
the whispers
chaka khan

[Krazy]

[Jinsai]

this might be the whitest thread of all time

[elevenism]

this might be the whitest thread of all time

I mean, I feel you.

And I MoSTLY listen to hip hop, so, you know.

But, I REALLY want you guys to listen to that Erykah Badu show, and I saw another place to share it here, so it's whatever.

Also, NIN might be the whitest fanbase ever, so, idk...MAYBE the thread is warranted?

[BRoswell]

Aaliyah
Bobby Womack
Chic
Childish Gambino
Dr. Dre
Janet Jackson
Michael Jackson
Minnie Riperton
Missy Elliot
Prince
Reggie Watts
Rick James
Run The Jewels/Killer Mike
Saul Williams
Street Sweeper Social Club
TV On The Radio
Wu-Tang Clan

[piggy]

[eachpassingphase]

Leon Bridges - I usually point people to his song "River" because it's incredibly beautiful but honestly that entire album is great. Sort of a modern Sam Cooke sound to his work. I'm supposed to see him live this fall but...we will see what COVID says about that.



JPEGMAFIA - "Veteran" and "All My Heroes are Cornballs" are some of my favorite rap releases of the last few years. He's a total character and a great live performer.

FKA Twigs - What can I say? She has a great voice and an awesome presence about her. She is (in my head anyway) what it might have sounded like if Aaliyah had ever gotten the chance to work with Trent (I feel like she mentioned that in an interview at some point before she passed.)

Other albums by black artists that I love - Tyler, The Creator's "IGOR", Frank Ocean's "Blonde", Rihanna's "ANTI", Travis Scott's "Astroworld"

Also, this is so weird but do ya'll remember that annoying "Whip My Hair" song by Willow Smith? Well, she had a few years to grow up and her music is actually pretty awesome now.

[piggy]

[Soma]

[thelastdisciple]

Gary Clark Jr!