Black men in the music industry have never been hard to find.
In today’s musical climate, there are very few genres of music that haven’t been touched by the black male, from Jay Z and Lil Wayne in the world of Hip Hop, to British boy band JLS in the realms of Pop.
For years, the issue of how black men are portrayed in the music industry has remained a well discussed one.
With even the likes of Rapper Game airing his thoughts on why many of his own contemporaries are presented in a light contrary to their actual realities , this is one hot topic very few have little to say about.
Now we here at That Grape Juice HQ want you to weigh in…
Do Record Labels Endorse Negative Stereotypes Of Black Men To Help Boost Sales?
In 2005, R&B staple Trey Songz debuted with the LP ‘I Gotta Make It‘.
Greeted with a luke warm reception on the charts upon its release, the project had varied lyrical content, touching on a number of subject matters.
Failing to live up to the notoriety achieved by the releases of many a crooner before him, many (and with good reason) wrote Mr. ‘Gotta Go‘s career’s off.
Fast forward four years to his album ‘Ready‘ and fans of the one time military brat were introduced to revamped Trey.
Gone was the struggling performer who sang about having just a dollar to his name and in his place was a shirtless, more daring and almost pornographic version of himself in his place.
The hypersexual black man.
Coupled with Chris Brown‘s blacklisting in the media around the same, Mr. Songz watched his popularity and sales rise.
Whilst his 2005 single ‘Gotta Make It‘ had peaked at #87 on Billboard’s Hot 100, his ‘baby making’ 2009 release ‘I Invented Sex‘ charted at #1 on the US R&B Charts and #42 on the Hot 100.
Likewise, whilst his first two albums failed to peak in the Top ten of any charts they were released in, his latter-more explicit releases peaked at #3 and #2 respectively.
It would seem to many that Trey Songz and his label, like so many before , were being rewarded for ‘sexing it up’ to appeal to a buying public who in the last ten to fifteen years developed a clear idea of what their black male performers should be like.
If not a hyper masculine thug with a violent past (see 50 Cent and the glamorization of the ‘shot nine times’ story), a hyper masculine vocalist with an insatiable sexual appetite.
Of course there are exceptions to every rule.
Take ‘Thank Me Later‘ performer Drake, whose ‘sensitive and soulful’ image has helped him differentiate himself from many of his peers.
Allowing him to walk the thin line between Hip Hop code and convention and R&B sensibility with ease, this image has made him one Rap’s highest selling stars.
Meanwhile, the likes of Ne-Yo and Omarion remain at the receiving end of many a ‘he must be gay‘ joke for not confirming to the mold many say record labels habitually endorse.
Are record executives and marketing managers helping to enforce and endorse archaic and detrimental stereotypes of the black male to sell records?
Or are they just catering to a gender construct obsessed society? Who can’t help but to gravitate to the artists that fit their idea of what is means to be an authentic black male performing in an ever changing music business.
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Do Record Labels Endorse Negative Stereotypes Of Black Men? Black Men do this all by themselves.
Omarion Iz Gay,Just like me and he iz SCRUMPTIOUS :*
Record labels endorse and encourage it because they want to provide stereotypes of black people for young white males who are the main buyers of rap. The rappers are all poorly educated and contribute nothing positive to the black community other than mulitiple baby mommas, jail time, drug problems and foolishness.From TI, LIL Wayne, Gucci Mane, and Wiz Khalifa they are a disgrace.Gangsta and dumb rap has not benefitted us one bit.
“Do Record Labels Endorse Negative Stereotypes Of Black Men To Help Boost Sales?”
Is fat meat greasy?
Uh, Sam that’s not just record labels, it’s the world 😆
@Scott
i have a FEELING THAT YOU ARE NOT FROM THE STATES. AND THAT YOUR NOT BLACK
Of course not.Labels sign all kinds of artists, even if it sounds weird to you.The thing is that the record labels sign A LOT of artists but they don’t all surface.They may record for a year and then have no album out because there’s no interest.That’s exactly what happens in this case.You have r’n’b’ artists talking about real life, but they flop and the same goes for all the rappers.It’s not the label’s fault that s**, fake over-masculinity and guns/gangster/pimp orientation sells.If it sells, of course they are going to launch it and market it.The audience is to be blamed for demanding all that, not the label for just giving what the public wants.
And the oversexual lyrics is nothing new.People act like Trey Songz created it (CHILD PLEASE!!!ROFL!!).In fact, he just follows a successful pattern.Usher did it in the late 90’s and in the 00’s, R Kelly and the boy bands did it in the beginning of the 90’s and then you also have Prince and Marvin Gaye, even Michael Jackson to a certain extent.Don’t act like it’s new.Sexual lyrics is synonymous with rhythm and blues music and lyrically, that theme is what made it a seperate genre from blues and soul.R’n’b’ will always have sexual lyrics.There are many urban males who talk about real life problems and hustle but they always have 1-2 s** songs to top it off.That’s how it works.Saying that r’n’b’ is oversexual is like saying pop has too much tempo…
@ASAP summed it up. People don’t to hear about love anymore. They don’t like music that uplifts your spirit, and makes you feel good about yourself. People don’t want self-respecting women running the charts. They want trash. Women that can’t keep their legs closed, men calling women everything but their given name…..people want ignorance. Which is why it’s selling *shrugs*
@ASAP Agreed, again. There’s nothing wrong with singing about s**, it’s how you do it.
At the end of the day, they sing the songs. People like them so let them do what they like. Y’know.
I dont think that is true that people do not want to hear good music or decent songs. We do not control the media, the radio stations, the music channels or the music press.They would rather keep showing us at our worst rather than positive images. Even black radio has jumped on the trend of pushing rubbish rather than good music. I do not think people want trash but that is all that is offered. Sexual songs have always been around but you cannot compare Lets Get it on to Freak me b****.
Yes I am black Black.
I’m on the edge with this one….
SOMTIMES,when you go to a BLACK neighborhood some of these stereotypes about black people (in general) are actually fueled (I.E. Blacks LOVE LOVE LOVE Fried Chicken and Grape flavored Kool Aid.) Hell,If I played my fave’s music in the middle of the projects while wearing a Gaga T-Shirt,I would be called a f****** f** for it
but then again Successful acts all have an Image that plays a part into their success.Take Kreayshit for example,She only has a record deal because she’s white and she has “SWAG” (a word which needs to be retired IMO) because God Knows she wouldn’t have gotten signed if she was Black and she did this….
And The record labels aren’t the worst offenders when it comes to stereotypes of blacks…….Yahoo! Answers is:
http://answers.yahoo.com/search/search_result;_ylt=Al3OQqIbquT32EPKe3NH_Z0jzKIX;_ylv=3?scope=all&category=0&fltr=_en&question_status=all&answer_count=any&date_submitted=1&crumb=V7F5MOw776K&p=Black+People&orderby=rank&filter_search=+Apply
JLS Sam? Really? LOL! Society evolves, the record labels just keep up w/ the evolution. If they are not responsible of the black male’s negative image, they do nothing to fight against it.
Ummm….no. The record labels don’t endorse those stereotypical views. As you said, they released Trey’s first two albums to little fanfare. They did give it a chance. When they changed it up, THEN the buying public took notice of him. The issue is not the labels, its the buyers.
I think people think Ne-Yo is gay not because of his personality, but he talks about s** waaaaaaay too much (both on his albums and in interviews). It’s almost like he’s trying to prove he’s straight when it was never called into question. When people saw this, they there was a shadow of doubt cast on his sexuality.
In capitalism, people vote with their money. The record labels have no vested interest in showing black males in a particular way, they just want to sell albums– by any means necessary.
Of Course They Do ! Drake Grew Up With A Silver Spoon & As Soon As He Signed With YM That Was Swept Under The Rug ! Also Rick Ross Obese Rent A Cop/ Security Guard Ass Swearing He Is A Drug Dealer When Everyone Know Damn Well He AINT BUILT Like That !
Yes Its True Drake Grew Up With A Silver Spoon But As Soon As He Signed With YM It Was Swept Under The Rug ! Also Rick Ross Obese Rent A Cop Ass Wanna Be A Drug Dealing Rapper ! & Also Gucci Mane Is Supposedly With A College Education But He Running Around Acting A Fool !
Good topic. Needs to be discussed.
Labels are NOOO fools
They endorse the negative stereotype by themselves. They do not need the labels help for it. It is a mentality that does not seem to go away. But to say that all black males are like that is not true. There are great black male role models but we do not get to hear form them or see them. But it is not only black males but also female singers who went from the good girls to bad girls. The female singers nowadays endorse all that is wrong and try to sell it as female empowerment. They make girls think that you have to be s*** and near naked to succeed in the world. Hollywood is only giving us bad images. But in the end it is up to us to make the choices that are good for us. We can’t keep blaming others we have to start think for ourselves and decide what is right and wrong.
yes they do
/story
Scott speaks truth!!! Of course labels push that b******* stereotype , and since they (white coperate media) run media. their gonna push what sells. If yall care so much fo great uplifting and real music. Then you must SUPPORT IT!!!!!! That means takes yo ass to a store or go online and buy the album!!!. Companies are only gonna support what makes them a company money. When Erykah Badu , Lauryn Hill , and D’angelo ruled was because We as consumers supported them By copping the album and going to the show. Then take into account there used to be black urban media that really covered these genres of music more in depth then say a rolling stone or blender. This what we see today b******* black art is what a lot of artists warned about when the rise of illegal down loading started. If there art can’t bring the companies in profits then the companies will not take interest in cultivating Quality Black Music or Art. Its so much bigger than negative images of black males in music, it;s in general!:(
yea i belive they do for a profit of course…but then again it counts on what you and your definition of “negative” sterotypes are
What a silly, gluttonous, go nowhere editorial.
All of these silly little editorials (Resurrecting R&B, Do Record Labels Endorse Negative Stereotypes Of Black Men?) seem like corny attempts to make this blog seem less superficial, but it hasn’t worked.
Record labels will “endorse” anything that they think will sell. Period. 50 Cent posed for that picture with the gun because he wanted to, not because someone twisted his arm.
And to “THE UNIVERSITY OF GAGA(IS†ANN4GAGA)”…the chances of you being called a f** for playing Gaga’s music and wearing a t-shirt of her is likely to happen in *a lot* of place, not just the projects. You do know that she’s not known for attracting straight male fans, and that her music is cheesy pop crap that fruity gay boys tend to love to sashay to. So what do you expect?
THE GREAT LACEFRONCE does not respect FIST Clown! He is nothing more than a Street Dancer with SHITE music.
Oh and
BLEACHonce = Washed Up! 😉
THE GREAT LACEFRONCE has spoken.
I know it’s likely to happen in other places,IN MY OPINION However,I feel they are MORE likely to do this in this type of environment….
i don think they do, some artists force it on themselves to fit in, belong with their peers in the industry for eg Chris Brown forcing the whole thuggish rnb kid image on himself only when he started working on mixtapes; keyword: mixtape. the label had nothing to do with that
on the other hand rappers have negative black stereotype image because they are negative black stereotypes; everybody has a background and everybody has a history; it’s different when u make a conscious effort to reform yourself and prove that the projects, the drug dealings do not define you but rather they speak of them with utmost pride
THESE RAPPERS CLAIM TO BE SMART, SO I’M KINDA MIXED WITH THIS TOPIC. IF THEY’RE AS SMART AS THEY SAY AND TRY TO BE IN INTERVIEWS AND SONGS, THEN THEY SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF WHAT GOES ON IN THEY’RE CAREER. ON THE OTHER HAND, A LOT OF THEM ARE MONEY HUNGRY AND JUST WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET SIGNED AND MAKE THEY’RE RECORD COMPANY HAPPY SO THEY ARE GUARANTEED A CHECK.
record companies are about money and if its not selling you’re out. today mediocre artists just won’t do. if you have the appeal and CONNECT with an audience YOU’RE IN. so much rides on the qualities of a great performer, looks,singing and if you can dance to your on beat, thats a bonus. I suggest those falling behind get to work and start working on their fan base because today there are so many ways for an artist to promote themselves from mixtapes, facebook, youtube and twitter.
OMG !!! THIS PICTURE IS SOOOOOO HOT!! LOVES 50cent
@BELLA :
he is gay ! the game said it already !!!
He won’t feel comfortable being with u 😆
Black people enjoy ignorant senseless music , why shouldn’t someone sell it to them. You go to black parties with kids there and the parents are playing R rated rap music and the little girls are gyrating like strippers and the boys are humping the floor to dirty lyrics and these are children younger than 10. Its not the white man its economics -supply and demand- if black people didn’t wan t nasty violent filled music it would not be produced and made.
I do agree ! And they also seem fake ! That’s why ppl keep asking if they are gay or not !
Cuz they always have that “tough guy” image in what they do , but in real life …. they can be the opposite ! All of this because ppl like to see this ” tough guy” image !
Black ppl are always stereotyped as violent , tough , gangster , etc .. ! That’s why there’s racial issues in US !
I always see that when I’m watching any movie or anything related to black ppl in general !!
And media love to spread those wrong Ideas and images ! For unknown reasons !
US = home of stereotypes !
I also wanted to add that they always make black singers sing about s** ! Their lyrics all about having s** or what women feel when they are getting f***** !
not to mention black rappers & semi rappers who can be gay and you will find them talk about having s** with a lot of h*** , Beside the regular presence of money , cars , gangs , guns , etc..
All of that will make ppl ” in general” don’t like black ppl ! Cuz that image the media is showing of them is disgusting and surprisingly believable if you already want to hate on black ppl for no reason !!
so .. it really affect the black ppl badly and greedy ppl do that for only the sake of getting
money ! But they don’t know they are destroying the good image of black ppl !!
No one is making black people do anything, they are doing it because they want to and their is a demand for it. If you don’t want to act a fool, then don’t act a fool. Native Americans and Asians are rarely seen doing the extremely ignorant entertainment that Black people engage in. Like Chris Rock said “when I go to the ATM , I’m not looking over my shoulder for the media, I’m looking for ni***rs” why because there is really indeed ignorant black fools robbing and causing mayhem.
after watching a movie in my media studies class i would have to say yes. the labels dont sign as many common n nas like rappers as they do a 50 cent or gucci man type rapper. they asked rappers in the film why they used the lyrics that they used and the guy said they didnt want to hear him rap about the positive stuff. or the real life stuff, rather the gangsta stuff. though the film was from 04 or so, when 50 was on top, it still shows how they decide who is going to get sign. i know some1 who did a rap contest n was rapping about real life stuff n had a fresh cut n well dressed but he lost to the rough lookin dude who wasnt saying anything gucci man or waka be spittin. also, as we see, when bet was run by blacks n not viacom, how positive it was compared to frankie n neffy or other shows like that.
check out my youtube channel: amberussell
http://www.youtube.com/user/AmbeRussell?feature=mhee
@Sam,
Kudos for this post!
This is such a complex topic that it might take time to tease it apart!. Beginning with the oversexualization of black men which has been a stable in the American “media” since the first African was kidnapped and transported to America. The “Mandingo” man has long been viewed a threat to the survival of the popular society. That is why there is such an effort placed on emasculating black men. Dave Chapelle once discussed this on the Oprah Windfrey Show. He stated his bitter objection to performing comedy in drag and how disgusted the white writers and directors of his show were that he refused to submit! They listed the great artists that came before him (Flip Wilson, Red Foxx, Milton Berle, Jerry Lewis, etc) and the fact that they performed in drag. He said he didn’t give a damn and refused to do it. You’ve got to love him for standing his ground.
Then of course there is the insistence that black men are thugs, gangsters, drug dealers etc. The media & legal system go out of their way to overcharge & criminalize black men for crimes for which they give white men a slap on the wrist. See Charlie Sheen’s 20 year history of beating women including 2 wives, 3 girlfriends and scores of hookers/female escorts. Or Eminem beating his wife Kim several times for many years. Or the many times Josh Brolin beat the hell out of Jessica Lang. Or Mel Gibson beating Oksana Grigorieva while she was carrying their infant child. Let the media tell it, only black men are violent and criminal.
Shall we discuss the scores of drug addicts like Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, or Charlie Sheen? How about the drug dealers like Camron Douglas (Michael Douglas’ son) and Redmond O’Neil (Ryan O’Neil & Farrah Fawcetts’ son)? Yes, I would definitely say the media and its sources portray black men in a negative light.
Wow, Sam I actually thought that you were going to bring some heavy dosages of your often insightful opinions. But really, this just seems like a calling card to call Trey Songz outta that closet you & other fans SO desperatley want him to be in??? smh… I’m done!
@bey’knight
I vehemently disagree! I don’t think Chris Brown, Tray Songs, and now Ne-Yo portray themselves as thugs. Because they enjoy rapping from time to time and even discussing controversal topics while rapping, doesn’t make them thuggish. It’s all in the way the media portray’s their form of art. If you listen to different forms of music like Rock, Liguid Metal, Grundge, and so forth, you will find those artists dicussing the same topics. Why are the never considered thugs or rouges when they sing about the same issues?
The media portrays black men in a negative way. There are so many white actors/singers that do drugs or are criminals, but are not talked about as much, because the media loves to talk about the wrong things that black men are doing.
It’s called slight racism.
I think the r***** played by a black guy in Rihanna’s Man down video is “good” exemple of how record labels (and music industry) endorse negative stereotypes of black men.
@MAZ 😐 What?He is an actor.You can’t give all the “bad” roles (criminals, outlaws etc) to white guys…
Yes, the record labels endorse negative stereotypes of black men. The record labels and the media in general endorse negative images of not just black men but black & brown people as a whole. Did anyone see CNN’s coverage of the Berkley University’s Young Republican Student bake sale? The Young Republican’s are using their opposition to BU’s ethnic and gender anti-discrimination policies to sell cupcakes:
A White cupcake sales for $2.00,
An Asian cupcake for $1.00
A Black cupcake for $0.75
A Native American cupcake for $0.25
Women 50% off!!
This attitude is endorsed throughout the society. Why would anyone think the music industry would be any different?
Yes, the record labels endorse negative stereotypes of black men……………………………. BUT Ne-Yo is not gay
Wonder if all the guys in my street.. started raping about guns and drugs and b****** would that create a bad image of the people in our street? Yesssssssssss i think so. The fact that the lyrics are mostly agressive creates the negative effect.
When people think of hip hop, they think of guns girls and a lot of swearing… Maybe move away from this… and things will be different
I just noticed that nobody mentioned that stereotypes can hardly ever be positive…Endorsing stereotypes is always negative.Even if they presented black men as a quiet, peaceful, always praying and cheerful bunch then it would still be negative because it would misrepresent the reality.
@ TAYLOR SWIFTS NUMBER 1 FAN
Whatever, dork. I suspect it wouldn’t take much “aggression” to intimidate someone who is corny enough to themselves to be Taylor Swift’s number one fan. Seriously, how many times a week do you get chased home from school?
@DTG Coming from someone whos name is DTG…. Atleast my name means something! and yeh call me a dork, but my opinon still stands.
honey, not just black men but everyone in the god damn world. The HIGHER POWERS that be use media and music as a way to manipulate the every day decisions of humans across the globe from what you eat, to what you watch on tv, who you hang out with, the clothes you wear, they give you these options and you choose which one. THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.
I think do to a certain extent
@ TAYLOR SWIFTS NUMBER 1 FAN
…and? Unlike yours, my moniker doesn’t laughably pander to some horrendously cheesy ass country pop starlet, who no one over the age of 14 likes. Only dorks model their identity after their favorite pop star; and that it’s Taylor Swift makes you all the more of a cornball…therefore, you talking about how rappers are too ‘aggressive,’ I guess makes sense. You probably flinch every time someone opens a bag of chips and it pops.
For your sake, I hope you aren’t a guy.
Chessmack
You need to shut the f*ck up! How dare you generalize blacks as a whole? You don’t think whites make senseless music about s**, drugs, and violence. Look at f****** Eminem, Brett Michaels, Kiss, Lady Gaga, Kesha, Marilyn Mason, Britney Spears, Madonna, and a whole bunch more! It’s not just blacks, it’s whites too and many more “blacks” are seen talking about these topics because that’s what is in demand unfortuately.
@ DTG
I know plenty of people over 14 who like Taylor swift, also theres loads of people who name their fav in the name on here.. so It’s hardly just me. Like i said, thats my opinon… now get over it okay!
Notoriety brings about publicity, and we all know the old adage that all publicity is good. It’s simple marketing 101, and not a ploy by “the man”.
JEFFREE Christ >>>>>YOUR FLOP FAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Neyo is gay that is the problem so is Omarion
Omarion is PHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYNE 😳
Let’s not place the blame solely on record labels becasue the vast majority of the PUBLIC (CONSUMERS) accepts these images. You all are on here complaining about what record labels feed the public whenever we as a society accept the black man holding a gun, accept the hypersexual black man & make it apart of the Black Community. If we want record labels to change then we as ppl (ESPECIALLY BLACK PPL) should change our own perceptions of ourselves.
ugh…YES…because it sells records..
…
Target giving out $1,000 giftcards http://goo.gl/7L9QW ..4 their 30th anniversary..next 24 hours only..all my school s*** paid 4!