For years, R&B entertainers of colour have cried out against a record label system which only champions the genre when fronted by white artists.
The result? Charts and awards ceremonies that do not truly celebrate the genre’s origins and diversity, and R&B artists of colour accused of “not having what it takes to make it” by music lovers blissfully unaware of the prejudice and politics that takes place in the boardroom that stops them from making it.
It’s a sad, sad situation and it’s getting more and more absurd.
Fortunately, ‘Can’t Raise a Man’ singer K. Michelle has decided to expose all of the above with the title of her third studio album.
Find out what it is below…
The star’s new project is named ‘I Ain’t White But I Hope You Like’, titled to blast the executives she says are stifling her creativity.
We’re sure Michelle’s bold statement can only add to a debate recently reignited by the rapper Azealia Banks.
Unfortunately, we’re also sure that it will see those who don’t agree it with push and peddle the ideas that “black audiences don’t purchase black music” and that “mainstream audiences are simply uninterested in artists of colour.”
Why this is unfortunate? Because they’re myths, endorsed by those who don’t understand that the recording industry’s financial woes have seen it become inclined to fund the artists it believes are the easiest to sell.
As we all know, these artists are rarely of colour so the ugly cycle begins.
The artist doesn’t sell because they aren’t supported by their label.
The label doesn’t support the artist because they aren’t selling.
The artist does’t sell because they aren’t supported by their label.
It gets worse.
For, while their commercially successfully rivals work closely with publishing companies to pull the best songs out of their best writers, today’s R&B artist (perhaps accepting “defeat”) makes life harder for themselves by working with writers and producers who save the best material for the Beyonce‘s & Rihanna‘s of the world.
Now, armed with the cuts nobody wanted, the R&B artist must now find a way to move units under a label that doesn’t care about them with songs that lack the pulling power their predecessors are confident enough to compete for.
We can only hope the coming year sees Hollywood’s push for diversity encourage labels to give their A&R departments the support they need to find the next batch of Mary’s, Tracy’s, Lenny’s & Toni’s.
![Stream: Eric Benét's 'Duets' EP [featuring Tamar Braxton, LaTocha Scott, Chante Moore, & More]](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/duets-stream-chante-moore-tamar-braxton-eric-benet-2024-apple-music-spotify-thatgrapejuice-464x260.jpg "Stream: Eric Benét's 'Duets' EP [featuring Tamar Braxton, LaTocha Scott, Chante Moore, & More].")
![Chance the Rapper's Wife Officially Files for Divorce After Months of Separation [#ICYMI]](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/chance-rapper-divorce-kirsten-conley-bennett-2024-thatgrapejuice-464x260.png "Chance the Rapper's Wife Officially Files for Divorce After Months of Separation [#ICYMI].")
She’s Cray lmao admire her boldness tho
Yasss she serves me some cute titles.
“Drake Would Love Me,” and now this one.
Come thru, krazy K.
?????????? love
She already yodels her little tonsils out, so y not let her yodel on a country loop? I can’t stand record companies. Their A&R neva gets it rite.
Yea she got a scholarship for it to college
Yodel ? Coming from a Rihanna Stan……….
K be cuttin’ up lol but I love it
Brilliant.
Anyone still checking K mart? She needs to join blokara
Smh, it’s like you can’t win for losing. I really see why a lot of artist are going indie. But going indie is a risk for some too, and for the labels, giving that hot Bey or Rih joint to another thriving artist or seasoned is a risk too. Smh sad.
She tell no lie but also the record labels are cold to some artists we always blame the artist they the one make the decision song choice album release date and what city to tour
Hope this actually makes a statement.
I’m here for it! Her last album SLAYED and made me a fan. She doesn’t serve vocals like Tamar but she is very creative and her pen game is on point! I’ll be purchasing
I disagree Tamar used to sing her face off but let me know is studio magic she starts out too high and her whistle is unnatural
K is consistent
I’m tired of hearing woe-is-me/us crying from Black artists. It’s old news that the industry plays favorites with certain types of artists, genres and audiences…and that it won’t support urban (black) artists with as much fervor. So…roll up your sleeves, take the bull by the horns and move your own feet. Go ahead and take the throwaway deal that the record label gives you for vanity purposes, while keeping in mind they probably aren’t going to make promoting you a priority. So in the meantime, assemble YOUR OWN creative teams and come up with your own strategies to market and promote yourselves and your music. Instead of chasing after some overused hit writer/producer who is only going to give their best material to proven hitmakers, find your own thirsty yet good collaborators, contribute to the writing and production so that you can retain some of the publishing and album points. Find a manager who knows how to budget, negotiate and promote. Think outside the box and stop waiting for label execs to do for you, because they won’t — until they see that you’re worth it. When and if you prove profitable doing it by your own wits, the record company will later come around. They’re not going to give you what they do Adele/Katy/Taylor/Bieber, even if you know you could smoke them if the stage was balanced. It’s not fair, but it’s real.
Her voice is amazing and I will definitely be supporting whenever her album drops!
Cheap thot but I’m living for the title.
Love it. Anybody Wanna Buy A Heart was one of the best albums of 2014. Hopefully she comes with it again.
Not TGJ trying to deny that black audiences don’t buy black music. It is true. Ciara’s self titled album was promoted and no one purchased it. Jason Derulo had hits and promo and still flopped. As for K. Michelle’s comment, wasn’t she just blasting Iggy for making “black music”? Now suddenly music doesn’t have a race? Girl bye
It’s crazy how artists like Chris Brown can get platinum singles but the parent album doesn’t even sell 300k. That proves we don’t buy music…labels aren’t going to invest into someone who ain’t gonna sell anyway.
Her latest album is EVERYTHING! I just wish that MTV and VH1 would actually support her music videos, and that her label would promote her more often. It’s crazy how her opening week sales are great, yet she isn’t being promoted. Labels are beyond stupid.
She just gained a new fan! Radio and Labels are trying to shut black artist out of the music buzz, point blank and period, and it’s getting worse! It’s time to start making these matters really public and we need to revolt!
Exactly! It’s definitely a black listing of Black artist in the entertainment world right now. I’m glad someone else sees it too. They are definitely trying to boycott us. Especially the ones who stand up for themselves, their culture and their hard work. Azaelia Banks was right when she brought this issue up on the radio show. I agreed with her 1000%!