Fefe Dobson is speaking out.
Though celebrated amongst members of her fanbase for her ability to pen and perform brilliant Pop Rock jams, Dobson is perhaps known most in some circles for being the artist Def Jam is said to have used as the blueprint for Rihanna‘s bad girl persona.
Now, she is addressing claims that her enormously successful career was stifled by the competitive act and baring all on the highs, lows, trials and tribulations she has faced since the release of her Platinum self-titled debut.
A long, but important, listen below…
On racism in the music industry:
My manager got so much flack from people who would ask “why do you think can manage this black girl doing rock and roll.” It was hard. I’m so thankful for the artists that have come out and broken those patterns by putting any genres on one album.
On how the label system used her art to build new artists:
My album got shelved and I went back home to Toronto and I was so devastated. I was angry with everyone but it was kind of good because I kinda became myself again and I remember turning on the TV and seeing Miley on TV singing a song called ‘Start All Over’ and I said ‘wait I know that song.’ She was singing a song from my album (Sunday Love) that was never released.
Songs from the album were also given to Jordin Sparks and Selena Gomez and it was then, after seeing how her thoughts, feelings and ideas had been used to propel her peers to stardom, did an inspired Dobson return to the music industry following her tumultuous split with Def Jam.
Check out this interview from 2011:
Your thoughts?
Lamo Rihanna wasn’t even mentioned in this interview lol
If one of the hijackers had just showed up in the ER with cutaneous anthrax, which would not be “skin irritation “ or a single lesion and not been diagnosed and aggressively treated he would probably have died…
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Ghost, stuttering are iconic timeless bops from fefe dobson
See beyonce is not the only thief in the industry.
Rihanna copied the hell outta this girl. Back then 2006/2007 social media wasnt a thing that’s why Rihanna was successful in stealing this girl’s look and vibe and getting away with it and nobody noticed it.
Everyone notice the similarities, the tats and the hair. But this is an industry where everyone compares everyone. JLO and Beyoncé also looks identify at one point, and Beyoncé’s music was identical to Ameri’s.
Sadly, it worked on me and so many others. I didn’t notice the similarities with Rih and FeFe until this article. The music industry is shady.
But I love me some Rihanna and know that it was the label, and not her that did this. There’s room for everyone, but these music execs and labels like to pit artists (especially women) against each other, and it needs to stop.
Rihanna also copies Rita Ora looks when she first came out and tried to swipe fka twig look as well.. thankfully she has outgrown that. But with social media it’s not easy for bigger stars to steal of lesser known artists.
Copied*
You’re an absolute if you think that. Rita whole career was meant to be a Rihanna 2.0. There is absolutely nothing Rihanna copies from Rita. When Rita 1st came on the scene Rihanna was a stable and heavy influence for other pop stars.
Do you know how to read?? Rihanna copied Rita Ora whole blonde mid cut hair and clothing style.. when she first came out she swiped her trademark trainers with dress look so stfu. I know what I’m talking about so run along.
Um, Rihanna came out before Rita Ora so your whole argument is nonsense.
Slow news day?
I forgot all about FeFe Dobson. She was so talented and still is. I had NO idea she was having this type of trouble with Def Jam. That is dirty. Ugh. I love music but HATE the music industry. It is slimy and disgusting.
Praying for FeFe. She seems sweet and genuine.
To hear her song sung by Miley must have been devastating. And to not be bitter?!
BLESSINGS ARE GOING TO ULTIMATELY COME HER WAY.
She went into a lane that would not accept black artist. punk rock maybe if she was around when Jay z took over she would have made it.
Thanks for posting this David,
I love seeing Fefe get some well deserved shine. I’ve been a fan since “take me away” and was so bummed when “Sunday Love” got shelved.
Fortunately one copy made it out into the world, a fan got it, and shared it with all the other hardcore Fefe fans via media fire back in 05/06. I rawked the hell outta that album the first year it leaked and still play it to this day! It was phenomenal, but it kinda bums me out to hear her say how it wasn’t her at all ?
That album is what solidified her as an artist for thousands of us fans and is why we still ride for her to this day. I’d say it’s her best release standing head and shoulder above her first one and “joy”.
…on another note, I gotta acknowledge that it really disappointed me to her hear say that “I don’t even see color” sh*t…Maybe she was just referring to how she viewed the world back as a teenager but she’s been silent on so many Black issues over the years (but did speak out on other political things) that it’s hard to not be suspect of her…I still love her but I hope that at some point she’ll speak more directly to her Black/mixed audience as a Black rock artist. Becuz talent aside her racial identity and boundary breaking is a massive part of what drew so many young POC to hear back in the day. She represented so much to a lot of us and it hurts to think she might actually be on some self hate anti Black ideology…
*to her back in the day
Good to see Fefe still out there and fighting! Best of luck to you girlie!