Hot Topic: Is There An Absence Of Black Men In Pop Music?

With roots that run deep in Black culture, it’d be safe to say Hip Hop & R&B remain the go-to genres for most African-American males hoping to try their hand in the game that is music.

Leaving the genres’ lovers with enough testosterone to last if a few lifetimes, the US’ frequent delivery of new “Urban” blood has proved to be quite successful for the labels behind said “blood”, with each and every major label housing at least one of categories’ leading acts.

Miguel at ‘Sony.’

August Alsina at ‘Universal.‘

However, while labels seem to have no problem making exclusively Pop acts out of Black females, it would seem that the same can’t be said when it comes to Black men.

Indeed, while backing from ‘Top 40′ and ‘Rhythmic’ radio has seen Rihanna and Beyonce has seen them dip in and out of genres at will, one would be hard pressed to find a Pop-pushing African-American male being marketed as a Pop act by their supporting label.

This, after the Black British force that was JLS failed to rock any US charts with their inoffensive brand of ‘Backstreet‘-inspired Pop despite soaring in the UK with the very same material.

Interesting, when one remembers Jason Derulo topped the UK’s R&B singles chart with the outrightly Pop ‘Whatcha Say.‘

With the above in mind, we ask…

Is there an absence of Black boys in Pop?

…and…

Does race matter when it comes to genre?

Please share your thoughts below!