Monday, May 4, 2009
Who Stole The Soul (Of The New Millenium)?
ART: "Rhythm & Blues By Alfred GockelI just got finished listening to and watching the video "Pretty Wings" from Maxwell. I love it. It has a nice summery sound. (Is "summery" a word? Well, if it isn't, you all get my drift, right?)
It has been a long time since Maxwell released anything so, I for one am very glad to know that he is still recording. I have heard a rumor that D'Angelo is getting ready to come out with something too and this brings me to my topic.
It's 2009 and this decade is over. Did any classic music come out of this decade? I'm sure that is an open-ended question and, depending on your age and musical tastes, there might be a variety of answers. I'm looking over this decade and I'm shaking my head. It just seems to be that barring a few people, a lot of the music that came from this decade was well, forgettable.
My wife and I were talking about good music the other day and she said that it seemed as if the 90's was the last decade of really good music. Think about it... the 90's gave us Boyz II Men, Jodeci, Shai, Johnny Gill, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Biggie, Tupac, Public Enemy, R. Kelly, Maxwell, D'Angelo, Toni-Tone-Tony, Guy, Babyface, TLC, Jagged Edge, and Jay-Z, just to name a few. Outside of Beyonce and (ugh) Lil Wayne, who has this decade produced? I'm kidding, of course. No disrespect to Jennifer Hudson, Jill Scott, John Legend, Robin Thicke, Solonge, Jazmine Sullivan, and maybe a few others... but, most of the people I named are recent stars who have emerged in the last three years or so and that's just on the R & B side.
On the hip-hop side, the field of truly great artists have diminished even further for me. I stopped listening to hip-hop a few years ago because every MC was beginning to sound like the one before him. I wrote an op-ed peice in an independent periodical (i.e. Free) one year before I started this blog that said hip-hop was losing it's creativity and edge, at least it has for me. I'm from the era that produced Rakim, L.L., Biggie, Tupac, Dre, Eminem, 50, Jay Z, Method Man, Redman (thank God they have something new out as I write this post), The Roots, and Nas. I haven't heard an MC from this decade who I could call an equal to or better than any of the people named above. (I know a lot of Lil Wayne fans are going to kill me.)
I'm sorry folks... "The Stinky Leg" just doesn't do it for me. Like I said... these are just my opinions. I'm somebody's grandfather now so yeah, I'm old... but, I would like to know if any of you out there feel as though this decade created any classic music on both the R & B side and hip-hop side. I don't care if your opinions differ from mine. I'm just one person who is feeling pretty disappointed in what I hear on the radio nowadays. Is it just me? Talk to me fam!
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KEEPING THE FAITH: RANDOM PRAYERS "ON THE DOWNLOAD"
"Mommy, can I go to Timmy's blog and play?"
26 comments:
You know I really like Maxwell...something about him makes you fall in love...even if you dont want to...lol
Well I love lil wayne, but I wont kill you. I understand completely what you are saying....and I dont know about any of the new dances...seems it either takes too much energy or it makes you look retarded....I GIVE UP...
Hey what's wrong with the Stinky Leg? lololololol!
Man,I feel you...I'm a lover of Jazz...Can you tell me why Philly no longer has a radio station for Jazz Lovers?? (That's Why I had to get satelite radio) and why I go to so called Jazz concerts and there are all these R&B artists and
"Smooth" Jazz artists on the bill that have nothing to do with Jazz?
Soory Brother, Just had to get that off my chest.
I love the new Maxwell single too!
I know what you mean about the quality of the new music.
Another post that causes me to think. You are right..we did have some great music from the early 90's. Not too much does compare to it now.
Yay Maxwell!!
Boo Lil Wayne!
I so feel you on the music thing..
but in the last three years...As you stated, some incredibly new Neo Soul artists have begun surfacing..Perhaps there is hope for the next decade.
Good Post and something that has needed to be said. I've been disapointed in what I've been hearing on the radio for along time.
Satelite Radio My Brother..It's the only way to go. Commercial radio is a fraud.
I just download what I like..I don't depend on radio anymore.
I invested in Satelite radio. I have it in my car and at home and I download the things that I like..
You're right..a lot of what is being made today just isn't that good. Not when you compare it to
the 70's ,80's and 90's.
There is some good music coming from this decade..Jazmine Sullivan,
Robin Thicke, Jennifer Husdson like you stated and some new folks.. Don't forget Anthony Hamilton too. This decade aint a total bust. (Even though it seems like it!)
Hey Keith..Did you forget Jamie Foxx?? Pharell, Kanye West?? Justin Timberlake, Timbaland?? They are doing some interesting stuff.
You gotta get Satelite radio my man
and break down and buy an Ipod..so you can download the stuff you like.
That's what I do..I rarely listen to regular radio, except for news and sports.
I really love the new Maxwell song and can't wait until his new CD comes out.
I just saw Maxwell's video on VH-1
Saturday.(I had heard the song already)..I agree with Oyin..it made me want to fall in love..
I too have stopped listening to Hip-Hop...(With the exception of Lady B's show..She plays the classic Hip Hop from the 90's.)
I'm strictly into Neo-soul now of days. I suspect we are kindred spirits.
Good Post Keith... I'm an old Disco guy myself. I also listen to Salsa...You have to have a specialized statation for that. I listen to the Latin stations..I'm not too disapointed with what I hear. Guess it depends on the genre.
Yeah... commercial music is pretty bad right now.
I feel ya. That's why I don't listen to the radio that much. Just the other day, I heard a song called "Birthday Sex". Ugh..I had to popped in a cd.
Don't forget about Chrisette Michele. Her new cd, coming out tomorrow, is very good.
I'm with you. I was thinking the same thing about a week ago, because I find myself enjoying music the most when I listen to artists from the 90's.
I can't say there is anyone in R&B that is just killing it like back in the day. In hip-hop, definitely no one who I can see myself listening to 5 years from now.
Man another great post. Music in general sucks at the moment. There are few gems out in the world but I would much rather listen to 90s music.....As far as Hip-Hop is concerned....no comment. Hip-Hop is so dissappointing to me.
You and I feel the same way. A majority of the music that is being produced is horrible...just something to enjoy for the moment, if even that.
Keith, i love, love, love Maxwells new single, and i love the video even more. Funny thing, i wrote a post that will be up in a few days about the good, the bad and ugly of music and how i long for some of my old favorites to make a comeback. I guess great minds think alike. Great post.
Yep, the pickins are slim...
Who is Lil Wayne??????
I miss the old slow jams from Melvin Lindsey. RIP
Now a days, I download "stuff" to my IPOD. The radio is a thing of the past. It's mostly loud noise and advertisements. The day I heard them talk about "a man's ability to keep an erection...." I turned it off.
If it ain't my spiritual station to get me going in the AM, it's my classical station to get me through rush hour on my way home. Otherwise, at work, it's my IPOD.
Great Post. I use to love Johnny Gill.
Have a restful night
Free Spirit.
Keith you are 100% right and I agree with all that you have written. Where have all the good artists gone?
I love that Maxwell song...
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