An article in "The Root" http://www.theroot.com/views/rock-black-music-too?Gt1=38002, sounds the death knell for hip-hop, saying that the genre has run out of ideas. It uses as evidence the fact that rap star Lil Wayne is at work on a rock album. Author Rob Fields applauds the presence of blacks in rock music. I'm not sure where he's been, since we've never been absent; just present in small numbers. At the end of the day, music is music and different types move different people. Though sometimes I do want to scream when I hear a classic under a rap. Lots of rappers (Diddy, Jay-Z) are hardcore rock fans. Jay-Z did a mash-up with Linkin Park that KILLS. If the beat moves you, it doesn't matter who plays it. Though I have to say I'm so happy to see folks like TV On the Radio and remember Corey Glover and Living Colour from back in the day? More metal bands have black lead singers (check out Lajon Witherspoon from Sevendust - the man could crack walnuts with his thighs... http://www.zimbio.com/Lajon+Witherspoon, or Howard Jones from Killswitch Engage http://static.playdo.com/1016/megadef/tabimages/killswitch_20engage_202%5B1%5D.jpg. It’s really nice to no longer be the only brown spot in the crowd at rock shows, though I still find myself counting…
I don’t think black folks have run out of imagination. It’s a trend and rap will turn into something else as time goes on, just like all music evolves. The music industry has to be ready and willing to market what musicians produce. If all they’ll push from black artists is rap, that’s what folks will produce.
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