Meanwhile, Ariana Grande has a legendary career, she could be considered a diva in training, but she's White. Demi Lovado, when she's not overdosing on unknown substances, is surely a powerhouse, but she's White. Sam Smith and Adele put down their tea and crumpets to take over the world with their version of soul. Aretha even praised Adele and covered her music. However, they, once again, are White. So White, that they are from Great Britain. It seems that Adele is creating a catalog similar to what a Great like Aretha would create. You know, timeless ballads, undeniable classics. The problem is not her talent, nor is there a debate about her right to be on the charts, but the issue is in preferential treatment.
Lets discuss the ghosting of Black singers who record but are not afforded the same visibility Adele has achieved. Black women with powerhouse vocals and timeless classics do exist in the recording studio, but they rarely perform on a Grammy stage. They are rarely charting or receiving acclaim in this modern era where White dominates rap and soul music. Correct me if I am wrong, but both genres were created by Blacks, yet White musicians seem to not only be placed in starring roles these days, but they are also in the boardrooms profiting off of it. Is the Black female diva dead? Or has she simply changed?
Does she now make the crowd go "Ape Shit" and dumb her vocals down like a mumble rapper? Does she now have a Barbadian accent and a mediocre singing voice? Don't get me wrong, these charting modern Black women are extremely talented. However, some of their peers are almost nameless. Where is Melanie Fiona? We know what Fantasia and Hudson are doing. Where is Jazmin Sullivan? Why is KeKe Wyatt mostly known for making funny faces on television and for a couple of hits with singer Avant? You mean to tell me that KeKe Wyatt isn't as famous and awarded as Adele? Hmmm, why is that?
We love Beyonce, we appreciate her support of our Black Lives, and she's delivered nothing short of HITS and club bangers. However, can I be frank? She's not creating a string of Dionne Warwick timeless classics. She's not even giving us a signature song like "I say a little prayer"
She's not belting out anything like Whitney's "I will Always Love You" and consistently delivering classics like that. Sure, she has "Listen", "Halo" and "1+1" or whatever mathematical equation she claimed to master but this isn't her standard. She's unfocused. Her career is all over the place. She's apart of a generation of performers who lack a road map. She started out like Diana Ross and ended up like Nicki Minaj. Now she's rapping, trapping, twerking, raising a fist while mumble singing. She's riding a conscious wave and that's fine, but while she's On the Run for a second time, her new music is lackluster. Will the crowds go "Ape Shit" fifty years from now? That song isn't memorable like many of her newer songs aren't. Meanwhile Adele is so loud that we can barely hear her.
I don't agree with respectability politics, however we no longer commercialize the Black classy diva/pop star. Though I maintain cynicism, there are aspects of yesteryear written on a few acts of today. I do believe that James Brown lives inside of Chris Brown. The older divas and legends had their issues, but with social media, we now know ALL of their issues. Once again, Chris Brown is a legend in my opinion, but his music isn't legendary. Think on that for a second before you react to the statement.
This in my opinion is a fault in the music industry machine itself. It has become lazy. It pushes out mindless hits rather than innovation and longevity. Long gone are the days when someone like Mariah Carey can stand on stage and belt out music without dancing or having some kind of gimmick. Then again, the only people who are able to get away with that are folks like Adele or Jesse J. Sure, Black girls can stand and sing, if they don't want wealth and recognition, that is. Twerking is required, singing about being a Thot like SZA may be required. (But she lost her voice so it doesn't matter) Jesse J can rise to super-stardom, solely with her voice, while Dawn curses and gets plastic surgery. And we wonder why Chrisette Michele didn't say no to a job? Can you blame her for performing at a racists inauguration ball? Where else is she going to perform? It's a Black mumble singing world, complete with blonde weaves and twerking. A Sista has dinner to cop.
I grew up worshipping the talent of Blacks in r&b. Whitney sang the national anthem and made you think you were actually free. Brandy's vocal Bible runs and Monica's sassy slayage. CeCe Peniston had my little ass in my parents car, feeling like a baby drag queen. Not to mention the countless groups and the many men like R. Kelly and Tevin Campbell. It seemed music was about talent first, there were few gimmicks yet multiple real talents were out at once. You could envision a Tevin Campbell lifetime achievement award in the future. You just knew that BOYS II MEN weren't going anywhere. Now all BOYS II MEN can get is a cameo in a stupid commercial. The nineties was the grand finale of real music. They pushed everyone out at once so we could prepare for the death of Black Music Excellence. Mariah did it like none other and even made Christmas synonymous with her. Fast Forward to today and shes a flop. Regardless of her record breaking diamond career, she can't score a hit. Nor can Toni Braxton, Shanice, Tamia and countless others. It seems the world forgot about the Black voices that made it possible for the appropriation. Adele should take it as a compliment if anyone were to ever call her a "Fat ass Kelly Price". Kelly claimed she is "booked" but she wasn't even in a position to get groped at Aretha's funeral. A little White girl was.
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| Former Mariah Carey backup singer and 90s solo soul singing sensation, Kelly Price has lost weight over the years but hasn't gained hits |
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| Me with diva Kelly Price, August 2016 |
While Patti Labelle bakes her pies for Walmart, I have to wonder, are there any young Black singers who will enjoy a career and image like hers? Where are they? Are we witnessing the extinction of the Black diva? Is she now just a hustla, willing to compromise for wealth and international fame? Maybe the people are to blame. They are buying into the dumbing down of black music. We sat there and let Robin Thicke make a mockery out of Marvin Gaye. How did we do that? By buying into the damn song until it was a hit. Though he has been cast away like the trash he is, we still have other White faces, sneaking in and making it even harder for Black artists to get a foothold in the industry. We aren't even going to talk about the tatted up faced rap game where a Mexican calls us Niggas.
When a White woman belts out vocals, she's decorated. When a Black woman like Ledisi does so, we forget that her name rhymes with legacy. However we also have John. Last name Legend. He to me, is one and I can't write this without mentioning such a man who is the epitome of class and continued longevity. We can name Black artists who are legends to us, but they lack consistency. Keep in mind, A diva and a legend must have consistency. Veterans like Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans or R. Kelly arrived before the fall of the industry. They are aging divas/legends and are no longer viable. This conversation is about the current industry and its current class.
We once boycotted Whitney for being "too White" and selling herself short. She got the message. Now we help White musicians on stage to receive their awards for soul music. Now we applaud a blonde weave and cursing all over a record and call her a revolutionary diva. Funny how times change.
Where have all the Black divas gone?
Many will argue that Beyonce is THE Black diva. Sad even if she is one because she would be the ONLY one. A diva has to be able to SANG not sing, so Rihanna is out of the running. Queen Bey, She does call herself a diva, but why should we settle with just her? She did mirror Tina Turner and Diana for a while, but again, she's inconsistent. She's several years overdue for a powerhouse ballad that crosses genres.
You could never clone any of the greats like Tina, Chaka, Whitney, Aretha, Patti, Michael, Prince, James, Marvin, the list goes on. However, we don't have acts coming up now who could thrive in their arena. What we do have, are three high yellow people who aren't consistent and have recently watered themselves down. They all seem to take an interest in mumble rap as well. Bey, Rihanna and Chris, I respect your careers but don't respect the lack of growth. We actually need more than hits, we need a legendary timeless body of work that evolves. Further, previous generations, especially Motown artists were able to achieve hits and support well into their forties. Now Toni Braxton has to rely on a reality show and Mariah is resting on her old laurels.
There is an entire generation of greats dying off, sadly their legacy ends with them. Yes the industry is allowed to change, but not if raw talent is no longer a necessity. It was so sad when Aretha Franklin was only able to praise the vocals of one current artist. Adele. A white woman from another country.
