Is Pop Music, Black Music? || A Video Essay.

Many times, when Black musicians experience mainstream success, they are accused of "selling out" or "making white music." This video essay attempts to unpack the definition of Pop Music while asking the question directly, "what constitutes Black Music?"
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Director: Milik Kashad
Executive Producer: Milik Kashad
Producer: Jada Woodard, Sherrod Horne
Script: Milik Kashad
Script Editor: Jada Woodard
Editor: Milik Kashad
Researcher: Milik Kashad
Motion Graphics: Milik Kashad
Voiceover: Milik Kashad
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[@phillinsogood]

People should be ashamed for booing theee WHITNEY HOUSTON. She was a major Pop/R&B crossover artist that had crazy success. She was super influential and had the best voice. Why can’t we as a black community just be happy for our own without calling them sell outs.

[@jaywest3734]

I'm white and loved all her music. I love songs like I Wanna Dance with Somebody AND Oh Yes. Also love almost everything Mariah has done.

[@AintShitGoinOnInThaOtherRoom]

It wasnt about her having crossover success. It was about the “Whitney” album. She was never booed for her debut album. She even appeared on Soul Train and performed “You Give Good Love” in the first soul train awards show. Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Prince, and many other black singers received just as much or even more crossover success than Whitney but they were never booed.

[@ThuyDung-rg3bb]

@@AintShitGoinOnInThaOtherRoom Janet, Prince more successful than Whitney? Really? Prince music might be the most critical acclaimed of the 80s (more than MJ, Whitney) but his record sales are a half less than Whitney’s now. The same with Janet.

[@AintShitGoinOnInThaOtherRoom]

@@ThuyDung-rg3bb I said “just as much as or even more” and I was talking about all three of them. My point was that Michael Jackson, Prince, Janet Jackson, etc. also had crossover R&B/Pop success, but they were never booed by the Soul Train Awards audiences like Whitney was in 1989. Heck, Bobby Brown had crossed over and had the best selling album that year, but no one ever accused him of selling out or “not being black enough.” Whitney got booed because of the album/the songs on it, not for her being successful. If this wasn’t the case, then Michael Jackson would’ve gotten booed too and wouldn’t have won 4 awards that night.

[@Thegazelle1000]

it was just jealousy because as you said Michael, Prince and Janet were also R&B/Pop crossover , but they were was never booed like Whitney. You said that Whitney got booed because of her album “Whitney” because it was more pop than her previous album. Let’s talk about “Bad” of Michael Jackson, that album is more pop than R&B, but they didn’t booed him? He’s known to be the King of pop, but no one ever said anything. People chose who they want to support🤷‍♀️

[@geminisam8937]

_"Throughout History white men have always branded the pages of history with great white hopes , putting Whites over Blacks as noble like Elvis as The King of Rock n' Roll and The Beatles being the Best , yes these guys were good but they weren't better singers or dancers than the Blacks. The difference is Whites control the Media they can make the public believe what ever they desire , I will change this "NOW" with the power of song and dance"_ - 21 yr old Michael Jackson 🥲 MJ's letter summarize the entire content of the video , we sometimes forget that Michael Jackson helped opening the door and paving the way for Black artists in Mainstream media and he's sooo true for this written letter #RIP 👑

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

Yup MJ SPILLED holy water.

[@johnlucas1543]

+Gemini Sam And sadly some Blacks even put HIM in that "sellout" category as if he was running away from his Blackness. About the same time Whitney went through it in the late 1980s. Sometimes we can be so foolish. It's sad. Michael knew the truth about history better than we could ever know. He was on this wavelength in the 1970s! That's why he made the moves he did. He wanted to cut out that gatekeeping & social stratification & UNIFY EVERYONE. One Nation Under A Groove. One Love. Michael DESTROYED the Color Lines & FORCED us to deal with each other. I said this before he died: Michael Jackson is the GATEWAY to the PAST & the FUTURE. Through him you learn about all others. Who he was contemporaries with, who he was rivals with, who mentored him. Michael knew he had to succeed in the Crossover not just for his career's sake but for Black people & the World at large. THANK GOD for him! He made sure to hold that crown & eradicate those artificial barriers.

[@markjames8603]

The Beatles wrote the tunes but it took Black artists to lift the song to the stratosphere, check out Ella Fitzgerald backed by Count Basie covered " Can't buy me love" and Ray Charles's cover of "Eleanor Rigby" is sublime and actually uplifting compared to the fab four dirge

[@mitzithompson6585]

Preach it!!

[@ceasemortal4318]

@@markjames8603 and Ike and Tina version of come together, anytime a black artist covered their songs they made them 100x better

[@darlenegoodwin]

Sadly, Donna Summer was stuck on the "Queen of Disco " and she could sing any genre of music. She could sing opera and I would be entranced by her.

[@JimmieJamOfTheDay]

Donna wasn't stuck on the Queen Of Disco title. Other people held her to that title, despite her versatile music catalogue as proof that she was not a one genre artist. They did this to the point that they would categorize some of her songs as Disco when they weren't Disco. LOL. Thankfully, she didn't let other people's limitations/ignorance limit her.

[@anthonynegron1374]

🤔 Yes. Donna Summer had fantastic range. I will always agree what Dick Clark always said that Donna was one of the least appreciated singers that was.

[@KendallLXL]

It’s because her success was limited to disco music. Donna couldn’t transition outside of Disco. She pissed off the gays and they ended her career.

[@JimmieJamOfTheDay]

​@@KendallLXL I always dislike comments like this because it wasn't THE gays that heard a rumor, believed it and got mad at her. It was SOME gays who heard a rumor, believed it and got mad at her. THE gays implies every single gay person when that's obviously not true. Would she have been more successful had the rumor never existed? Probably, but was her career ended? No! A career like hers that ends would mean no music would have been made and released. That didn't happen. She continued to make music and release it. Donna Summer mainly had Dance hits and #1s and she had some of those after the rumor. She would not have had those if every single one of THE gays were mad. Thankfully, SOME of THE gays didn't believe the rumor and if SOME did, SOME of them got past it, which likely had something to do with her having continuous #1 Dance hits after the rumor. A lot of factors would apply to why she wasn't as successful on the Hot 100 Singles Chart after the rumor, but it wouldn't just be the gay rumor factor alone. Promotion, deaths in her family, etc. could also apply.

[@KendallLXL]

@@geminikid1617 “I have seen the evils of homosexuality; AIDS is the result of your sins” “God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve,"Donna supposedly stated at a concert. Donna became a born again Christian. She later backed off the comments and apologized. The gay community loved her very much but her career was not the same afterwards

[@riri9087]

Kinda sad that Whitney , Michael and Prince received backlash from black community for expanding their own genre , we always stated that "All forms of music came from Black people" but people get mad when black artists try to do other genre 🙃

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

And it’s mostly BLK Folks that get mad because the Black Individual isn’t as insecure as them. 💀😭

[@KendallLXL]

Right. Very sad

[@arthurgearheard4701]

Charlie Pride sang Traditional Country Music!

[@Missrere1984]

Yeah it makes no sense to me, we love saying how Black people "aren't a monolith" but as soon as we do something outside the norm we get labeled not "Black enough"

[@anthonytaylor7928]

No they didn't where did u get that from?

[@noreneal7252]

Let’s not forget how Jazz (which black ppl created) basically birthed pop music as well. Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, all the great jazz musicians, etc performed in front of majority white audiences as well!

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

Period.

[@noreneal7252]

@@markjames8603 Wow! Speaking of country, the banjo, guitar, and mostly all stringed instruments are derived from African instruments.

[@oholm09]

miles davis t monk louis armstrong cab callaway lionel hampton dizzy gilespie

[@martyrx3436]

@@markjames8603 White people DID NOT pioneer Rock n Roll Music. Stop it😂…

[@martyrx3436]

@@markjames8603 Did you not watch the video? Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Ike Turner, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Jimmy Preston, Jackie Brenston were all doing Rock n Roll before any white person. Stop attempting to white wash history. Black artists and Black music laid the foundation for Pop Music. If you’re so fascinated by it, learn the truth…

[@dredayalldayerday]

When people ask me what kind of music I listen to, I say I listen to MUSIC. When you're a true lover of music, you really can't put one genre over the other. I listen to opera, rock, R&B, rap, disco, funk, jazz, broadway, gospel, and even heavy metal sometimes. Music is music.

[@Crewelperleology]

A a musician who loves and creates through many genres of music, I still have a somewhat unique or slightly different perspective, in that music genres are like types of cuisine. I love and need food, but I only love certain types and styles of cuisine, and only consume nourishing and preferably flavourful cuisine. Music is quite personal.

[@lucasribeiro7534]

@@Crewelperleology That's a very good way to put it. I can listen to all genres, but, to me, classical music, Gospel, bebop, R&B and rock are much more 'flavourful' than hip hop, rap, smooth jazz, country (with some exceptions... Dolly Parton being the main one) and reggae.

[@Crewelperleology]

@@lucasribeiro7534 Indeed. i also know what you mean about universally appreciated Dolly Parton.

[@MistriiiMusic]

Facts! 💜

[@1goldbaby]

Music is music, not really!!!

[@abidiaz8428]

I feel like black people being less known to listen to rock is still boggling to me. We are not usually associated with a genre we originally founded. To even make it into a negative thing when some of us do like rock music or even pop. Which, is a problematic outlook that the black community refuses to comment about.

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

That’s because contrary to popular believe, the majority of Black folks think we should be a monolith. A disgusting majority that folks LOVE to ignore.

[@TheLily97232]

It's also stupid not to listen to a sound because it's made by white people WHEN IT CLEARLY SOUNDS BLACK.....

[@destinixshakur]

I believe it’s DNA based . Maybe so much trauma came from YT people doing the most to take it over we just let them have it and shun it naturally

[@Frenchkidding]

Because the 1980s was awful for the image of black ppl in america and Rock Music (Hard Rock/Heavy Metal especially) was the Mainstream Genre in that decade which was associated with the mass (white ppl)

[@veronicaaccouche1478]

Rock'sSkunk Anansie Skin lead singerguitar is a dark blackbeauty from Brixton a LondonAfro Caribbean ghetto.formed in '94 they have broken up+reformed.The name "Skunk Anansie" is takenfrom Akan folk tales of Anansi thespider-man of Ghana with "Skunk"added to"make the name nastier".She's a sopranoBilbo Mar22 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZLFe5h9gp2HmpI

[@fanon7593]

Quiet as it's kept, this same exact thing has happened to reggaeton, a genre of music founded almost exclusively by Afro-Panamanians (Afro-latinos). Yet, the hottest reggaeton artists are all white-passing mestizos like Bad Bunny.

[@TheHomeGirlxoxo]

So true!!!

[@devanshepard9118]

@@az1infin268 i think homophobia was there before british (however the british made it into law) but whats interesting is you have jamiacians who embrace lgbt like grace jones and she is not seen as a jamaician at all

[@devanshepard9118]

@@az1infin268 i said they made it law so we agree on that, a lot of jamaicians were doing dance music in the 80s and 90s actually

[@devanshepard9118]

@@az1infin268 i was saying i think it was always there not law tho

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

We need a video on that. 👀

[@Mike_Neal]

I knew people accused some of my favs like Diana Ross, Eartha Kitt, Tina Turner and Whitney Houston of not being "black" enough but I didn't know my lady Dionne went through that criticism too! 😒

[@wefinnasee7067]

Think about it...her music is rarely played on ol skool radio stations i.e. Tom Joyner. Her music is almost always featured in white rom-coms i.e. say a little prayer

[@oholm09]

all music is universal language music has no color i dont care black white hispanic asain indian rick or poor its a diversity you cant judge somebody they look its all in the world

[@oldsoul_anth243]

In her biography, she mentioned how she wasn't appreciated by her fellows because of her so called white music. Being the first lady of pop to break the european country, she experienced those critisms alot!

[@strangeannie5160]

@@oldsoul_anth243 literally, the Black community wants to get recognition for being the founders of their genders; but when one of you have great success and critical acclaim, then you said "it's to White"

[@oldsoul_anth243]

@@strangeannie5160 Sad reality!!

[@dusroots]

Great job again!! Also my grandmother was one of Sister Rosetta's background singers "the Rosettes" and my grandfather was her musical director. I'm so proud everytime I hear her name mentioned as the true creator of Rock n Roll. 🙌🏿♥️

[@PeukinsPoint]

Incredible legacy!

[@MistriiiMusic]

Wow. You are blessed ❤️❤️

[@mitzithompson6585]

Awesome 🔥

[@destinixshakur]

Damn seeing the comparison of Elvis and Little Richard is ASTONISHING! You can literally see the imitation . Profound job on this video like so many

[@toneythompson1125]

Elvis just steal black people culture

[@sandrabentley8111]

Actually Elvis emulated a far less well known black blues and spiritual singer from when he was a boy. I have forgotten his name just now, but that's where Elvis got his singing roots from.

[@destinixshakur]

@@sandrabentley8111 he took on a few people but what I noticed is people don’t talk about how he constantly paid homage to blak musicians . A lot of our people dk that people didn’t like Elvis when he died either . I did a lil research on him

[@knmonlinemedia]

@@sandrabentley8111 Otis Blackwell is the singer

[@coursecorrection4105]

Thank you for this. Enter record companies that want to erase black people from rock, punk, electronic, dance, country, folk etc. We innovated in all but are rarely supported in it today. We are also the first to tear down and minimize our own contribution to music genres which opens the door to completely erasing us.

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

You didn’t lie. The VERY FIRST to tear down our own.

[@lucaswallo8127]

Black peoples influence on music has been great but not as great as many seem to think.

[@AintShitGoinOnInThaOtherRoom]

Record companies aren’t responsible for what genres/styles black folks gravitate towards or choose not to listen to. None of those music genres were “stolen” from black America. If anything, they were given away or just aren’t as popular amongst us as they are with other groups. I, for example, personally prefer R&B, jazz, blues, (and sometimes rap) but don’t necessarily care for hard rock, punk, country, techno, dubstep, electronic, etc. Even they are black artists in those genres or if they were influenced by black people, I just don’t gravitate towards them and I’ve personally only met a handful for black folks who do.

[@Rosannasfriend]

Now i am a big fan of rock ‘n’ roll today, but the fact of the matter is it’s not the same music that it was when Black people started it, which is a big part of the reason why most Black people don’t listen to it. It doesn’t have that soulful sound to it, it was changed in the 70s and 80s, going into a psychedelic, heavy-metal, then grunge alternative. Very different from how it started out. While there’s nothing wrong with change, Black people see this as white music.

[@macewbee]

Good point for a start listen to Lenny kravitz on tiny desk or depeche mode called home live version 1998 or the 1998 single tour the song writter and back up vocial Martin Gore great grandma is an black american .

[@elv3812]

Factz!🎯Facts! Another aspect is that once something becomes popular(especially music) we move on to something else. It is just not Rock &Roll, Blues music is an example of this as well.

[@kwesilewis7875]

I agree completely

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

And that’s Black Ppl are mentally weak. A yt person does one thing and y’all flock and give it away to them. Y’all are so embarrassing.

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

@@elv3812 And that’s a terrible habit and leads to colonization.

[@lordfarquaad8267]

This is one of the best, if not THE best, channel on KZbin. I wish you had a Patreon. I would LOVE to see something on Chicago step/New York Hustle/West Coast Swing music or Stacy Lattisaw’s career.

[@LoneWulf278]

ABSOLUTELY!!

[@kwamekruwocran1233]

Wondering if you would read something too lol

[@shviewjames126]

Legend has it that at the time as she recorded “I’m Coming Out” , Diana Ross did not realize it would become a gay anthem. She just considered it a song about self confidence(which it is). I don’t think Aretha knew that “Respect” would become an anthem for black people, women, gays, etc. However, I believe, she did know that needing and demanding respect is universal and infinite.

[@amarjusufovic3449]

Nile Rodgers actually said it was made for the gays

[@shviewjames126]

@@amarjusufovic3449 Yes, he says he was inspired by drag queens dressed up to look like Miss Ross at a gay club in NYC, (which had the best music) but he did not tell her the subtext to the song.

[@shviewjames126]

I think she recorded it from her point of view, expressing her burgeoning creative independence from Berry Gordy and Motown. She would leave Motown a year later for RCA.

[@amarjusufovic3449]

@@shviewjames126 nile saw drag queens dressed as diana ross and that`s when he realized how huge she was in the gay community and short after they created a song dedicated to lgbtq.

[@floridasoul2000]

“Respect was originally Otis Redding song. What did that respect mean from his perspective? kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6CWkpiOj6uNock

[@heyrobertcarter1]

Please do one on Donna Summer. People need to know she was more than a disco singer.

[@JimmieJamOfTheDay]

I've requested this too. Not necessarily to show she was more than Disco, but that would be good to see also.

[@markjames8603]

I'm not a fan of disco records, that said if you watch any of these disco acts performing live you can see 40+ years of RnB, big bands, close vocal harmonies, syncopated dancing and kick ass backing, I'm also fascinated by roots of music, Shirley Ellis who was famous for the name game, soul time and the nitty gritty covered a tune previously sung by Nat King Cole and Billy Ward and the Dominos- check out "Stardust" a proto disco tune if ever I heard one, it's jazzy too, very uplifting!!

[@marvin469]

She worked hard for the money

[@markailanevana5325]

Speaking of Donna PLEASE do a video essay over her PLEASEE

[@freshbme2]

Talk about a sexy woman that could SANG!!!!👀

[@valentine6790]

The next one is likely Jennifer Holiday, if you look on her most recent song music video, BMA posted a comment congratulating her, and she responded about a video happening, it's in the works, purr

[@jrborris]

Wow, you kept it 💯with this video essay. It’s amazing how black people are the foundation of many genres of music, but we get little to no recognition for it. And, our sound was duplicated by white artists many times over. Our culture is always frowned upon, but yet it’s always emulated. I find it very disheartening at times!

[@lucaswallo8127]

I don't see how credit for cultures as a whole makes sense anyway. If anyone should receive credit it's the artists who made the music.

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

@@lucaswallo8127 That’s because you’re a colonizer with a colonizing mentality.

[@Piscesemperor69]

I love how you mentioned Donna Summer and Jennifer Holliday... very underrated

[@tjaspire]

Interesting topic. I'm a Black woman, and I love pop music! Yes we have left our impression on the field of pop, but I believe that pop is for everyone, it brings everyone together! That's what I love about it! Even the most metal rocker or the most soulful singer can relate to and enjoy pop music. It's universal.

[@plaguedoctor2k]

Mariah Carey said in her book that "Tommy Mottola was trying to wash the urban out of her". that's why you notice a big difference between her debut album (very much rnb influenced )and the other ones to come that were more of POP (classic belting and not much beats.) like music box or daydream.

[@iss_iam809]

That's her take on it. I don't think that was the case though. He wanted her to have the success of Micheal, Whitney and Madonna. Pop music has always sold more than any other genre. His plan worked. Those albums were her biggest selling

[@YuzimaPhilip]

Being a black artist who makes rock music (yet is inspired by R&B), I appreciate this. I have a hard time with people describing R&B as "black music." And there is a long history of black artists being forced into making or at least describing their music as "R&B." We are so vast as a people we should in no way limit ourselves. I had a writer who was writing a story about me, but according to him, black editors weren't interested because it wasn't perceived as black music. This is hatred or internalized hatred operating from both sides. I think the decline of Rock is due to segregation. People aren't interested in whitewashing. They want music to reflect the people who authentically make it. Keep up the great work.

[@devanshepard9118]

Whats interesting to me is that these new rappers like lil uzi all say they are inspired by avril lavinge or limp bizkit and korn and I always wondered why these rappers did not go into rock music if thats what they mostly listen 2? I also find it funny that if you are black and listen to a music not r&b or hip hop its like people think you are an alien. when I was in high school I was singing a shania twain song and everyone looked shocked i knew it. I even had someone say they did not think black people listened 2 white female singers. just weird

[@madeithere8775]

You came through PREACHING in that first 30 seconds, whew!

[@tlobrown5381]

You do such fantastic work. You are a true music educator. You are much appreciated. Thank you for bringing to light the vital importance of black people in developing and carrying modern music.

[@thebrothaj]

wow. so much to unpack here… conversations & realities that many of us don’t want to have or hear. as much as we want the world to know that we as a people are not a monolith, we need to start realizing and understanding that more ourselves. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

Yup, too many want to be a monolith.

[@mssha1980]

So true. People can like what they want

[@aldogrof6700]

Naww..we can need to be most times because Gatekeeping is Necessary!!

[@ferventedemusique]

Now, that’s a word!!!!!

[@joyceasante8292]

Salsa, tango, rumba, reggaeton and other music that are popular in South America and the Caribbean region are now known as "Latin" music. "Latin" music is actually Afro music!

[@goncalodias6402]

its latin music. salsa, tango, rumba are versions of spanish music. its a mix of european melodies and african rythms. but not so in latin america, since spanish music is also based in rythm.

[@tylerhackner9731]

We are the foundation for countless genres of music yet we don’t get credit

[@KendallLXL]

Long LIVE WHITNEY HOUSTON. THE VOICE. QUEEN Of Pop.

[@tmason3409]

👏🏾

[@toneythompson1125]

I’ll don’t think so

[@KendallLXL]

@@toneythompson1125 She is

[@agridulce3532]

@@toneythompson1125 she is

[@MylesAlexander93]

This channel is so thought provoking and quintessential in understanding art. You’re non-biased and it’s great to have real discussions about how the industry is. The technique and influences of artists and how that impacts the genres they are in and the world. Please don’t stop

[@brandonburrell8517]

I love all of the artists who have received this criticism. It's sad that we haven't moved beyond this yet.

[@Sloppyjoey1]

We also need to expand this topic and talk about why Black artists are so frequently miscategorized in certain genres. Nicki Minaj & Drake areout here getting rap/hip-hop/r&b awards for pop songs and even recently, Kelly Clarkson did a "Queen of the Night" cover from Whitney Houston, and people are saying it's a "rock version" when the song was always rock. I notice that race plays a driving role in musical category when it shouldn't.

[@ThebabynerdChannel]

Lmaoo I’m only 18 seconds in but I just have to say this!! It’s so crazy how I was making a mood board called “mothers of pop music” and I only had black women on it. 4 to be exact. Dionne, Diana, Aretha and Tina… it’s like your vids are reassurance that I’m studying the right material 😭

[@KendallLXL]

I wouldn’t classify Aretha as pop

[@BrothaJ365]

@@KendallLXL uh oh, somebody missed a few gems in the video 👀

[@KendallLXL]

@@BrothaJ365 I know what you mean now

[@ThebabynerdChannel]

@@KendallLXL Aretha is definitely pop

[@KendallLXL]

@@ThebabynerdChannel I get it

[@SoSillyWilly26]

Talk about it KING! I just got into an argument on KZbin about this type of thing! Black artists were being used as the blueprint and then they’d call a white artist an innovator when they are just copying what had already been done. Doesn’t take away the talents of Elvis and others but we need to talk about the truth!

[@jadadams1]

Yes, but we same Black people go on and call Dionne, Diana, Whitney sellouts for not throwing their shoes off or having a coronary while sweating buckets when singing or elongating all the vowels into a 10 minute seesion. Do you see our contradiction?

[@SoSillyWilly26]

@@jadadams1 Whitney and Dionne were actually known for sweating profusely while performing live but I get your point. I think it had a lot to do with the way they were marketed though.

[@jadadams1]

@@SoSillyWilly26 we are presently on You tube. Please copy and paste one performance of Dionne's where she is sweating? Except we are in denial; we all know why Whitney was sweating.

[@SoSillyWilly26]

@@jadadams1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaq5lJ2hj9eYfNU look at 0:25 on this video and she even dabs her face with her finger. That’s where Whitney got that from lol. Not saying that she didn’t have her moments when she was high and would sweat but Whitney was just naturally sweaty onstage even in the beginning or videos when she’s singing in church. Singers like Aretha and Whitney would demand for the venues they performed in to be extremely dry and hot to help the vocals which would make them sweat like crazy.

[@jadadams1]

@@SoSillyWilly26 dabbing her upper lip is the the measurement of someone sweating buckets? Gaslighting is the definition of your reply. In that same line of videos you shared, please scroll down a little further, and watch Whitney at her 1997 DC concert- that is what im talking about I adore Ms Houston's till this day, and but I will respectly decline your comparism

[@Thegazelle1000]

You always speak facts!!! I appreciate your content 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 That’s why I always call people who say “ this black singer sings white or sings for white” when He/She sing pop IGNORANT. They don’t know the black music history smhd!! WE ARE THE INNOVATORS 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

[@aiaimonkey9085]

The more you look into American music, the more you realize that we have an incredibly black musical identity.

[@marcosmartinez8088]

Fun fact: Mahalia was the favorite singer of Elvis, Richard and Donna. If you listen closely to them, you can hear that inspiration.

[@DMKC]

When the student is ready (to learn), the teacher appears. This video essay is thorough to understand that music has come a long way of reaching out to everyone. It’s not by mere words, but the sound that influences the listeners. This study was good and reminded me that how music evolves in a year or decade is targeted to listeners that pay attention to the rhythm like Whitney Houston said, “It’s the feeling”. As for the music that’s playing now, it’s a choice to choose on going with feels right or doesn’t. At the same time, the message behind the music creates an imagination of what your mind is framed. Just as the saying of a scripture goes, “power of life and death is in the tongue, you’ll reap the consequences thereof.” So when the feeling comes, the words follow. Thank you BMA for this video essay. It was SO rich and rewarding.✨🤎

[@PBow-go1ix]

It’s so sad when it’s said we’re not black enough. We should own the Arts and feel proud when a change takes place. Embrace the uniqueness of every sound or genre produced by black artist. Choose what you want to listen to without degrading the Artist. Music is for all people.

[@botaktatasumo]

THIS video says ALL OF IT! Black people should acknowledge the trail blazing that they've done! And also, THANK YOU, for showing reminding us of Donna Summer!!! She deserves more recognition :)

[@MistriiiMusic]

Yes. It is. I'm black and proud to do pop music 💜

[@zakbutler2683]

Another great video essay BMA!! But I wished you mentioned more about how Tina Turner is considered a sell out after her split from Ike and Private Dancer was released. She wanted to be as successful as the Rolling Stones, who took inspiration FROM HER. She had a great comeback when people said that her music with Ike was better: "You weren't buying the records."

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

Tina Turner is such a queen! But she kinda is a sell out. She has said a few anti-BLK things and xenophobic things about Africa.

[@the16thGemini]

Tina has addressed a few times in interviews.However her critics failed to realize that each solo album contained tracks to meant to appeal to R&B listeners. Two People, Something Beautiful Remains (R&B singer Joe made remix) and In Your Wildest Dreams featuring Barry White (US version/foreign singles) are key examples. While Tina sought to be a global Rock/Pop act, she continued to make inroads to Black audiences.

[@troopersjp]

Music Historian specializing in a number of things including Black music here, I want to just touch on something you said in the beginning of the video: "When people think of “black music” the first thing they think of definitely is gospel" I'd like to nuance this a bit, when people think of gospel, they tend to think more specifically *hard* gospel coming from Black Southern Baptist musical traditions and Black Pentecostal musical traditions. But those aren't the only Black Gospel traditions. Northern Black Gospel traditions, usually coming out of the AME church, are much smoother than the Southern Black Gospel traditions. The Northern Black traditions are what gave us the other side of Rock'n'Roll--Doo Wop, Girl Groups, and Black Harmony Groups and Black Barbershop Traditions. Groups like the Orioles, The Platter, The Chantels, etc are part of a smooth Black Northern musical tradition. Motown's sound is not a White sound, it is coming directly from Northern AME Black Gospel sound. However, there is a white fetishization of an imagination of Blackness as rough, violent, and dirty...and so there is a persistent elevating of harder Black sounds as "really Black," and smoother Black sounds and "not really Black." And that is messed up...because it narrows what Blackness can be. People like to say that Motown is White music, but Stax is Black Music. But Motown was a black owned record company, and Stax was a white owned record company and the owner, Jim Stewart, kept telling the Black artists on Stax that they weren't allowed to make complicated music because that is not what "Black Music really is." Which leads me to, the "hardest" Black music--the types that are framed as "not for White people"--tends to be the genres the biggest number of White audiences. Because there is a very large White population that has always wanted to indulge in a strange fantasy of Blackness, from Blackface Minstrelsy, to Hot Jazz, to Be-Bop, to Rock'n'Roll, to Stax, to Funk...and yes, to Gangster Rap. The biggest audience for the hardest gangster rap was not Black people, but White suburban teenage men...who were drawn to Hip Hop because of a fantasy of Blackness as dangerous. And no one says "Hip Hop is White Music." This is because this isn't just about if something crosses over and becomes popular with White audiences, it is just as much about the persistent racist fantasy that "Authentic Blackness" is hard, sexual, violent and transgressive. So all of that Black music that is smooth...tends to get rejected as "not Black enough." But that is racism (and internalized racism). Also, there were crossover artists before Dionne Warwick. Louis Jordan in the 40s. Heck, if you want to go there, one of the very first hit records in this country, "The Laughing Song" in the 1890s, was by a Black artist, George W. Johnson. We could go back farther with sheet music and talk about Scott Joplin and Ragtime.

[@talkingmetaphysics127]

Yes, absolutely, you won't get a release or a hit without having a "relationship" with the White gatekeepers. Caused a lot of talented Black people to just give up

[@soundsofepip]

Kayne spoke about this

[@flyleelee5351]

The white Jewish gatekeepers

[@suzyque1279]

But why did we let them in? And continue to do so, even when we know better. Is it a lack of belief in ourselves? They should never have been part of the equation to begin with. Not against it, but this is the integration bandwagon which has not served us well.

[@ThePopAttic]

we are INEVITABLE! black music is the baseline of the entirety of industry.

[@The_Truth-]

TELL IT!

[@Lstar07]

So, I’m finally just now watching this video and I think I decided to at the right time due to Beyoncé’s new single, _Break My Soul_ . I say the “right time” because one too many nonblack lgbt people are making scathing comments as if Beyoncé isn’t allowed to make house music. They don’t seem to understand that house is an offshoot of disco (which was mainly a black genre) and that house was invented by black DJs (straight & gay) in Chicago and that the genre (as well as their music) was literally stolen from those DJs and sold to Europe. Country listeners pulled the same crap with Beyoncé in 2016 when she performed her country song, _Daddy Lessons_ , on the CMAs. It’s extremely weird and annoying when nonblack people say black artists can’t participate in genres that black people created. I grew up on house music, so it’s disheartening and unbelievable when nonblack lgbt part their lips to set boundaries on house music, a genre they had nothing to do with in terms of its conception. Anywho, a lot of these nonblack pop girls from the late 00’s - early 10’s that they stan for have got their minds a bit warped when it comes to house and other forms of dance music.

[@ghiberti]

Music is universal. Black people are amazing singers! Thank you for sharing this video essay. Black singers are outstanding and the world celebrates them.

[@LeimertDreamer]

Black music is the only thing we call “universal”. However, we do not call Black pain “universal”. Anything positive from Black people is not looked at as Black, but “universal”. However, when it comes to crime and other negative things, we do not call those “universal”; we call them “Black”. People love Black Excellence and want to incorporate themselves into it as theirs also but never Black struggle. Black music may be universally enjoyed, but it is still BLACK music.

[@LONDONLEATHERBOY77]

Now. They celebrate them now, not back then...

[@coursecorrection4105]

If more black artists were supported in rock, punk, edm, country etc, more black peoples would listen. Also we need a Dionne biopic or series.

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

Exactly. But too many wannabe a monolith and complain. Also, I heard there’s a lot Black Country Artist growing right now!

[@coursecorrection4105]

@@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024 yes. I love the resurgence of black artists in country. Now we need to come back and take over rock and dance/EDM.

[@Mike_Neal]

While I'm a major R&B/Soul fan, I do love and enjoy and also appreciate all genres of music.

[@kneesh44]

i love this channel so much 😭😭 keep doing your thing boo you’re killing it 💜💜💜

[@yourmotherheaux]

I'd love for you to go on more about the gays lol. I was so here for it. When you said "Donna didn't just go into the studio and said this is for the gays". I died 😂😂😂

[@mrsmjj81]

DIONNE!!!! YESSSS!!! THANK YOU for breaking that down! I swear these videos should be required in music classes everywhere.

[@Malor666]

I remember Aretha Franklin saying "If you like mayonnaise, Then you must like Dionne Warrick's singing" or something to that effect.

[@Lovejazz01]

Don’t forget about blues and straight ahead jazz, I remember back in the 80’s and 90’s artists like BB and Robert Cray had a huge following of white audiences, and they played venues like Carnage Hall, while other artist that were played on black blues radio only played the local blues clubs. And I remember the Commodores were big on black radio because of the funk, but once they started singing Lionel Ritchie’s pop love songs black people started saying they were too white. You cannot fault an artist or group just because they become more successful with white audiences. And you cannot fault an artist because they perform genres that most black people don’t listen to. I know a lot of black people that has never heard of Charlie Pride, yet he was a black Country music legend. Same goes for jazz folksinger Lizz Wright.

[@conrabbit]

This is Important and Pivotal music education that needs to be taught more and more!

[@BlackMusicArchive]

To support this channel in its efforts to continue making quality and accessible music education content please consider a donation: paypal.me/blackmusicarchive cash.app/$BlackMusicArchive account.venmo.com/u/milikkashad Zelle: [e-mail]

[@suezcontours6653]

They STILL be doing this in South Africa pushing a WHITE man as the face of black music. Ever heard of Mi casa. The most recognizable South African band with J Something as the vocal lead. He's white, the white population is less than 10%.

[@BaharAbbas]

Done 🌹🌹

[@drock228]

Great vid 👏. As black people I think often we forget we're not a homogeneous group of people. Therefore our tastes varies including music. I've always loved all kinds of music & I remember growing up my peers would say I like "white music" because I wasn't a big hip hop head growing up. It always baffled me because my peers didn't know that all American genres of music came out of black culture. I agree music is music. To me when it comes to singing or even rapping, music is just a story put to music, the label one puts on it r&b, pop, rock, hip hop, jazz, etc ... are irrelevant at the end of the day. Again Great vid thx!

[@TheMPExperience]

Your channel and this video just changed my whole perspective and validated a lot of things I have been thinking. Thank you for this work. You are healing and doing magic and my soul is grateful.

[@ArtTheSinger]

Thank you for giving Mr.Ike Turner his credit.👏🏾👏🏾

[@Afrosephone]

I love how you frame everything subject you speak on! Kudos to another video well done

[@darkfeather6857]

Milik, what I love most about your terrific videos, is that I always find new music to listen to that I fall in love with! I've heard Florence Quivar sing opera, but didn't know she sang spirituals. Now I have another boon in my gospel collection. Thank you!

[@thabigcohuna]

Many r&b artist remade Dionne’s music with a soul twist so I have to disagree that she didn’t know she was making pop music. As far as Whitney no other black female had the pop success Whitney had on that level, that was the reason for the backlash

[@KendallLXL]

Facts!!

[@The_Truth-]

Right, Whitney came on the scene and basically took what her cousin, Diana Ross did to another level, a defining level that is still felt to this very day.

[@Thegazelle1000]

True!!

[@tisanbako]

@@The_Truth- true

[@etc8985]

You sort of missed a key point of the video. Soul music was pop music, especially in the 60s. And Dionne not singing soul doesn’t mean it wasn’t black music. It’s all black music.

[@Machelle3200]

Exactly. Black people were given music to HEAL themselves and the WORLD..That was the ASSIGNMENT by GOD ..Now what we gone do bout it?. All music comes from Heavens and every genry belongs to GOD.

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

Can y’all stop bringing up God who was made up to justify the usage of slavery and colonization? Thank you very much.

[@09NXN06]

Absolute!!

[@Endlesscool]

I can’t keep going this long between releases. It’s really an injustice . 😎 keep up the great work . I be on the edge of my seat waiting for the next . Can you explain more voices Stevie wonder , Donny Hathaway , Ann nesby , Janet .

[@caramelkell4346]

I truly love your channel! As a performer it is so great to receive this knowledge. You are doing an amazing job💙

[@destinixshakur]

It’s so good to see the face behind the voice of this channel . I’m a huge fan fr

[@TheDkSkye]

This video and convo is so needed 💯🙌🏾✨ EXCELLENT 👌🏾✨

[@MjjHistoryarchives]

And lets not forget that Michael Jackson the king of pop was the first african american to be on MTV and made a big movement for all of the other black artists

[@eduardoalegriarampante639]

I've been annoyingly begging for a Donna Summer voice explained video...Here at least she's mentioned!!! Im gonna take it as a sign my wish might come true 😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@heyrobertcarter1]

I agree!!!!

[@flyleelee5351]

I've been saying this!!!

[@jaywest3734]

I am an R&B fan but still appreciate pop music from artists like Whitney, Mariah, MJ etc. I love how artists like Mariah crossed genres like she did (so did Whitney and others) but I like their beginnings too.

[@tarag7292]

Those artists you mention aren't good examples because they did/do R&B, too. Or they produced hybrid R&B/adult contemporary songs.

[@jaywest3734]

@@tarag7292 I just said I like their pop songs.

[@tarag7292]

@@jaywest3734 Ok. I see we have comprehension issues. Have a nice day.

[@ThebabynerdChannel]

TALK ABOUT IT!!! This was amazing thank you 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@ADyani6]

I loooooved this! Thank you for creating and sharing

[@AlisonCrockett]

This is great! I’m actually teaching a course about this very subject at Shenandoah university this summer.

[@LoneWulf278]

Another amazing break-down! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@bclislife]

This is eye opening. Love this, HOW do you never seem to miss

[@myishahutchinson652]

You may have spoke in a whisper, but you came with thunderous knowledge.

[@johnlucas1543]

Pop Music IS Black Music. CORRECT. And that's why Michael Jackson is The King of POP, Rock, & Soul. Some Blacks have a funny way of disavowing their own innovations. Lack of knowledge of history or warped point of view. Jimi Hendrix ran into it with Black Radio in the 1960s. But Jimi was once part of James Brown's band. We need to remember we pretty much created ALL of it. Even Country music is not immune to our influence. The Banjo is an African instrument. Rock is ours, Folk is ours, 'Latin' Music is obviously ours. Check the Moors for the Flamenco. There's a reason we can sing or perform in almost any style. We ARE Music.

[@Rosannasfriend]

Another great and informative video in the books!

[@domoniqueayers2471]

Another one!!! Awesome work Milik! Thank you for all you do to keep music alive!!!!

[@Pooquie1]

I always learn something new from your videos and this was not an exception. Awesome........thank you!

[@timmy841212]

This is the greatest video you’ve ever done, sir. Bravo! 😎

[@galenspikesmusic]

Dude this channel is brilliant. Thank you.

[@AKSourGod]

Well done, love the old footage and research you've put into this. 💪🏾🔥💯

[@caliBornbEauty]

I always learn something from your content. Thank you!

[@jamiengaddis8416]

You're always on point with your videos and this one is no different. I was having this same conversation with some people at pub raising an eye at me playing Chris Stapleton song Tennessee Wiskey. It's soul/ blues music. Black artists were the architect of popular music and stripped of credit.

[@ennmoon]

Loved this video. Your content is so interesting and I always learn something new at each upload of yours 💋

[@toniamoss3975]

Your channel is the truth. I love it. Keep doing the work you do.

[@earthshaker1217]

As always, this video was so wonderful because it answers why folks associate and dissociate genres from certain groups of people. It's not happenstance. It's systemic. Thankfully the internet is able to subvert these machinations.

[@taylorwoodard4724]

As a white gay who grew up loooooving music I was deeply aware of the history of music. I played piano and sang in choir. I live for music… Ended up studying music in Chicago and learned in depth American music history. I have so much admiration and respect for the people who shaped music. It reminds me that it is important. Music has helped change the world. Reading the comments… I just wanted to speak from my experience, not that it should matter. Even if it’s unwarranted, I want to let it be known that I see you. I HATE the circumstances. Also, The best music professors at my school were black. SO so many incredible talented inspiring people. I wish I could make it better but I’ll throw love out there. You all are the best of American music and should be recognized as such.

[@NanaYawAforo]

Excellent video!!! Very thorough and solids points throughout! And yes I definitely learned something. As a black I appreciate what you had to say.

[@ThePopAttic]

dionne shall be revered! we’ll see too it that the ORIGINAL queen of pop gets her things!

[@libbybrownenyc]

Looooove your content!!! Always!!!

[@TheMusicalEmpress]

Your channel is my FAVE! We listen to everything, especially in the Midwest. Everything was played and listened to. On that note, will you PLEASE do an VOCAL EXPLAINED on the divine, effortless, annointed voice of CECE WINANS! 🙏🏽 Thank you!😘

[@terrancemcqueen7872]

Me the whole video: “Mmmhmm!!” “Riiiiighhhhttt!!!!” “HELLO?!!!” “THANK. YOOUUUU!!!”

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

Right!? And I love that it’s come at a time with Drake’s House Album. 😫😍

[@yomama9114]

At the end of the day; listen to whatever you want to listen to. Music is universal and transcends race and class

[@yomama9114]

I love pop, rock, rap, country, edm, jazz, r&b, disco,classical. Nobody is gonna tell me what I should listen to

[@justintuffo2801]

as a black guy in his early 30s whos been listning to rock & metal for 2 decades its a shame most africans in america dont know or listen to the legacy of black music knowing rap sold out years ago

[@anthonytaylor7928]

Look a here youngin we are well aware of our history in music and traditions we.re not stupid

[@BozeDoesGodsWork]

Tbh every genre “sells out”. And it’s not necessarily a bad thing. It just means that it’s more mainstream and reached a bigger crowd for people to enjoy.

[@lisajanebrooklyn]

The recent book Shine Bright - A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop by Danyel Smith examines this phenomenon. Truly worth reading.

[@derrickmiller-handley5048]

Beautiful analysis 👍🏽✨❤️✨

[@hellajassy]

This is amazing!!!!!! Can you do something next on Donna Summers

[@michaelcarroll2399]

BMA, Great job as always!!!

[@chrisanthemum7]

Powerful statement at the end about people not knowing who their music is going to resonate with until it comes out