hopefully there is going to be a separate story for that

I’m sure someone’s working on writing about it, but the news about Christina Grimmie is really, really upsetting. I’m glad it wasn’t part of the Dirt Bag, of course, but I just had to say something about it.

Please tell me y’all are gonna say something about the murder of Christina Grimmie. That was a fuckin travesty.

As much as I dislike Meghan, it’s unfair to say her music is written by a committee. She’s a songwriter who has written for other artists. Pop music is one genre where women have had major success yet their contributions are constantly being minimized.

“working with *and promoting* black artists in the process is pretty key.”

“If a black girl had the marginal vocal talent that Meghan Trainor displays, she would not be famous.”

Pop stations aren’t white in terms of what they play. They tend to be very diverse. Drake, Rihanna, Flo Rida, and Bruno Mars all enjoy heavy pop radio play. Whether an artist gets onto a pop stations depends on whether or not their songs fit the format. Adele makes Adult Contemporary Pop. Jill Scott makes mainly R&B…

I hate Meghan Trainor’s music. But.

Yeah. Fuck those famous people who should sing differently because of their skin color. It’s only ok to make music that somebody else decides isn’t “authentic” if you sound white enough for your inauthenticity to be allowed

“White people shouldn’t get to make bad rap music and be as popular—or even more popular—than talented black artists.”

Wow, that’s a lot of analysis for someone (Meghan Trainor) who simply writes and performs catchy pop songs. Music is all about appropriation and adoption of styles—nothing new to see here. I was also a big fan of Amy Winehouse but don’t see a need to proclaim her style as “authentic” while Trainor’s is “stolen.”

White people shouldn’t get to make bad rap music and be as popular—or even more popular—than talented black artists

what the hell do you mean “Should?” Who sets the rules for how popular or not an artist “Should” be? Well— there’s an easy answer to that. The people who listen to music do. If the people who listen to…

But black people have reason to fear that this will turn out to be an uneven trade. Some people will benefit from that exchange more than others.

I have hated Meghan Trainor since that stupid body shaming Bass song, and agree that mediocre white artists get recognized for making black music above talented black artists. However, this girl does not sound black, and I do not hear Black English Vernacular in her music when I have heard her on the radio. Can…

Ya I don’t really think that’s a common assumption. I guess I just interpreted the sing-talking as kinda close to rapping

Honest question: are we at a point where only people from certain backgrounds are allowed to make art? I don’t have any culture that I can look to and say, “that’s MY culture.” If I were to write a song, I’d be appropriating something from a culture that is not my own. Does that mean I should never write a song?

Basically, it’s OK because Amy Winehouse is “good” but you don’t think Meghan Trainor is “good”. That’s tough, music is real subjective.

Alessia Cara?

Rap is based on Skeltonic verse, appropriated from a white dude. So hurtful. I’ve been triggered!

Yo is not exclusive to AAVE. It is generally associated with working class New York Italians as well. It is most generally part of “New York” vernacular.