Black Radio Today More Racist Than MTV of Yesterday!! - chiltonmusic's Blog

"Black Radio" of Today More Racist than MTV of Yesterday

"Black Radio" is actually more discriminatory to black artist than MTV was back in the day.

Follow my thoughts. I had a converstation with a friend of mine the other day and they were trying to make the antiquated case that Lenny Kravitz is sellout. You know the argument because he does rock and roll and only had one r&b hit "It Aint Over".

Well this pissed me off. I asked my friend "What the HELL was Lenny Suppossed to do? Continue making R&B songs that "black radio" wasn't going to play anyway?"

The sad part about it is just how much things haven't changed in "black radio" over the years. Currently R&B radio (which honestly doesn't exist because everyone does hip hop) Doesn't play music that isn't hip hop or hip hop related as in produced by hip hop producers. I challange you to find me a recent "hit" that doesn't feature a rapper.

Now let me be fair I am an artist and I am currently working on my next cd. So yeah I have a vested interest in this debate. But it pisses me off that my work has no where to go upon its completion. My first cd was great and judging by the response of you here on BP it should have been heard on a wider scale.

And if you think I am just crying about how I am treated lets look at the facts. Van Hunt has released two breath taking cd's did anyone hear them? No! I heard them by a stroke of luck and have been a fan ever since. Eryka Badu hasn't seen substantial radio play in a while. John Legend hardly, CorinneBaily Rae, nope and let's not even begin to discuss what happend to Jill Scott's last cd. I couldn't believe how radio treated that!!

Anyway my point being is that unless I start wearing oversized clothes. Have a bunch of half naked women in my videos and or start writing songs about "The Streets" my music has no chance to be heard via the major media outlets. Just like how MTV used to treat black artist for being black artist before Micheal Jackson came along.

For those of you who don't know MTV used to actively discriminate against black artist. They wouldn't even show Rick James "Super Freak"

So here we are all these years later and the discrimination still exists only this time its worse because its black on black. Seems like we can't stop finding ways to hurt each other.

What can we do to change this? I have no idea and honestly I am spent. I am an artist but I know I won't be heard and that hurts.