Do music genres matter any more?
"Anything but rap and country"
There was a time, when you asked someone what music they liked, the response to be what music they didn’t like. “Anything but rap and country” became the canned response that many people—especially older fans—would use. But in this strange era where culture is an amalgam of several things, influences merge and streaming has smushed everything together, do music genres even matter any more?
This week, singer Tommy Richman came under fire for saying that he wasn’t a “hip-hop artist”. The “Million Dollar Baby” singer was criticized for denouncing the genre and then quickly apologized.
Of course, this triggered social media into a bigger argument (because what else happens on social media?) about Richman’s white privilege and ability to move in non-white spaces. The latter is a real thing that we can save for another day and another newsletter.
Personally, I never saw Tommy Richman as a hip-hop artist. I have too much respect for hip-hop to throw that title around to any rando. If you’ve actually heard his new album Coyote, it’s not a hip-hop album. But because he was ushered into the industry by Brent Faiyaz, that cosign has perhaps labeled him despite the music he wants to make.
Whether you care about Tommy Richman or not, it is interesting the way the music industry is still so caught up in music genres. From terrestrial radio to award shows, there’s still nomenclature thrown around that’s largely a relic tracing back to days of racial segregation. R&B stemmed from so-called “race records”. Unfortunately, to this day, a Black artist is usually placed in the “Urban” department of a record label. A white artist is instantly in the “Pop” department.
It doesn’t matter if they happen to be Shaboozey who is a country artist or Jon B who is a true R&B artist.
For most of us, our playlists are a hodgepodge mix of songs, artists and genres. It’s about vibes, baby. Why can’t my emo sad girl playlist have Natalie Imbruglia, Toni Braxton and Mary J. Blige on it?
What do you think about music genres: Relevant or outdated? Sound off in the comments!
I think music genres are important in the same way ingredients in a meal and their names are important.
Once you're eating, the names of the ingredients don't matter, or at least they. Wxone secondary? To the flavor and texture and all the sensory goodness experienced by your mouth and heart and body.
Same idea to me with a playlist and albums. Genre is important at the record store online or physical. Genre is important for awards and such. Is Genre important at a dance floor? I mean maybe but when I hear a tune that feeling of needing to move with the music I dont care what anyone calls the song or how they classify it, the need to move to & with music is intrinsic as ocean tides or water shaping rocks. Salaams!