Usually, when I'm riding by myself, I am just riding in silence thinking about what is the next thing I need to accomplish for the day or swearing at someone to get out of the way because they don't know how to drive, but every now and then I like to turn on some music and bob my head and just vibe out.
So when I turned on the radio, the first song I heard was "I'll Beat The Pussy up" by Loverance. The next song was "Make it Nasty" by Tyga and the third song before I decided to change the station was "Drank in My Cup" by Kirko Bangz.
Now I've heard these songs plenty of times and I'm not knocking these artists for what they say or do but for some reason today it made me think; what has happen to mainstream urban music that talks about love, relationships or actually romancing a woman instead of just "beating it up" and having sex?
I can't even front, when I was these young men's age and "sowing my wild oats," I wasn't thinking about love or romancing a woman either, so it may just be a maturity thing and in time as I have, they will mature. But let's be honest here, though most women like to be romanced, not all women want to be romanced all the time. At times they like to get "down and dirty" just like men and I get that, so to each its own.
But I was raised old school and sometimes I would like to hear more of these New Generation artists be more creative and rap or sing about love and real relationships. What happen to songs like "I Got So Much To Give" by Barry White, "Honey Love" by R.Kelly, and "Beauty" by Dru Hill? Today romance is missing from urban music and there are less and less love songs being played on mainstream radio and it's a problem. Love songs are good for the soul, the subconscious mind and in the right setting, can really turn a woman on.
I understand that times are different and the goals of artists/record labels are to sell records. But is the problem that major record labels do not think "Love Songs" will sell anymore or is it that young artists and the new generation really have no clue what true love or romancing is?
All I'm really saying is that there needs to be a better mixture of what Hip-Hop and R&B artists are putting out to be heard and what is being played on mainstream urban radio. There are still people in the world that want to be put in a mellow mood or make love during a quiet storm.
Image: Promise by Hulis Mavruk, courtesy of blackartdepot.com
I'm a fan of Gerald Maxwell, very soulful and romantic R&B. You bring up some great points, and insightful leads. Love songs do and will sell still and I agree the major labels need to promote them. Maybe this is something you could jump on, giving the passion is already there? :)
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of R&B, Neo-Soul artists and crooners out there. I think that many of the mainstream radio stations have gotten away from playing these songs on the radio. I also think it says something about the urban community where young men have really gotten away from respecting young women and it is being reflected in the music.
ReplyDeleteyou doing ya thing money i'm going to just bluntly state how i feel about music nowadays its wickedy wickedy wack from hip hop to R&B its terrible to me anyway. I find myself just going to youtube and typing in the classics and the standards. There's no soul or intergrity in the music. The older singers were slick with the wordplay. For example Teddy P he was talking about getting busy too but he was smooth with it. He would tell the ladies to "Close the Door" or "Turn off the lights" we know now being adults what it meant but it wasn't so blunt as today's music. Plus the way radio is set up nowadays you're not going to hear good music your going to hear popular music and its everywhere from coast to coast the same ol songs the same ol nonsense. #terrible
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