The year was 1989. Hip Hop was on the rise. Artists such as Queen Latifah, Public Enemy, Heavy D, and many more were shifting the music industry as we know it. More people were viewing Hip Hop as a respected genre. This was until the nomination from the Grammy organization that actor/ former rapper, Will Smith, referred to as a "slap in the face". Will Smith, also known as, The Fresh Prince and his musical partner, DJ Jazzy Jeff were honored to have the first hip hop song to be nominated for a Grammy with, "Parents Just Don't Understand". They were taken aback to learn that the win would not be televised. The duo decided to express their frustrations with the Academy by boycotting the award show. This boycott would demand the well deserved respect of existing and future rappers. Although there are still changes to be made relating to the racial bias of the music industry, the boycott was a notable effort that shifted the culture of award shows. This situation was just one of the many examples of disrespect for black musicians and their work. The Fresh Prince compared it to a graduation. He stated, "You go to school for 12 years, they give you your diploma and they deny you that walk down the aisle".
Profiting off of black music while disregarding the actual musicians goes all the way back to slavery. According to media outlet, The Conversation, "Systematic exploitation and appropriation of African American musicians reflects patterns of relationships established during and after slavery. Slave plantations were business enterprises that accounted for their most valuable assets — slaves — in ways that continue to shape business practice today". The relationship between slaveholders and slaves is parallel to the relationship between the music industry and the black musician. The industry places a value on an artist based on their level of production. Like slaveholders, record labels and other branches of the business thrive off of control. Therefore, the industry develops concepts that deceive and take advantage of as many artists as they can. Society has many historical ways of mistreating black artists such as implementing cabaret cards, taking advantage of their royalties, limiting them to a couple of genres, and several other methods.
CABARET CARD
Implemented in 1940, the cabaret card was a form of identification for black musicians- specifically jazz musicians to perform. These cards were often taken away at the slightest violation of the law. The most common reason for the confiscation of the card was due to possession of narcotics. It is no coincidence that black musicians got their card revoked at higher rate than white musicians. Award winning jazz musician, Nate Chinen writes, "After having his cabaret card revoked three times between 1948 and 1958, Thelonious Monk, facing "chronic unemployability and financial hardship".
Racial Bias in Award Shows
Black musicians have historically had a trying relationship with getting the credit that they deserve for their work. Student-led organization, The Coat of Arms, uses Tyler, the Creator as an example to discuss this issue. It states, "Tyler Gregory Okonma, also known as Tyler, the Creator, claims his album IGOR is not a rap album and was only nominated for a rap award at the 2020 Grammys because he is Black — hinting that the categories are less about music and more about segregation". Tyler is just one of the many victims of this blatant disregard for Black artists' work. While more complaints are being expressed about the way award shows are run, the Grammy organization and many others are working to increase diversity so that the percentage of Black musicians nominated rises and their exploration of genres is acknowledged.
SO WHAT'S THE SOLUTION?
The blatant disrespect of black musicians is still a pressing issue that seems to be difficult to resolve. Some artists have called and demanded diversity within preexisting music organizations. Others have raised the idea of creating new organizations and unions that cater to the needs of black artists, rather than pleading for a "seat at the table". In the past few years, more artists have been preaching independence in the industry and there importance of owning masters. It is evident that the music industry profits off of control over the black musician while completely ignoring the actual person. Rapper and entrepreneur, Master P has proposed a union for black artists that they can rely on if they happen to hit a financial wall. Forbes Magazine conducted a conversation with Nipsey Hussle in 2018 to discuss entrepreneurship and many other topics. In the interview, Hussle stated, "I look at Hip Hop, and I don’t see a vertically integrated brand other than Jay-Z owning Tidal, owning his masters, ...That’s the power, being direct-to-consumer...He doesn’t have to play the game, he can be an artist for real."
The decision to either demand the treatment that they deserve from the music industry or create their own spaces is ultimately up to black musicians. The benefits of developing independence should be seriously considered.
RESOURCES USED
Aziz, A., 2021. DJ Jazzy Jeff, The Fresh Prince and a Grammy boycott that set the tone for three more decades of rap — and culture. [online] The Undefeated. Available at: <https://theundefeated.com/features/dj-jazzy-jeff-the-fresh-prince-and-a-grammy-boycott-that-set-the-tone-for-three-more-decades-of-rap-and-culture/> [Accessed 3 December 2021].
The Conversation. 2021. Denying Black musicians their royalties has a history emerging out of slavery. [online] Available at: <https://theconversation.com/denying-black-musicians-their-royalties-has-a-history-emerging-out-of-slavery-144397> [Accessed 3 December 2021].
GRAMMY.com. 2021. The Law That Discriminated Against Black Jazz Acts. [online] Available at: <https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/how-police-used-cabaret-card-law-discriminate-against-black-jazz-artists-and-musicians> [Accessed 3 December 2021].
Herrin, T., 2021. The Grammys’ Casual Racism Has Gone on for Too Long. [online] The Coat of Arms. Available at: <https://menlocoa.org/20626/opinions/the-grammys-casual-racism-has-gone-on-for-too-long/> [Accessed 3 December 2021].
Mitchell, J., 2021. The Art Of Being Self-Made: A Conversation With Nipsey Hussle. [online] Forbes. Available at: <https://www.forbes.com/sites/julianmitchell/2018/03/01/the-art-of-being-self-made-a-conversation-with-nipsey-hussle/?sh=2a4c0c7aa07f> [Accessed 3 December 2021].