Black People in Rock

[The Dice Man]

Forgive my political incorrectness, but to those offended **** off.

Im probably doing nothing more than exposing my ignorence here, but it appears that there aint too many black people in rock these days. The one exception I can think of from the top of my head is Kele Okereke.


Considering Rock's roots are African-American,... where's the Black Rock Love these days?

 

[Portmanteau]

Cody Chesnutt

 

[Roddy]

Off the top of my head, most of the members of God Forbid are black.

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

Hootie and the blowfish

 

[SorryIHammerChicken]

I thought this thread would have been inspired by Kele. Bloc Party also have an Asian member (Asians aren't exactly widely renowned for their contribution to rock - but it would make an interesting thread!).

In the late 80s, early 90s there was a hard rock band called Living Colour who had a hit with "Cult of Personality".

 

[Mint Condition]

Well black people in rock music have kind of gone in this direction

Original rock n' roll/rhythm and blues
Soul
Funk
Hip Hop

Most respected rock historians consider hip hop a sub-genre of the broader rock umbrella, as it stemmed directly from funk, which came directly from soul, which was almost interchangable with the original rock n' roll. Actually, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five are among this years R&R Hall of Fame inductees.

It's kind of similar to how more accepted sub-genres of "rock," mainly white dominated guitar based music such as punk, metal and and grunge came about.

 

[swanfan]

Lenny Kravitz. His biggest influence was Kiss.

 

[linger_isgod]

Cornershop.

 

[rick James]

There are many great black musicians in rock - but the reason they don't form a majority is simply because they, as a people, were understandably pissed off at seeing wiggers like The Rolling Stones and Elvis ripping off all their music and making millions from it. It tends to have a negative motivational effect on a group of people to see the fruits of their labour and something cerated out of their struggle misappropriated by the very people who have been exploiting them for years.

Cody ChesnuTT is the man though.

 

[Binxy]

 

[linger_isgod]

No-one's blacker than Ian Curtis, TBH.

 

[The Dice Man]

Will check out Cody ChesnuTT rJ and Fishbone's a band Ive heard of, but never delved into, so will get/give some bone too.


Like I said this will probably expose my ignorence, but after spending the best part of teh day listening to Bloc Party and Kings of Leon (who sound Black IMO) I just wondered where Black Rock is today.

 

[w00dy]

dude from TV on the radio... don't know his name...

 

[rick James]

Will check out Cody ChesnuTT rJ and Fishbone's a band Ive heard of, but never delved into, so will get/give some bone too.


Like I said this will probably expose my ignorence, but after spending the best part of teh day listening to Bloc Party and Kings of Leon (who sound Black IMO) I just wondered where Black Rock is today.

Mos Def did an album as lead singer of a rock band he created called The Black Jack Johnson.

this was around the time Jack Johnson was becoming a huge star. Personally, I think Mos should stick to Hiphop, but I liked the fact he just wanted more hiphoppers to know where Rock came from.

 

[The Dice Man]

Mos Def did an album as lead singer of a rock band he created called The Black Jack Johnson.

this was around the time Jack Johnson was becoming a huge star. Personally, I think Mos should stick to Hiphop, but I liked the fact he just wanted more hiphoppers to know where Rock came from.

Jack Johnson??? Surely you cant mean the ex-surfer who busted his back then decided to write white pansy music???


Although a black version playing with acoustic roots copuld be something Id get into.

Oh Mos Def... I thought that was net slang for most definitley

 

[rick James]

Jack Johnson??? Surely you cant mean the ex-surfer who busted his back then decided to write white pansy music???


Although a black version playing with acoustic roots copuld be something Id get into.

Oh Mos Def... I thought that was net slang for most definitley

HAHA it is slang for that, but it's also his MC name.

And yeah, his music is nothing like Jack Johnson's, it was much heavier, much more soulful as well.

but yeah, Black rock music is at it's best in the more soulful, bluesy side of things.

 

[The Dice Man]

HAHA it is slang for that, but it's also his MC name.

And yeah, his music is nothing like Jack Johnson's, it was much heavier, much more soulful as well.

but yeah, Black rock music is at it's best in the more soulful, bluesy side of things.

So if I jump on Limewire now (too late, by the time you read this i already am) I'll find some good kick ass music under Mos Def?


After searching, I see lots of 'feat'.... so guide me rJ!

 

[rick James]

So if I jump on Limewire now (too late, by the time you read this i already am) I'll find some good kick ass music under Mos Def?


After searching, I see lots of 'feat'.... so guide me rJ!

Searching under Mos Def will find you probably my favourite rapper and one of the most clever lyricists ever. Example (he wrote this like 5 years ago):

New World Water make the tide rise high
Come in and it'll make your house go "Bye" (My house!)
Fools done upset the Old Man River
Made him carry slave ships and fed him dead fellow
Now his belly full and he about to flood somethin
So I'ma throw a rope that ain't tied to nothin
til your crew use the H2 in wise amounts since
it's the New World Water; and every drop counts
You can laugh and take it as a joke if you wanna
But it don't rain for four weeks some summers
And it's about to get real wild in the half
You be buying Evian just to take a ****in bath
Heads is acting wild, sippin poor, puffin dank
Competin with the next man, but how your playa rank?
See I ain't got time try to be Big Hank,
**** a bank; I need a twenty-year water tank
Cause while these knuckleheads is out here sweatin they goods
The sun is sitting in the treetops burnin the woods
And as the flames from the blaze get higher and higher
They say, "Don't drink the water! We need it for the fire!"
New York is drinkin it (New World Water)
Now all of California is drinkin it (New World Water)
Way up north and down south is drinkin it (New World Water)
Used to have minerals and zinc in it (New World Water)
Now they say it got lead and stink in it (New World Water)
Four carbons and monoxide
Push the water table lopside
Used to be free now it cost you a fee
Cause all things fully loaded they roam cross the sea
Man, you gotta cook with it, bathe and clean with it (That's right)
When it's hot, summertime you fiend for it (Let em know)
You gotta put it in the iron you steamin with (That's right)
It's what they dress wounds and treat diseases with (Shout it out0
The rich and poor, black and white got need for it (That's right)
And everybody in the world can agree with this (Let em know)
Assumption promotes health and easiness (That's right)
Go too long without it on this earth and you leavin it (Shout it out)
Americans wastin it on some leisure **** (Say word?)
And other nations be desperately seekin it (Let em know)
Bacteria washing up on they beaches (Say word?)
Don't drink the water, son they can't wash they feet with it (Let em know)
Young babies and professional neediness (Say word?)
Epidemics hopppin up off the petri dish (Let em know)
Control centers try to play it all secretive (Say word?)
To avoid public panic and freakiness (Let em know)
There are places where TB is common as TV
Cause foreign-based companies go and get greedy
The type of cats who pollute the whole shore line
Have it purified, sell it for a dollar twenty-five
Now the world is drinkin it
Your moms, wife, and baby girl is drinkin it
Up north and down south is drinkin it
You just have to go to your sink for it
The cash registers is goin to chink for it
Four carbons and monoxide
Got the fish lookin cockeyed
Used to be free now it cost you a fee
Cause it's all about gettin that cash (Money)

Said it's all about gettin that cash (Money) (x9)
Johny cash (Money)
Roseland cash (Money)
Give me cash (Money)
Cold cash (Money)
(Repeat to fade)

Cash rules everything around me,
Move!

If you're looking for some good black rock, search for Cody ChesnuTT (who is good mates with Mos, it must be pointed out.) try the song "The Seed"

 

[The Dice Man]

Ahh Cody is the lookin good in leather dude.... I dont mind teh sound that song has.

 

[The Dice Man]

Got some Ghetto Rock and some New Danger.. like the rythym, like the Jack Johnson line too...

New Danger's almost Jazzy, but very cool rJ (scrap that, Its Extremley Cool!)

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

I always loved their ska work.

Lyin arse bitch is a gem of a song.

 

[nicky]

They're making r&b, hip hop, regge and FUNK.

Name some current rock bands and i bet i don't like them anyway. Better the blacks (which is a political correct term ) concentrate on music i like.

 

[Portmanteau]

Cody songs that the Tizzle recommends (in particular order):

When I Find Time
6 Seconds
The Seed
On a Joyride
Smoke and Love
The World is Coming to My Party
Michelle
No One Will
The Seed

...well, just buy the album. He is much more than Look Good in Leather.

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

They're making r&b, hip hop, regge and FUNK.

Name some current rock bands and i bet i don't like them anyway. Better the blacks (which is a political correct term ) concentrate on music i like.

You need a good hard FUNK haha

 

[nicky]

You need a good hard FUNK haha

No but i really like funk.