R&B Thread Genre • Page 29

drops this friday

 

YESSSS

 

This is incredible. You guys need to check this out.

 

That new MihTy album rules, can’t believe it’s gotten so little attention.

 

need to listen to it whenever I finish my backlog of podcasts

 

I haven’t had much time to listen to it until yesterday and ive already replayed it a couple times since then. The last song on the album is really something else, huh? It seems like a level of vulnerability we havent seen enough in either artist. I also love how complete the album feels in its length. I’ll skip Surrounded every time though— fuck Chris Brown.

 

JoJo Hits Studio with Bryan-Michael Cox and Jermaine Dupri

Oh my

 

the marsha ambrosius record is phenomenal btw

 

This is a fun thing. I also contributed with a song.

 

I'm genuinely not trying to start shit, but I wonder how some of you deal with this MihTy album having what is essentially an R. Kelly tribute? It's not the first time Ty has made his R. Kelly fandom clear either. You know my stance on art vs. artists but I'm curious what those of you that have a different stance feel in a situation like this.

 

Is that really an issue though? I mean I’m personally more frustrated that they put Chris Brown on the record. If Kelly was actually on the record, that’s a whole different story

 

That's what I'm asking basically (again, in a completely non-combative way).

 

Which song is an R. Kelly tribute?

The Masego album also has a song on it that tributes R. Kelly. Jeremih and Chance the Rapper put out a song WITH R. Kelly a couple years ago.

With things like that, I try to understand the bredth of influence Kelly has had on the genre, as well as his cultural positioning. You cant teach your favorite rappers to give up their favorite rappers no matter how disgusting they were as people— even though it definitely impacts my listening experience. There are PLENTY of artists who validate abusers, who give them a platform again on their own songs.

I personally avoid songs featuring abusers. I skip Surrounded every time. I can’t listen to that Chance/Jeremih song either. But if I encounter art that tributes or defends an abuser, I make a mental note to pay closer attention. Is Ty drawing from R. Kelly’s massive musical influence, or is he defending the man’s actions (or is he doing both by proxy)? If it warrants a “cancel” in the future, so be it, but a lyrical reference isn’t enough for me to disown the artist quite yet (maybe just the song).

 

Thanks for your perspective. The song is FYT, which pays heavy tribute to R. Kelly’s contributions to the Biggie x R. Kelly song Fucking You Tonight. The other song is R&B Bitch (or something like that) where he name drops R. Kelly (though that is less significant than the MihTy song obviously).

As far as your explanation goes, I understand it. Especially in R&B those lines are blurry because R. Kelly shaped the genre to such a huge extent. Ty might feel like he wouldn’t exist as an artist in his current form without Kels, and he probably wouldn’t be wrong I guess.

 

I didn't even realize there was a R Kelly tribute just because of how little I know of him.

 

I’m a little sad about you guys not at least immediately recognizing one of the biggest songs of Life After Death

No hate

 

yes!!!!!

 

Album - Rosalia - El Mal Querer

Also very relevant for R&B fans.

 

Beautiful

 

Just listened to Keyshia Cole's first album. Filled with bangers.

 

Caution is very, very, very good. Probably the best Mariah album since E=MC² and possibly in the top four.

 

Oh I have to go back to her discography then. I've only heard her first two.

 

Oh wow. I actually don't like her first few albums, not nearly R&B enough for me (and for her, it turned out). Her best one is The Emancipation of Mimi, in my opinion. You should listen to that one as soon as possible, I think it is one of the best R&B albums ever made and easily one of my five favorite albums of all time. There are also great remixes out there of the Mimi singles, with Bone Thugs, Dipset, The Lox and so on. After Mimi, my favorites of her are E=MC², Rainbow and quite possibly Caution, though everything post Daydream is good to great. Her Christmas albums are good too.

 

also please get back to me once you heard the emancipation of mim because I want to nerd out lol