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How Tramp Stamps Became the Most Hated Band on TikTok

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by Melody Bot, Apr 20, 2021.

  1. Melody Bot Apr 20, 2021
    Melody Bot

    Your friendly little forum bot. Staff Member

    This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply.

    Rebecca Jennings, writing at Vox:

    Then, a predictable cycle happened: Multiple TikTokers made videos accusing the group of being industry plants, citing the fact that their PR-ready website and Instagram page appeared far too polished for a seemingly independent trio of musicians who happened to meet each other at a bar. User @hard_cope dug into the members and found that lead singer Marisa Maino was, until mid-2020, performing as a solo pop artist under a more standard-issue glam persona and that drummer Paige Blue has written and produced commercial music for years. “It’s almost like it’s a bunch of people who were like, theatre majors and shit who had rich parents and now they’re co-opting riot grrrl aesthetics that people literally dedicate their lives to for money,” he said in his video.

    That’s when the accusations that the band was legitimately problematic started to come in. Once more TikTokers (as well as users on Reddit and Twitter) started digging, they found that both guitarist Caroline Baker and Maino have deals with Prescription Songs, which is owned by Dr. Luke, who was accused by Kesha of sexual assault. Others found several tweets of Maino’s in which she uses the n-word and implied that she supported Trump. Many more criticized the song “I’d Rather Die,” which they argued advocates for sexual coercion in lyrics that complain about men who can’t “get it up” because of alcohol.

    Yikes.

    By far the biggest critique of the band, however, has been centered around its alleged inauthenticity, which I’d argue is a much graver transgression for young fans than a past tweet or associations with problematic figures — Doja Cat, Kim Petras, Dua Lipa, and Saweetie have all worked with Dr. Luke, for instance, while celebrities like Justin Bieber and Post Malone have been filmed saying the n-word in the past with little detriment to their careers. There are now hundreds if not thousands of videos on TikTok explaining the Tramp Stamps drama, where commenters compete to post the most ruthless own: They’ve been described as “buzzfeedcore,” “the band version of Riverdale,” and “major ‘alt & goth amazon finds that you NEED to purchase’ vibes.”

    In response, the band posted a statement to their Instagram that begins “Hi fuckers” and goes on to scorch cancel culture and claim that actually, the band is technically independent, because they started their own label called “Make Tampons Free” under a company called AWAL, or “Artists Without a Label.” (They did not mention that AWAL is owned by Kobalt Music Group, one of the world’s largest music publishing companies.)

    Double yikes.

    more

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  2. Phil507 Apr 20, 2021
    Phil507

    Resident NYC snob Supporter

    Are people still trying to gain points by not signing with majors for "full creative control" in 2021? That's really still a thing?
     
    sowrongitsryan likes this.
  3. thisisacting__ Apr 20, 2021
    thisisacting__

    Regular Supporter

    I’m not on TikTok often so I hadn’t heard about any of this. Wow—the cringe is undeniable. They’re so obviously inauthentic from their look to their songs. Big yikes. Hilarious to watch them try to “fight back” with their nonsense statement. Almost proves the point further that they’re completely manufactured.
     
    falafelmywaffle likes this.
  4. sowrongitsryan Apr 20, 2021
    sowrongitsryan

    Regular

    I’m exhausted by this. Who cares if independent or not.
     
    Ruston, latortuga and Raku like this.
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  6. tyramail Apr 20, 2021
    tyramail

    Trusted Supporter

    I feel like the criticism is absolutely just for their affiliation with Dr Luke and their lyrics. It seems like they’re focusing on people calling them an industry plant rather than the aforementioned which should actually matter and be addressed.
     
  7. somethingwitty Apr 20, 2021
    somethingwitty

    Trusted

    Having Kim Petras tied to Dr Luke really makes me feel conflicted about her, the music is so damn good.
     
  8. transrebel59 Apr 20, 2021
    transrebel59

    Regular



    This band is basically this video
     
    falafelmywaffle, Frinet42 and Brent like this.
  9. itsallabouttheg Apr 20, 2021
    itsallabouttheg

    Newbie

    Can’t people just clock that they don’t like their music/vibe and keep scrolling? If they’re not the real deal, the kids will get bored with them and they’ll peter out.
     
    latortuga, Raku and sowrongitsryan like this.
  10. tyramail Apr 20, 2021
    tyramail

    Trusted Supporter

    It’s not necessarily just something people dislike. Some of their lyrics are super problematic.
     
    falafelmywaffle likes this.
  11. Brent Apr 20, 2021
    Brent

    Trusted Prestigious

    The comments on YT legit have me laughing so damn hard my kid came out and asked if I was okay.
     
  12. footiepajamaz Apr 20, 2021
    footiepajamaz

    Regular

    Specifically trying to pull this over on the (pop) punk scene seems so dumb, since the (pop) punk scene is so fixated on authenticity.
     
  13. somethingwitty Apr 21, 2021
    somethingwitty

    Trusted

    I just watched a video...is this cosplay?
     
  14. Remove
  15. Bartek T. Apr 21, 2021
    Bartek T.

    D'oh! Prestigious

    I wasn't about to get on that topic at all, but ehh I've just watched some of their videos - this is atrocious and seriously problematic. Why would they think a lyric video is a good idea, idk
     
  16. latortuga Apr 21, 2021
    latortuga

    Regular

    3 women making music I don't like, better post a takedown.

    Authenticity is fiction. We were all young and said stupid things at one point or another. It doesn't matter that it's $YEAR, there are still people growing up and learning.

    More power to these women, go out there and do your thing!
     
    Daniel182 likes this.
  17. huntercrunch Apr 22, 2021
    (Last edited: Apr 22, 2021)
    huntercrunch

    Regular

    I'm definitely losing all my music taste credibility for saying this, but after listening to all 3 of their songs they have out now, I actually think this group has some genuine talent.

    Hearing their acoustic version of one of their songs proves they can actually all sing pretty well and have really solid harmonies, they were just slathered in auto-tune in their recorded tracks. They also have a decent knack for catchy melodies. I was not at all surprised to later learn that they've had years of songwriting and producing under their belts.

    This all goes flying out the window, however, because of the flaming dumpster-fire lyrics and awful vocal production.

    I think if they cut back on the auto-tune, threw out the transparently fake edgy punk girl aesthetic, and traded the trashy for shock value lyrics for something more genuine, they could grow into a legitimately good band.

    Now if you don't mind me, I'll never show myself on this website again out of shame after making that confession...
     
    itsallabouttheg likes this.
  18. tshreve Apr 22, 2021
    tshreve

    Metalicca

    It's not the authenticity that's the problem, it's the Dr. Luke connection and gross lyrics that downplay sexual assault toward men
     
    swboyd, Crisp X and Zilla like this.