Alicia Keys: Conspiracy Theorist?

[DaemonSeid]

AP



Alicia Keys

NEW YORK — There's another side to Alicia Keys: conspiracy theorist.

The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter tells Blender magazine: "'Gangsta rap' was a ploy to convince black people to kill each other. 'Gangsta rap' didn't exist."

Keys, 27, said she's read several Black Panther autobiographies and wears a gold AK-47 pendant around her neck "to symbolize strength, power and killing 'em dead," according to an interview in the magazine's May issue, on newsstands Tuesday.

Another of her theories: The bicoastal feud between slain rappers Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. was fueled "by the government and the media, to stop another great black leader from existing."

Keys' AK-47 jewelry came as a surprise to her mother, who is quoted as telling Blender: "She wears what? That doesn't sound like Alicia." Keys' publicist, Theola Borden, said Keys was on vacation and unavailable for comment.

Though she's known for her romantic tunes, she told Blender that she wants to write more political songs. If black leaders such as the late Black Panther Huey Newton "had the outlets our musicians have today, it'd be global. I have to figure out a way to do it myself," she said.

The multiplatinum songstress behind the hits "Fallin"' and "No One" most recently had success with her latest CD, "As I Am," which sold millions.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,350916,00.html


I would like to see some proof on that...I don't know if I can co sign off on that one Miss Keys....

[DSTCHAOS]

I somewhat agree with what she said about "gangsta rap."

While there were artists for decades who referenced their gangs and other "gangsta rap stuff" in songs for decades, the creation of a genre was very deliberate. And it isn't completely clear where the creation of a genre came from. Sure, Ice-T had the first real commercial success as a "gangsta rapper" but I'm not convinced that it was the rappers who led that movement (or even the people in the hoods). They wanted some of their stories told and for it to be accepted but the extent that that was allowed is still mostly up to those who allowed it.

On a related note, 2 Live Crew was banned in the USA for making music that is just run of the mill raunchiness now.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

I somewhat agree with what she said about "gangsta rap."

While there were artists for decades who referenced their gangs and other "gangsta rap stuff" in songs for decades, the creation of a genre was very deliberate. And it isn't completely clear where the creation of a genre came from. Sure, Ice-T had the first real commercial success as a "gangsta rapper" but I'm not convinced that it was the rappers who led that movement (or even the people in the hoods). They wanted some of their stories told and for it to be accepted but the extent that that was allowed is still mostly up to those who allowed it.

On a related note, 2 Live Crew was banned in the USA for making music that is just run of the mill raunchiness now.

yeah...and my thing is, even if the government didn't 'invent' it...they sure as hell aren't stopping it and how it has permeated urban culture...especially since black consumers aren't even the biggest consumers of the genre now.

also I am keeping in mind that we still havent heard her side yet as to whther or not she refutes telling this to blender of in those are her words...so i will wait til then

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

especially since black consumers aren't even the biggest consumers of the genre now.

For yeeeears.....

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

also I am keeping in mind that we still havent heard her side yet as to whther or not she refutes telling this to blender of in those are her words...so i will wait til then

Oh...I don't care about A.Keys and whether or not she said any of this. She isn't the first or the last to say these things so they can be discussed on their own merit.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

For yeeeears.....



Oh...I don't care about A.Keys and whether or not she said any of this. She isn't the first or the last to say these things so they can be discussed on their own merit.

dang...we should have put this.....wait...let me go do it now....

[madmax]

Alicia Keys is in the closet.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

yeah...and my thing is, even if the government didn't 'invent' it...they sure as hell aren't stopping it and how it has permeated urban culture...especially since black consumers aren't even the biggest consumers of the genre now.

You actually think the government could do that even if it wanted to?

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by Kevin

You actually think the government could do that even if it wanted to?

Hmmmmmm

The US banned 2 Live Crew altho by todya's standards thier lyrics would be tame

Khia, Snoo Dog and Necro has been banned from Austrailia

Canada is working on banning 50 Cent because he promotes gun violence..DMX is already on that list

The government can ban whoever they want at anytime...they have banned not just rappers but country artists, metal...whatever...if it's determined to be a negative influence to somebody...best believe they can ban it....


Oh...and before you do.....try plain talking beofre yougo running off at the Court TV mouth.


Be nice to see you try holding a regular human convo sometimes....

I don't do lawspeak

BTW....take a gander at this link: http://www.freemuse.org/sw6907.asp

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Hmmmmmm

The US banned 2 Live Crew altho by todya's standards thier lyrics would be tame

Khia, Snoo Dog and Necro has been banned from Austrailia

Canada is working on banning 50 Cent because he promotes gun violence..DMX is already on that list

The government can ban whoever they want at anytime...they have banned not just rappers but country artists, metal...whatever...if it's determined to be a negative influence to somebody...best believe they can ban it....



Oh...and before you do.....try plain talking beofre yougo running off at the Court TV mouth.


Be nice to see you try holding a regular human convo sometimes....

I don't do lawspeak

BTW....take a gander at this link: http://www.freemuse.org/sw6907.asp

The government shouldn't stop it. That's not its place.

As I'm learning in my Community Counseling class this semester (well, relearning) follow the money. It leads to why the genre developed and was marketed after the emergence of a few successful artists.

Looked at your link: videos banned on MTV is different than the government doing something. Churchs and radio stations boycotting the Dixie Chicks is different than the government doing something. Maybe the larger issue you should examine is why MTV is more likely to ban sex than violence and the overall societal perceptions. It's not something limited to gangsta' rap.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Hmmmmmm

The US banned 2 Live Crew altho by todya's standards thier lyrics would be tame

Khia, Snoo Dog and Necro has been banned from Austrailia

Canada is working on banning 50 Cent because he promotes gun violence..DMX is already on that list

The government can ban whoever they want at anytime...they have banned not just rappers but country artists, metal...whatever...if it's determined to be a negative influence to somebody...best believe they can ban it....

What country artists have been banned by the government?

Same with metal?

I'm not arguing (for the love of God I'm not so don't start in).

I remember the whole Tipper Gore, Twisted Sister thing...but I don't think they banned anything. Freedom of speech and expression came in to play.

That was the case that caused the warning labels to be put on cd's with questionable material, if I'm not mistaken.

[christiangirl]

She calls her ex-boyfriend "Voledemort." Alicia will always be cool, conspiracy theories or none.

I don't know about an AK-47 around my neck, but she's got something there. I'd need to here more from her specifically before I'm inclined to think about it more.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

I somewhat agree with what she said about "gangsta rap."

While there were artists for decades who referenced their gangs and other "gangsta rap stuff" in songs for decades, the creation of a genre was very deliberate. And it isn't completely clear where the creation of a genre came from. Sure, Ice-T had the first real commercial success as a "gangsta rapper" but I'm not convinced that it was the rappers who led that movement (or even the people in the hoods). They wanted some of their stories told and for it to be accepted but the extent that that was allowed is still mostly up to those who allowed it.

I mean, Ice-T was the self proclaimed OG, and had one of the biggest influencing records of the whole genre, Original Gangster. I think the creation of the "gangsta rap" movement certainly had A LOT to do with the rappers themselves. NWA? Gangsta, Gangsta? Fuck tha Police? Straight outta Compton? I mean, these guys had graphic lyrics, a graphic image, and some pretty heavy beats for the time.............and I dig the shit out of it, haha.

I don't know, it just doesn't seem as deliberate to me as some may think. I think these guys wanted to get this "image" out there.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by macallan25

I mean, Ice-T was the self proclaimed OG, and had one of the biggest influencing records of the whole genre, Original Gangster.

...yeah...even Wikipedia can tell you that.

Originally Posted by macallan25

I think the creation of the "gangsta rap" movement certainly had A LOT to do with the rappers themselves.

The creation of the gangsta rap genre (we're talking about a genre of music and not a "movement" in terms of rappers wanting to talk about certain things in their songs) isn't mostly up to the artists. The music industry and the media generally don't operate that way.

Originally Posted by macallan25

I don't know, it just doesn't seem as deliberate to me as some may think.

Almost everything you see and hear in the media is deliberate. That doesn't make everything a result of a "conspiracy" but it's all deliberate. "Deliberate to accomplish what" is the question.

It's like a "chicken or egg" type issue. Were record execs just responding to the artists' and fans' interests or were the artists' and fans' interests in response to the money put into the creation and marketing of a genre of music? I don't know but it's interesting.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

...yeah...even Wikipedia can tell you that.



The creation of the gangsta rap genre (we're talking about a genre of music and not a "movement" in terms of rappers wanting to talk about certain things in their songs) isn't mostly up to the artists. The music industry and the media generally don't operate that way.



Almost everything you see and hear in the media is deliberate. That doesn't make everything a result of a "conspiracy" but it's all deliberate. "Deliberate to accomplish what" is the question.

It's like a "chicken or egg" type issue. Were record execs just responding to the artists' and fans' interests or were the artists' and fans' interests in response to the money put into the creation and marketing of a genre of music? I don't know but it's interesting.

The record execs were responding to the money being put into thier pockets...

Think Dave Geffen, Mike Klein and Jerry Heller

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

...yeah...even Wikipedia can tell you that.

I've listened to all of this stuff for a while. I don't need wikipedia to tell me anything. Thanks though.


The creation of the gangsta rap genre (we're talking about a genre of music and not a "movement" in terms of rappers wanting to talk about certain things in their songs) isn't mostly up to the artists. The music industry and the media generally don't operate that way.

I guess. Could their "movement" not heavily influence the creation of the "genre"? You've got a bunch of rappers pushing the "gangster" lifestyle into the tape decks and cd players of quite a few people......it doesn't seem like it would take a rocket scientist to call the stuff "gangsta rap".

Almost everything you see and hear in the media is deliberate. That doesn't make everything a result of a "conspiracy" but it's all deliberate. "Deliberate to accomplish what" is the question.

It's like a "chicken or egg" type issue. Were record execs just responding to the artists' and fans' interests or were the artists' and fans' interests in response to the money put into the creation and marketing of a genre of music? I don't know but it's interesting.

It is interesting, indeed.

.