Alternative Music. Compared to What?
By Rob Fields
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Urban/Alternative Category Grammy Nominations
The Grammy nominations for the 2009 urban/alternative category were announced recently and, while I’m happy that both Janelle Monae (who should win) and Kenna were nominated, overall the category is a disappointment. I see a missed opportunity to highlight Black artists who are truly pushing boundaries.
How should we read “urban/alternative”? For example, does it mean “or,” as in “urban or alternative”? Or do we read it as a qualifier for urban, as in “urban alternative” or “alternative urban”? My preference is for this latter reading, which is probably what is getting me into trouble. Wikipedia defines [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Urban/Alternative_Performance] the urban/alternative Grammy category as follows: “Works nominated are considered to be of an alternative urban genre. Alternative hip hop, electro, funk, jazz, soul and reggae are examples of alternative urban genres.” Interesting that there’s no reference to rock.
The category itself is relatively young, making its debut in 2003 when India.Arie won it. Following her over the years were OutKast, Jill Scott, Damian Marley, Gnarls Barkley and, as of last year, Lupe Fiasco featuring Jill Scott. And, to be honest, I was pleased to see that artists who in some ways made a break with the tried and true were being nominated: Cee-Lo (predicting his Gnarls Barkley success), Alice Smith (an undeniable talent), Mos Def (for his rock work), and Me’Shell Ndegeocello (a Black Rock Coalition mainstay), to name few. The category was also full of complete misses, such as nods for middling remakes by Dwele and Sergio Mendes/the Black Eye Peas.
So what does it mean to be “alternative”? I believe it means that you’ve got to be a clearly different choice from the other available options. In fact, the definition that I prefer to use is as follows [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/alternative]: “employing or following nontraditional or unconventional ideas, methods, etc.; existing outside the establishment”.
Kenna and Janelle Monae fit this description. Kenna is an Ethiopian-born American singer whose album “Make Sure They See My Face” draws on the musical palette of the 80s and early 90s to create his manic, emotive sound. I hear a lot of The Cure and shades of Phil Collins in his album. Janelle Monae’s album “Metropolis: The Chase Suite” is that rare concept album. It’s set in a dystopian future where humans and robots are forbidden to fall in love. Of course, the main protagonist, robot Cindy Mayweather, does and thus begins the cinematic journey of this album. I say cinematic because it’s clear that the film inspirations here were Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” and/or Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner”. Both Kenna and Janelle are coming at their music from nontraditional angles.
The other three nominated artists beg the question: Alternative compared to what? It’s not about their talent, which is not in question. I feel as though Maiysha is in this category because she’s pulled from a slightly larger sonic palette. And certainly her efforts were not wasted, since she’s created a very good R&B/soul album that’s powered by her impressive vocal and writing talents. Wayna’s got this whole jazz approach, which is great to hear but, again, does not make her R&B groundbreaking. Chrisette Michele is a self-described R&B singer, one with strong jazz, gospel and blues influences, but an R&B singer nonetheless.
So, when I look at the “urban/alternative” category, I’m first looking for artists who are defying convention by doing more than just being a little different. And it would’ve been easy to fill this category with Black artists who really challenged conventions in 2008. Santogold. Saul Williams. Most importantly, where is TV On The Radio, whose album “Dear Science” was just named Album of the Year by both Rolling Stone and SPIN magazines?
Ultimately, it’s problematic to put traditional artists into this category, no matter how good they are.
First, “urban/alternative” becomes a throwaway category for R&B or hip hop artists who got boxed out of the main categories. Can’t compete with Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson or Alicia Keys? Didn’t make the best new artist cut? Here, sit at the junior table so you can still get something.
Second-and this is probably most important-it does nothing to expand the public’s view of the possibilities of Black expression. Of course, it’d be naïve to think this is the role of the Grammys, which is all about reinforcing convention. [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2008/12/grammys-the-ann.html] But, at a time when we need to feed our imaginations with new ideas, new examples of people striking out on different paths, we can’t reward people with what’s supposed to be music’s highest honor for just covering the basics, i.e., good singing and using live instrumentation (which has seemingly become the shorthand in Black music for “I’m a real artist”).
Believe me, I understand what a Grammy-nomination means for an artist’s career: Sales bumps, continued or renewed support by a label, consideration for opportunities they might not otherwise have, and general reaffirmation that they’re on the right path. I congratulate all of the nominees for the work and commitment that brought them to this point in their careers.
But let’s not act like we don’t know what “alternative” really is? Alternative artists boldly challenge our assumptions about the limits of Black music by combining craft, radical departures from traditional sounds, and a fearless commitment to share their personal visions. By supporting more artists like this, we’re not just banging on the walls of the narrow box that surrounds Black music, we’re knocking that sonovabitch down.
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Your absolutely right..its amazing the power we give to the Grammy Awards anyways. They seem to never get it right!!
> Portia
They haven’t gotten the shit right in years!!! As for me, I’m tired of seeing the same old mediocre talents, the ridulous categories that box in artists, and the popularity/record sales/visual dynamic that triply threatens the legitimacy of the Grammys, an annual event on its way to being played out. I give them no power, only a look thats sour.
> Michael Dunham
Well said, RF. Since when has the Grammy’s done nothing but give awards to those artists of any genre that are well promoted and groomed by large record and entertainment companies? And who votes on who wins? Given the pool of performers picked are always popular sellers, they really should state the obvious, the awards are usually given to those who sell the most, get the most media publicity, sold to most of the public who don’t look for artists beyond those thrown in their face by the well funded publicity machine.
Nowhere in there is included “artists who are voted on for their talent above all other, including out of the ordinary, who maybe don’t have a talent agent or manager with media connections”. So what’s the alternative.
Alternative means interesting and unusual given what’s heard and thrown in our faces on tv, video, online, publications. I gotta go dig to find that which is different to my eyes and ears and so do you. Does The Grammy Machine go digging for that? Have they ever? No. I have not watched the entire Grammy Awards show since I was a teenager. Even then it had the reputation of promoting and awarding the “status quo”. Peace.
> Rosenda
i haven’t watched the grammy’s since michael jackson showed up with brooke shields, webster and bubbles.
> isaac
AWARDS do not really mean that much. Jazz music is the foundation to much of this “alternative” stuff… ya dig? We need to look within to see the diamond… which is JAZZ baby!
> the jazz cat
It’s alternative to the majority of crappy music being peddled in the urban mainstream. I wish “gangsta rap” would disappear off the charts and I can’t wait until Lil Wayne fades into obscurity. The fact that he has all those Grammy nominations appalls me. I mostly listen to indie rock but it would nice to see Janae Monae win this category.
> SolShine7
Thanks, all, for your thoughtful comments. One of the things that I believe is needed is greater precision in language in our community when it comes to what we produce culturally. But, it also about us not being afraid to set the standards high and making all of us truly step up our game.
Happy holidays!
> Rob Fields
i’m not a fan of jonelle monae (i may be the only person on earth who thinks her music is boring) but i like your writing. i think a lot of today’s music is boring though… my favourite things this year were the what’s the science and q-tip albums. and kissy asplund is really good. and tv on the radio is always good.
i don’t know if a lot of the artists you mentioned are being that different though, since we’ve had everyone from labelle to mother’s finest to black merda to living colour (all groups i like). i mean, you’ve also got slash (who followed up on his rock work with the MJ), and sandra st. victor, to prince and curtis mayfield to bo diddley to vaginal creme davis…
you could also call lionel richie ‘alternative’ in this case too, since he created music that was traditionally known as being run by whites- country; even though leadbelly and blind lemon jefferson and sun house were just as country.
peace…
> jamilah
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> keisha
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> Egor
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> discounts
Hi!
I googled Alternative +black artists and turned up your post.
I googled it because a (so so) friend is always questioning whether or not I am racist.
I am not, but she is so damn sure I am, she can’t laugh and enjoy white me nor does
she want me to enjoy my black friends.
So, I began thinking. My prejudiced grandparents are dead
and soon my parents which removes two levels of racism form our society. So why does it still
exist? I think my friend is the racist, not me and I finally told her so. In fact, I told her she had her head up her ass
about me and my openess about color.
But, dangit, music is a new way
we are dividing ourselves into “color”. Is not Rap basically black, alternative, basically white.
Country is basically white and blues, basically black, though more progress in this last genre than in the others.
I close by saying: I don’t want it to happen.
We can’t let this happen. Somehow, we have to move into all genres our friends enjoy
and find something in each we LOVE, even if it’s not our favorite. The more genres the
better. I love new music, old music…music!! So this white woman from Alabama is gonna buy some
rap. I may die for awhile, but if I listen to it with my black friends, I can enjoy them until I find some songs
I like…lolol. Shassy
> Shassy
Could you please translate your site into German because I’m not so comfortable reading it in English? I’m getting tired of using Google Translate all the time, there is a little WP plugin called like global translator which will render all your articles by default- that will make reading posts on your sweet blog even more cosy. Cheers mate, Clyde Bowthorpe!
> Clyde Bowthorpe
I desired to let you actually realize that the internet site renders really sluggish.
> make solar panel
oh yeah! black music is the best.`.-
> Lydia Owen
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