Comments on: Essence.com: Chris Brown and R. Kelly: The Social Dilemma Of Tolerating Violence Against Women For Musical Appreciation

By: Harriet

Harriet — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:49:48 +0000

I think I’m probably one of the few people who base 99% of her musical choices off lyrical content and lifestyle. Yes, I agree people need to make a living, but I’m not going to be one to support certain mindsets.

Although I appreciate CB’s work ethic and performing prowess, I never purchased any of his body of work. The sound is a little too boppy and young for me. R. Kelly came out when I was in high school, so I purchased his “Honey Love” and “12 Play” albums. But when I got to college, and he started hollering all that foolishness about “You Remind me of my Jeep,” I promptly took my money elsewhere. I never bought another album of his. NEVER. Strange how everything came full circle, and he stood accused of pedophilia. I’ll give him respect and props for his musical talent, but I’m not spending my money on it.

It’s not like my little $8-15 dollars is going to make a difference on his bottom line, but I don’t want my money to be tied to his lifestyle or his music. Like it or not, we spend money on what we care about, and I’m not down for giving one red dime to either of these “gentlemen.”

By: Christina

Christina — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:57:05 +0000

@Tara, I would not want my daughter/niece/little girl I go to church with dating him, but I guess my conflict actually comes in whether or not people deserve second chances and should be allowed to make a living. I never bought CB’s music and I’m one of few in my generation that does not herald R. Kelly as a musical genius. And I do question whether or not the justice system treated them the same as they would have treated John Smith from Harlem. But the fact remains that once the courts have handled the situation, don’t these men and all other artist who sin (and we all do) deserve a chance to make a living WHILE they heal, get help, ignore the situation, etc. So, going back to my hypothetical daughter, if she were abused by some dude, I’d want him to stay the h-ll away from her, but I would like to think that I wouldn’t be so unforgiving that I would wish that he couldn’t do what was necessary to survive and have a life (AWAY from my girl).

By: Donielle Michele

Donielle Michele — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:28:35 +0000

Very thought provoking article……hmmmmm. Well we could write a never ending book about what’s wrong with society, celebrities and heck, people in general. I would say first, take time and research the criminal past of every artist you listen to. I’m not talking about just the R & B or Rap artists either. Stretch your research to include Gospel artists too. I bet your list of possible remaining artists to listen to will be quite thin. We’ll start there and see what we all come up with. I, myself recently stopped listening to Jay Z based on certain things I learned about him.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:47:52 +0000

Who would want to purchase an album created by a little boy who hits women? Shame is all i can say, his music has never been very good anyway.
People should try looking up good male artists like Tinchy stryder, Guvna B and Victizzle.

By: Anna

Anna — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:37:47 +0000

I am not a CB or Rih fan so they did not lose or gain one. We Americans do think that saying “I am sorry” is all she wrote. It’s not that cut and dry. I agree that anger management is not the quick fix to the prolem, he does need to lie down on someones couch to get to the root of his anger, not share his anger with others in a room filled with ppl with the same problem. There was something that triggerd what he did and as much as words do hurt, most don’t haul off and beat someone that we claim to love. I wish them the best in their careers but for Christmas I wish they would quit talking about it because I feel neither is telling the whole story. I like R Kelly but when the allegations surfaced I did stop listening to his music and my local radio stations stopped playing his music. After he was aquitted local radio stations resumed as if nothing happend. He couldn’t get a guilty verdict if the young woman in the video said it wasn’t her and would not testify. I think men degrade women because we let them. Not just “we” women but all those buying his music. All the young women lining up to be the next “video girl”. R Kelly is a perve and he did not go to jail this time but just wait., someone will set him up. Look at Tiger, I don’t believe all his so called mistresses but that doesn’t mean that what he did ,did not happen. Women allow men to degrade us for the “Almighty Dollar” and a sense of “status/belonging”. How many music videos do we see that only have light skin women? I still listen to James “I Feel Good” Brown’s music and never thought about it until this post. We have men who love black women gyrating in their videos for “sales”. I really don’t think that men are trying to degrade us, too many are willing to degrade themselves., so why not make that dollar and give alittle to the girl willling to do the video. The only man most women should blame is their father for not being there to give them the self esteem they needed to make better choices. A man is a man is a man. No man wants to see/know his little girl is working a pole , a John or being abused. I know many celebs love Essence and the exposure that they give them (to we readers and fans) I wish that those making videos would remember that they have female kin. Would you want them to go through DV or be known as a video chick?

By: Tara

Tara — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:46:31 +0000

This is so deep I need a minute to gather my thoughts!

I will say this though, about the Rihanna and Chris Brown situation. I know there are a lot of people who say, “Look, he said he was sorry, let’s move on.” I don’t think it’s that cut and dry. To those same people I ask, “Would you want your daughter/sister/best friend to date him right now?” The answer is probably no, despite what they were insisting a few moments ago.

I think a lot of motivation and creativity comes out of traumatic situations. Take D.L. Hughley. Despite whether or not you think he’s funny, he’s a well-known, successful comedian. Most comedians have the most pain-riddled backgrounds you can imagine. D.L. Hughley said he used to be told EVERY SINGLE DAY that he was dumb and would never amount to anything. Tyler Perry endured mental and physical abuse on the regular and now he has his own film studio. Look at Oprah. Maya Angelou.

Okay, I have to go now but I’ll be back…
.-= Tara´s last blog ..YML Gives Back: Meet Rebecca =-.