Is it Too Soon to Cover Amy Winehouse's Music?

Usually when fans hear that Andre 3000 and Beyonce have done a track together, pandemonium ensues. Known for dropping hits, Beyonce and Andre 3000 may have completely missed when a snippet of their single for the soundtrack of the upcoming film "The Great Gatsby" was recently released. 

The single happens to be a remake of Amy Winehouse's soulful and hugely successful single, "Back to Black", released in 2007. 

Fans in droves have flocked to comment on the song, with opinions ranging from positive feedback to mostly outright disgust that the song was even redone. Though, Amy's fallacies and untimely death, mark what many view of her legacy, true fans of soul music remember and still very much emotionally connect with her artistry. 

"Back to Black" is considered by many music enthusiasts to be a classic soul album. You can practically feel Amy's suffering as she sings about substance abuse, lost love, and outright immense pain. Most of Amy's fans loved her for her unique voice and emotional songwriting, yet it was the connection you felt to her through song, that many remained loyal even after her steady decline. 

Beyonce

A major criticism of Beyonce is that she lacks that connection with her fans which Amy inexplicably owned. No one can deny, Mrs. Carter's talent, drive, or star power but somehow none of that genuinely translates on their remake of this record. The singing sounds sultry and seductive, the antithesis of the song's original intentions. 

Not to say that Beyonce and Dre completely bombed it but it is doubtful that any singer could have done as much justice to this song as Winehouse herself. With her death, barely a few years old many feel that it is too soon for anyone to remake her music, especially a song as highly regarded as "Back to Black".

Do you think that it is still to soon for artists to cover Amy Winehouse's music? Are you feeling Beyonce and Andre 3000 version?

Is Hip Hop Ageist?

Photo courtesy of Complex.com

Once upon a time the pioneers of hip hop used it as a platform to display the ills as well as the triumphs of the inner city minority youth. It was a creative and safe means to make the masses hear the voices of those who were practically silent through new forms of music and art.  Created as a movement of minority youth, hip hop has steadily transformed into a genre that is far from what was originally intended mainly due to it becoming recognizable for its profitable potential.  Currently what is classified as hip hop is a far cry from what the original forefathers intended with many of the artists pushing the same agenda, that it is all about the money and hoes.

The transformation of  hip hop can mostly be attributed to the mass consolidation of hip hop focused record companies and

generational differences with younger artists redefining the definition of what is "hip hop". Though not completely a bad thing, slowly older hip hop artists have been silenced with much of their content or views being labeled as outdated and irrelevant. With the exception of a few veteran emcees, most of the older generation of rappers have faded into distant memories that are recollected only when one or their records play. 

Rarely does radio promote, play, or endorse artists that are older. This can be due to Program Directors and station owners whose bottom lines are about revenue and play only what is considered "hot". While it's understandable that revenue is necessary for growth, hip hop music has been watered down in the process. Not too long ago radio was dictated by what the listeners requested but currently it seems that radio tries to dictate what we as consumers must like by playing the same twenty to thirty singles repeatedly, who are usually younger than thirty and whose music has much more crossover appeal. 

Thanks to avenues such as YouTube and iTunes all varieties of music is readily accessible and they are now seriously challenging what radio is doing (or not doing). Not only does this open opportunities for older artists to be heard, it also can give independent artists the chance to have their music listened to by a much broader audience than radio. It still remains that older or more conscious hip hop artists are not given the same opportunities that younger or shallow ones have. 

Do you think that hip hop currently practices ageism? 

Getting to Know: BJ The Chicago Kid

A Savior of Soul Music?

Whoever said that soul music died never listened to Pineapple Now Laters, the early 2012 full length release by Chicago native Bj The Chicago Kid. The critically acclaimed project helped to propel Bj as a star on the rise last year and reinstated the genres of R&B and soul when it seemed that they were slowly transforming into a Pop mashup. 

Despite any major marketing efforts, Pineapple Now Laters, found its way into the hearts of some of the music industry's seasoned veterans. The album includes the standout singles "Fly Girl Get'em", an ode to women and "His Pain" which features an unforgettable performance by Hip Hop's current golden boy, Kendrick Lamar. 

Fast forward to 2013 and BJ The Chicago Kid is now signed to Motown Recordings (how fitting) and gearing up for his first major release. To tease listeners, Bj recently released "Honey", a single that samples both Aaliyah's "Rock the Boat" and Erykah Badu's "Honey" to form a smooth joint that reminiscent of the early 2000's R&B. 

Do you think Bj The Chicago Kid can be soul music next great artist? 

Check out Bj's "Honey" below and be sure to like his Facebook page for updates.