Monday, May 16th 2011
News: Stupid Music Beef
Tyler The Creator, Eminem & 2 Live Crew Walk Into A Gay Bar…
We’ve avoided weighing in on the full-throated sloppy blowjob the rest of the music media have given spaz-hop shock rap crew Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All until now, but Sara Quin of Tegan & Sara has taken a stand regarding the latest flavor of cool that bears repeating.
Tyler The Creator, the obtuse, vitriolic mouthpiece for Odd Future, has had quite the meteoric rise of late, reaching a fever pitch with the release of his second album Goblin, a grotesque carnival of hyperbole and hot-button lyricism. The obnoxious music-blog darling and focal point of the season also inspired Quin to write an open letter entitled A Call For Change, in which she wonders aloud why the music media isn’t as disgusted by Tyler’s lyrical content as she is.
“When will misogynistic and homophobic ranting and raving result in meaningful repercussions in the entertainment industry?” She writes, questioning the difference between Tyler’s controversial lyrics and anti-Semitic or racist slurs. “When will they be treated with the same seriousness as racist and anti-Semitic offenses? While an artist who can barely get a sentence fragment out without using homophobic slurs is celebrated on the cover of every magazine, blog and newspaper, I’m disheartened that any self-respecting human being could stand in support with a message so vile.”
She calls out the complicit media for their fawning over their latest favorite flavor, despite his frequent nuggets of misogyny and use of the word “faggot”. “If any of the bands whose records are held in similar esteem as Goblin had lyrics littered with rape fantasies and slurs, would they be labeled hate mongers? I realize I could ask that question of DOZENS of other artists, but is Tyler exempt because people are afraid of the backlash?”
Yes, he is. All statements on the sociological climate where Jersey Shore and the Kardashian whores are the greatest entertainment focal points aside, there’s been no active dialogue whatsoever regarding the impact of the man’s incendiary words. An interesting contrast to the days of old, where Eminem had to do all but blow Elton John onstage to calm the furor over his use of the word “faggot”.
Controversial lyrics in pop culture are as old as the culture itself, but the issue has certainly intensified over the years. And while few lyrics on Goblin come anywhere near the impact of a track like Body Count’s KKK Bitch or much of anything 2 Live Crew have released, the difference is that Tyler and Odd Future are currently being championed as the greatest musical movement of the moment. Among the high fructose troglodyte herds we call the modern American public, there’s a notable lack of furor in comparison to past lyrical controversies. Perhaps our gadget distractions have led to complacency, perhaps we’ve seen the dangerous impact of the conservative backlash (here’s lookin’ at you, Tipper Gore) and are reticent in fear of being lumped in with a music-regulation movement a la the early 90s. Whatever the cause, the climate has shifted.
“Who sticks up for women and gay people now?” Sara asks, and it’s here that the hand-wringing becomes a bit heavy. “Girl Power” may have died a rightfully fiery death years ago, but with Glee kicking the shit out of the TV ratings and Lady GaGa cornering the gay market alongside Robyn, Britney “Mentally incapable of testifying” Spears and Kylie Minogue, there are a great many individuals and organizations sticking up for gay people. Let’s not shit ourselves with hyperbole on the way to making a point about hyperbole.
While she admits the naivete associated in assuming artists and genres aren’t allowed to have controversial characters, she asserts, “It is not without great hesitation and hand wringing that I enter into the discourse about Tyler, the media who glorifies and excuses misogyny and homophobia, and the community of artists that doesn’t seem remotely bothered by it.”
You can read the whole letter at Tegan and Sara’s official site, under the title A Call For Change.
Meanwhile, Tyler’s reaction isn’t likely to help matters much:
Tyler the Creator has the right to say words that are offensive, even if he chooses to realize that his “persona” may have a very troubling, real-life outcome for some of his listeners who feel a validation stamp from a celebrity gives them equal right to speak — and act — hatefully. Sara has equal right to speak her mind in whatever way she feels is necessary to convey her strong feelings.
And both of them will see increased sales for it.
So here’s the true evidence of climate change.
I see valid points in that critics and other artists will take the “It’s artistic/artistic freedom, blah blah” road because it’s easier (read: safer) than speaking out or shutting him down or trying to shut him up. Yes, I also think there’s a faint race card that aligns itself with not wanting to be the Tipper Gore of 2011. Just because I’m black doesn’t mean that I don’t realize that there are times when blacks will pull that card when they get criticized. Folks had no qualms with trying to end Eminem’s career so color me confused. Hell, anytime a Republican criticizes Obama half of the black community says it’s because they don’t like a black man as POTUS; certainly not because they actually, genuinely disagree with him.
This story has turned me off in so many ways.
This sure as hell only confuses me more to the Fat Mike initiated debate as to if Tegan or Sara is the cooler one.
Sara just gave the guy lots of free publicity, stop giving him attention and he’ll go away…
Am I the only one who feels like cuing up Electric 6 right now?
I read the whole article and I have no idea who he is, haven’t listened to his music. Guess I’m square…or really cool, you decide. This makes me think I should have a listen so thanks antiquiet. I’ll curse you later bc save the shock value for the gagas of the world ugh but Teegan and Sara being so upset has me curious now.
T&S have every right to take a “stand”. That being said, I am NOT down with censorship AT ALL especially in music. If it sucks or offends you its as simple as don’t listen, don’t buy. No one is forcing you to listen.
….Back from the dead….Had a listen to Yonkers by OMIUJHGFUGSAh (tyler). I don’t think him being black has anything to do with his reception and in turn creitics ignoring his use of such offensives as “faggot” but its because your right it has been done before years ago by eminem. I was really expecting to hear him talk about raping babies, defiling a steeple, effing judas, waving nazi flags, something that would actually shock me! Guess I’m jaded. Eminem got shit for it but if I recall his album was still critically acclaimed and he got grammys for it too. Seriously if a black rapper said the things Em said at that TIME he would have gotten a lot worse and have to bend over and actually take it. And Elton definetly would NOT have sung with him?!?!? no way, career over. IMO.
In a even more effed up way maybe Elton made it “ok” and not as shocking by performing with Em?…weird. Times have changed and idiots still rule. I think ^Marianne^ might be on to something. Through record sales people will agree and disagree and respond/ choose sides so in a more fucked up way maybe they are helping eachother. Bizarre…the world is a mess. Sincerity is dead.
Everyone’s screaming BUY MY RECORD in one way or the other. rant ova
haha troglodyte.
This guy gets way more attention than he’s worth. Really, it’s just shock rap for indie douchebags and people who find guys like Cage, Ill Bill and Vinnie Paz just a little too complex for their taste. His shtick was old when Necro started doing it a decade and a half ago, and before long, Pitchfork will get bored with him, and he’ll be playing to a niche crowd that dwindles with every increasingly shitty record. Maybe I’m just indifferent to this kind of thing (i.e. trolling played for hatemongering), but I’m more appalled by the fact that he’s gotten this much acclaim/derision without either the talent or the personality to show for it.
He’s just another product of a shitty and stale genre. His music sounds like every other artist in his genre; he doesn’t bring anything new to the table. He doesn’t have a unique sound and he will be forgotten in a very short period of time.
The idea of making music is simple, you look what is being done, at what you like, and then don’t play that. Look at aspects of the things you like and try to integrate that into a new sound. It’s the execution of it that is difficult, and that’s why not everyone should make music.
Unfortunately, as aforementioned, rap and the “artists” in that genre fail to acknowledge the previous statement and make derivative shit that sounds like the stuff that they listen to.
Fuck you Tyler the Creator, you cocky sack of dicks.
“Fuck you Tyler the Creator, you cocky sack of dicks.”
AMEN!!
Tegan & Sara toured with Paramore.
now they want to talk about socially responsible entertainment?
They hook their wagon to that culture pollution and want to preach about what we should and shouldn’t excuse?
paramore may be culturally irresponsible, but i wouldn’t consider them socially irresponsible.
hm. interesting distinction.
anyone here remembers the distinctive words in tools controversial “hush”? allow me to refresh your mind: “I can say what i want to, even if im not serious” . im not a huge odd future fan, but i like that tyler the creator pushes boundaries because im into that kind of stuff, but im not a racist or wife beater, but i guess i am kinda twisted