3 ms·

Is it just my imagination, or are black people overrepresented in the top 5?

• JonnieCache 10y ago
  They are overrepresented in popular music generally. Pretty much all pop music is derived from forms developed by african-americans: blues, jazz, disco, techno etc.
  • oneloop 10y ago
    Yeah, I guess that seeing it in terms of Top 5 just made the issue a lot more black and white.
  • duncanawoods 10y ago
    If you go back a step further, then you can say that those forms are derived from White-European sources e.g. Christian gospel, folk music, krautrock, experimental synth etc. so the question remains why/how it happened. IMHO good art comes from adversity and novelty (mixing cultures). These were active forces in the 19th century and sadly still active today.
    • jacobush 10y ago
      What is still sadly active? Gospel is white and European now? I don't understand.
      • duncanawoods 10y ago
        >> What is still sadly active? Adversity faced by the black community. Oppression, poverty and violence etc. We probably wouldn't have hip-hop if everyone had a trust-fund. Art needs something to say. >> Gospel is white and European now? Sure i.e. European Hymns as the principle influence of Southern Gospel music. I believe the original music called "Gospel" was in European Christian communities. I'm no expert and can be corrected. I'm seeking to demonstrate that questions about cultural influences are better explained by events (diaspora, oppression) than to just see race and stop there as though its a sufficient explanation.