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Quincy Jones - Quincy Jones: 'Rappers Need To Learn About Their Forefathers'

08 November 2005 21:13

Caption: Quincy Jones (Picture) 50th Annual Grammy Awards Special Announcement held at the Staples Center Los Angeles, California ....

Quincy Jones: 'Rappers Need To Learn About Their Forefathers'

Producer/composer QUINCY JONES has blasted modern rappers for turning their backs on their jazz and blues heritage.

The jazz and R+B legend fears he could ask 100 hip-hop stars about their musical roots in New Orleans and other southern US cities, and most of them wouldn't know what he was talking about.

Jones, 72, says, "These guys really think they can continue this wonderful life and not know anything about (Mississippi) delta blues music. Jazz and blues are the two most powerful types of music we've ever had.

"You cannot afford to not know this music. Americans, period, do not know anything about that music, especially black kids, not a clue.

"I bet most rappers you ask wouldn't know who DUKE ELLINGTON or CHARLIE PARKER is."

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23rd March 2007 22:37 Colorburn (3)

	I have been a professional musician for over 30 years. My 20-year old niece got really angry with me the other day when I made a few derogatory comments about rap music. I replied to her, "I am a musician and have been for many years. It's not the music I have a problem with, it's the message being delivered. It's usually a message of hate, mysogyny, grief, selfishness and self absorption. It's a message comprised of the lowest common denominator of EVERYTHING and it brings us all down. And for what? The sake of money, that's what." She didn't have an answer to that. Anthony Jackson, a well-repected, famous African-American musician put it this way: "Unfortunately, with the improvement of the technology, the creative side of things has been harmed by the fact that the entrance requirements to the club (of serious, repected artists) have been lowered. They'll let anybody in these days. And that isn't going to change for a while, because too much money is being made by too many people who are untrained. It's tempting to become a musician (artist) when you no longer have to practice, study, pass tests, or audition." The same could be said for respect of one's heritage. It's a sad, but true state of affairs.

14th May 2006 04:51 Colorburn (3)

	I have been a professional musician for over 30 years. My 20-year old niece got really angry with me the other day when I made a few derogatory comments about rap music. I replied to her, "I am a musician and have been for many years. It's not the music I have a problem with, it's the message being delivered. It's usually a message of hate, mysogyny, grief, selfishness and self absorption. It's a message comprised of the lowest common denominator of EVERYTHING and it brings us all down. And for what? The sake of money, that's what." She didn't have an answer to that. Anthony Jackson, a well-repected, famous African-American musician put it this way: "Unfortunately, with the improvement of the technology, the creative side of things has been harmed by the fact that the entrance requirements to the club (of serious, repected artists) have been lowered. They'll let anybody in these days. And that isn't going to change for a while, because too much money is being made by too many people who are untrained. It's tempting to become a musician (artist) when you no longer have to practice, study, pass tests, or audition." The same could be said for respect of one's heritage. It's a sad, but true state of affairs.

10th November 2005 13:05 bonniesloane (1)

	Max Roach once observed that when Americans cut free music education from school budgets, we eliminated the possibility that inner-city kids would ever learn it. If we don't like rap as a substitute for classical, blues and jazz, Roach said, all we have to do is look in the mirror. BTW, Quincy Jones should know that jazz had its foremothers, too, including the great Mary Lou Williams.