First Spin
Solange Says 'F*@k the Industry!' Oh, and Album In Stores This Month.
The internets went crazy over the weekend when Solange let go a musical "salvo" on the music industry, extending a huge middle finger--over Kanye West's "Everything I Am", no less--with the appropriately titled "F*@k the Industry (Signed Sincerely)." The track is an open letter to the cookie cutter music industry that only likes their singers one way: profitable. In her online blog, Hadley Street Journal, Solange, who's clearly not delusional, unapologetically targets music labels and the like for having "a tendency to see something work and try to reciprocate that with
another artist thinking that's what makes success. To me what makes
success is letting people be truly who they are." While we definitely agree with the sentiment conveyed, our side-eye can't help but blink wildly at the timing of the F-bomb, especially since her Sol Angel and the Hadley Street Dreams is due to drop later this month. Or are we way out of line for thinking that Matty and the crew are doing whatever it takes to create buzz for his babygirl's release (which has solid material, from what we've heard so far), by any means necessary?
Solange: "F*@k the Industry (Signed Sincerely)"
Solange [MySpace]
Tags: audio, kanye west, solange
Comments
I'm late to this...missed when this post first ran, but just to add my 5 cents...Why are we so cynical towards our music artists these days. If we were this cynical towards our elected leaders this country would be in a much better place. Solange has had some opportunities given to her being Bey's sister, yes, but she also has to deal with an overly suspicious record buying public that is unduly critical of her art because she is Bey's sister. Just like it took the innovation of Control to bring Janet out of Mijac's shadow, it will probably take something creatively and commercially on that level for this baby girl's project to be considered a full-fledged success. Seems to me that's a heavy burden to carry. So yes, eff the industry, co-signed by j. Langston!
Langston | August 19, 2008 7:28 PM | Permalink...uh, gottahate it. I mean, I hear you Mista Duval, but this persona doesn't pass the "sniff test" as far as I can see. Even if she really is a little less polished and crass than her sister, there are plenty of deserving artists out there waiting in the wings but cant get heard because of the "industry"...yet the "industry" found a way to present Solange to the record buying public. How is that "f**ked up"????
Yes, it's an obvious ploy for hype and attention, but that doesn't mean we have to believe her and buy it...figuratively and literally.
Taron | August 8, 2008 12:13 AM | PermalinkLook... it's Bad Girl Beyonce! For all of us who wish B would just drop an "F Bomb" every now and then. Sounds like the perfect marketing pitch to get out of her sister's shadow to me. But you know what, i know that and I still lover her steez. Deep down I get the feeling that Beyonce is more like her sister only polished up for pop appeal, and Solo is more herself with a slightly forced bad girl image to get buzz. Gotta love it
mista_duval | August 7, 2008 1:05 PM | PermalinkThis is sort of a smart move on Solange's part! She realizes that she can never be Beyonce, so she's taking the bad girl approach with her music. Beyonce can be good, and Solange can be the bad girl version. Even though cussin' (not cursing) in soul music is pretty common these days, I think this track will get her noticed whether she likes the attention she gets or not.
I've seen stranger things happen in the music industry...
SoundNexx | August 5, 2008 3:40 PM | PermalinkYeah, F**k the industry Solange...(???) The same industry that's given you a second chance after that brick of a debut cd you put out a few years back? The same industry that presumably gave you a decent advance to record both albums...and a video budget...and a wardrobe budget...rather good press and hype...some pretty sweet product placement for this new album and let's not forget the money...both directly to you and indirectly on behalf of the accomplishments made by your sister?? Let's not forget that because of her making waves in this "industry" over the past few years, you, SOLANGE, get to be pushed to the front of the proverbial 'line' Solange, you're not THAT "different" (1) and (2), you HAVE to be different for anyone to pay attention to you in the first place because otherwise you'd be a bad imitation of your sister.
Am I or we supposed to fill sorry for you, Solange? I love you, but on behalf of the other dope-ass independent and great/yet-heard-of artists out there who don't have HALF of what you've inherited, I DON'T SYMPATHIZE (sp) WITH YOU. (And I still love you).
So no, F**k the industry, F**k you...for being so self-centered, self-righteous and myopic and ignorant.
Taron | August 5, 2008 10:44 AM | PermalinkI hope this kind of stunt doesn't overshadow the fact that NO ONE is dropping better black pop right now that Solange. Baby girl's shit is fire!
Tyler | August 5, 2008 10:29 AM | PermalinkShe is really making me roll my eyes at her...slowly, while I pop my gum. Girl, BYE!!
suga | August 5, 2008 1:58 AM | PermalinkLol @ Nova.Bee changed the game so is she taking shots at for what her sister paved for?Anyways Solange sound isn't anything new, but I do like what she brings, but we can see the BS Ms. Knowles
Sharonda | August 4, 2008 11:04 PM | PermalinkI'm surprised that Solo didn't break out into a verse of "Kill De White People but Buy My Record First."
Whereas I'm sorta kinda feeling her sound and the cuts I've heard, she really just needs to sit down and relax her mind for a few minutes. She acts like she's reinventing the wheel here when other artists have been doing this for years. But because they aren't related to Bey or Mat they can't afford the luxury to be "different" and still get a major label deal and money thrown at them from every direction.
Butta | August 4, 2008 8:54 PM | Permalink"Everything I Am" was my hands-down favorite off of the otherwise lackluster (in my opinion), Graduation. And I loves me some Solange, trust me. I love her as an artist and just for who she is, which is what the song is all about. I completely understand how Solange feels trapped in her sister's shadow and image and I understand that she must be overexaggerated and bold for people to pay attention and take her as she is. However, I'm not sure if she's doing this properly. She uses profanity excessively, especially in interviews, and it seems a bit forced. Maybe I'm wrong. But, most importantly, I think she should be careful what she says about her sister. I understand that Solange is more "out there" and whatever, but I love Beyonce so much too. But leave the Beyonce name-dropping and dissing to the haters; Solange should just not mention her in songs or interviews unless if she's asked, because quite frankly, all the things Solange sings or says about her sound a bit negative, even if it's not intended.
Nate | August 4, 2008 5:20 PM | PermalinkShe tries to hard. The only reason she even has a record deal is because her sister. She dresses weird (So does Kelis). Her voice is ok (like half the artists out right now). If she didn't try so hard it might make it easier to like her. This is definitely just to create a buzz.
jojodancer | August 4, 2008 5:14 PM | PermalinkIrritated.
j | August 4, 2008 3:59 PM | PermalinkIT'S HER SISTER'S FAULT!!!!!
nOvaMatic | August 4, 2008 3:13 PM | PermalinkI also hate when people try to reciprocate stuff with me.
Word.
DJStylus | August 4, 2008 3:11 PM | Permalink