Reminiscing about the first time I heard "Ms. Jackson" as a teenager in Jamaica brings back a flood of nostalgia. Released by Outkast in 2000, this song felt like a revelation. The lyrics resonated deeply, speaking to the heart of every boy who had ever experienced the turmoil of teenage relationships and the guilt of breaking someone's heart. It was a narrative that many of us could relate to, and it was delivered with such a unique blend of sincerity and musical innovation.
I respect that buddy, I loved it...it really inspired me beyond just the notes played. It was what it meant about creative risk that challenged and intrigued me. But this is the nature of art....what impresses one often offends another.
I've never been a rap aficionado, so my comments will focus more on your underlying theme of artistic freedom rather than as critique of the work in general.
I fully agree with you that artists are often pigeonholed into what got them where they are, fans think they want to hear, or what labels think will sell the best. Few artists have the clout, or the talent, to pull off a genre switch with aplomb. Many remain in their boxes for fear of ruffling feathers, or because they simply don't have more to say. But for those who can escape, I can't imagine anything more boring than limiting themselves to some preordained description of what their art should look or sound like.
This always causes critical blowback. When Dylan "went electric" for half of his "Bringing It All Back Home" album in 1965, he caught considerable flack from critics who felt he was abandoning his folk roots. The Stones rolled some eyes when they "went disco" in their late 70s attempt to keep up with the musical times. Springsteen turned a career of bombastic electric performances on its head when he released an entire album of songs featuring just him on an acoustic guitar, recorded on a minimalist tape recorder in his home.
The common denominator is great artists who challenged convention to create what they were feeling in their hearts at the time, and Andre is no different. The best art comes from pushing boundaries, damn the torpedoes. Great art is risky, and kudos to him for doing what he wants to do and, in his words, "following the way the wind blew me this time".
Nothing is more creatively stifling than being pigeonholed. When I started writing, what came out of me was a novel. The next book was non-fiction. After that, I turned to writing articles on various subjects. They all worked because they were what I was feeling at those times. I can't imagine being confined to a creative box, and none of us should seek to confine anyone else in such a way unless we're ready to be saturated in prepackaged pablum as a result. ZL
It is refreshing to see an article on the force of the expression of the artist- Even throughout his 1966 tour, Dylan was booed constantly as the latter half of his show was all electric rock n` roll, and, rightly, he just carried on. I remember, I think, it was Mick Jagger who had been spending time at Studio 54, and came back with lyrics to "Miss You" and I think it was even Keith Richards who did the eye rolling.
I remember what a big deal Outkast was because I am from Atlanta and definitely "rode MARTA, through the hood"..etc, etc. I can only imagine how those songs might have felt in Jamaica.
Mrs. Jackson and Hey Ya were practically comeback songs- they had almost vanished, really- but these two songs carved out a slightly younger and slightly more pop friendly audience. Outkast really always represented the south in its sounds and lyrics- I still think on the harmonica solo on the Rosa Parks song. But I digress…
The thing is, so many musicians and many times actors- they seem to come in and make their money- and are gone. Andre 3000 could easily retire, but making music is in his blood, and your craft is something from which you never retire. I’m glad he’s still at it. Whatever the album ends up sounding like. There is some freedom in being past your prime- whatever that means.
Thanks for writing about this, Dr. Brown- I plan on tackling some artistic and creative issues in my next column for Wrong Speak.
I also agree with Zephareth, the creative box is no good, and it is an aspect of marketing, not creativity.
Seriously. I found the album to be quite the disappointment. A huge one. Almost like he’s playing a joke on us.
Not a single track hooked me in any way. And, no, I don’t listen to just Pop, or Hip-Hop, or Rock. I listen to more than a few genres.
If I’m saying the quiet part out loud and you find it offensive, that was not my intention. I just can’t NOT write what I wrote.
I respect that buddy, I loved it...it really inspired me beyond just the notes played. It was what it meant about creative risk that challenged and intrigued me. But this is the nature of art....what impresses one often offends another.
I've never been a rap aficionado, so my comments will focus more on your underlying theme of artistic freedom rather than as critique of the work in general.
I fully agree with you that artists are often pigeonholed into what got them where they are, fans think they want to hear, or what labels think will sell the best. Few artists have the clout, or the talent, to pull off a genre switch with aplomb. Many remain in their boxes for fear of ruffling feathers, or because they simply don't have more to say. But for those who can escape, I can't imagine anything more boring than limiting themselves to some preordained description of what their art should look or sound like.
This always causes critical blowback. When Dylan "went electric" for half of his "Bringing It All Back Home" album in 1965, he caught considerable flack from critics who felt he was abandoning his folk roots. The Stones rolled some eyes when they "went disco" in their late 70s attempt to keep up with the musical times. Springsteen turned a career of bombastic electric performances on its head when he released an entire album of songs featuring just him on an acoustic guitar, recorded on a minimalist tape recorder in his home.
The common denominator is great artists who challenged convention to create what they were feeling in their hearts at the time, and Andre is no different. The best art comes from pushing boundaries, damn the torpedoes. Great art is risky, and kudos to him for doing what he wants to do and, in his words, "following the way the wind blew me this time".
Nothing is more creatively stifling than being pigeonholed. When I started writing, what came out of me was a novel. The next book was non-fiction. After that, I turned to writing articles on various subjects. They all worked because they were what I was feeling at those times. I can't imagine being confined to a creative box, and none of us should seek to confine anyone else in such a way unless we're ready to be saturated in prepackaged pablum as a result. ZL
It is refreshing to see an article on the force of the expression of the artist- Even throughout his 1966 tour, Dylan was booed constantly as the latter half of his show was all electric rock n` roll, and, rightly, he just carried on. I remember, I think, it was Mick Jagger who had been spending time at Studio 54, and came back with lyrics to "Miss You" and I think it was even Keith Richards who did the eye rolling.
I remember what a big deal Outkast was because I am from Atlanta and definitely "rode MARTA, through the hood"..etc, etc. I can only imagine how those songs might have felt in Jamaica.
Mrs. Jackson and Hey Ya were practically comeback songs- they had almost vanished, really- but these two songs carved out a slightly younger and slightly more pop friendly audience. Outkast really always represented the south in its sounds and lyrics- I still think on the harmonica solo on the Rosa Parks song. But I digress…
The thing is, so many musicians and many times actors- they seem to come in and make their money- and are gone. Andre 3000 could easily retire, but making music is in his blood, and your craft is something from which you never retire. I’m glad he’s still at it. Whatever the album ends up sounding like. There is some freedom in being past your prime- whatever that means.
Thanks for writing about this, Dr. Brown- I plan on tackling some artistic and creative issues in my next column for Wrong Speak.
I also agree with Zephareth, the creative box is no good, and it is an aspect of marketing, not creativity.