Solange Goes In On Race In The Music Business, Blasts New York Times Critic
Three years ago, Solange Knowles went on an instantly-infamous Twitter jag, attacking indie-rock-centric websites (like, presumably, this one) for presuming to know jack shit about R&B when their writers didn’t grow up with the stuff: “Some of these music blogs could actually benefit from hiring people who REALLY understand the culture of R&B to write about R&B… Like you really should know about deep Brandy album cuts before you are giving a ‘grade’ or a ‘score’ to any R&B artist.” And now she’s gone back to double down on those words. On Twitter last night, Solange had some things to say about the music business and its history of exploiting black artists. And she had words, in particular for New York Times pop critic Jon Caramanica (who, full disclosure, is a friend). Caramanica made some comment, at some point, about how the “Brandy album cuts” line amounted to Solange biting the hand that was feeding her. Solange was not amused. Here’s what she had to say last night:
The music business was built brick by brick off the backs, shoulders, heart ache and pain, of black people, and everyone is just exhausted.
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) February 4, 2016
Last two days has brought up so much emotion, recalling when it was made a joke by "indie white guys" that I brought up Brandy album cuts
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) February 4, 2016
When to be honest, don't you ever dare speak that 6 letter name, without understanding the value. The blasphemy.
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) February 4, 2016
Ps: @JonCaramanica
Don't you EVER tell a Black woman, not to "Bite the hand that feeds you" while speaking in reference to white people.— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) February 4, 2016
My father "fed me" when he was hosed down and forced to walk on hot pavement barefoot in civil rights marches in Alabama @joncaramanica
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) February 4, 2016
With all due respect, the people who you named were responsible for my "success" wish they could feed me half of what growing up in 3rd Ward
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) February 4, 2016
Houston Texas, fed me.
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) February 4, 2016
Corny ass, wish they could say niggas around niggas, ass, non niggas. lol.
Thought I know they be saying niggas, ass looking non niggas. 😒— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) February 4, 2016
And I thought we were all pretty clear that I don't give a fuck, like a year ago. 💅🏾
So please carry on.
It's Mardi Gras where I'm at, lol.— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) February 4, 2016
So what’s been happening in the last two days?