Just in case anyone hadn't noticed, I'm an avid lover of music. I love all music as long as it's good (by my standard of course). Be it country, discso, pop, RnB, soul, classical, gospel or whatever, as long as it's good, I love it.
So in case you haven't figured it out as yet, when I turn on the TV, 90% of the times I go directly to the music channels - VH1, VH1 Soul (most times), BET, etc. Lately though, I've got to thinking (yes I do think sometimes) about music that try as I might, I just can't get into. Music/artists you just couldn't pay me enough money or bribe me in any other way to invest time or money in.
These are artists that come to mind:
Kanye West:
I have a co-worker who swears that Kanye is the most talented rapper/artist in the world today. He's really passionate about this and once embarked on a quest to convince me of the same. Boy was he frustrated at the end of it all. All of Kanye's music just sounds the same to me; the beat, the lyrics, the everything. It's like you hear one of his songs and you've heard them all. I couldn't get into his music even if you threw all of the sexiest women in the world at me (and we all know how I feel about beautiful sexy women and the effect they have on me). If I'm gonna endorse versatile and talented rappers then I'd nominate Nas, (I won't even mention Tu-Pac), Twista, Eminem, Lil Wayne and Ludacris to mention a few.
Lenny Kravitz:
For years I have heard people I know and the media rave about Lenny Kravitz's music. All I can do is just shake my head at it all. I'm not knocking it that much because unlike Kanye (my colleague provided me with every album in an effort to convince/convert me), I haven't been able to subject myself to listening to even more muchof his (Kravitz's) songs. I honestly tried but I couldn't do it. Now throw some Maxwell, D'Angelo, Eric Benet, (I'd mention Prince here but no one even comes close; he's reigns supreme in a class all his own) my way and I'm cool with that.
John Legend:
The guy has got a unique voice and he is talented. His voice reminds me of singers like Teddy Pendergrass, Ray Charles... it's just got that type of soulful feel to it. Despite this, all I want to do is fall off to sleep when he opens his mouth. And that song... what's the name again... ah Ordinary People.. that's the one, that he won grammys for and just got so overplayed; that shit nearly drove me crazy. Everywhere you turned there it was. Still trying to find the greatness in it all. I mean I do get the lyrics; I'm not that dense but the appeal I just didn't and don't get.
Jennifer Lopez:
She's got songs that I shake my ass to. She's got songs that I bellow along with. She's got songs that I bop my head to. But alas, despite it all, I wouldn't go out and buy one of her albums. Those songs are just too few and far between.
Ashanti:
When she opens her mouth I want to throw myself on the couch, pull the biggest cushion over my head, cover my ears with my palms and go 'la la la la la... I can't hear you'. Seriously, the girl just can't sing. She reminds me very much of when Mary J. Blige started her career. One of the panelists on one of those VH1 specials made a remark about Mary that went something like this: when Mary J started singing she just had a knack for hitting the right notes wrong. Believe me that's exactly how I felt about Mary then and feel about Ashanti now. If anyone reading this has followed my blog they would know that I now hold Mary in high regard. Her voice still isn't all that impressive but she's always (even from the beginning) performed songs that worked with her voice. And over the years, she has gotten better. Plus I give credit where credit is due. But I digress, this is about Ashanti not Mary.
Jay Z:
If you ever want to give me a CD as a gift, please don't let it be one of Jay Z's. I just can't get into his music at all. All of his songs just sound the same and I find the lyrics truly lacking. I admit that he's got some nice collaborations out there but that's about it. (Sorry B, no disrespect intended. I hope this doesn't affect our wedding plans).
These are just a few that come to mind after a long and tedious day. When the brain has relaxed, I'm sure more will come and I will update this or post a part two or something. (I'm throwing this one in just because I can)
Feel free to share yours.
