'Dear Iggy Azalea, Can You Not?' (Huffington Post article)

MakeEmLaugh

The Huffington Post published an article on 4th June by Lauren Duca criticising Iggy Azalea, and telling her to stop “accessorizing yourself with the black American South”.

Duca writes,

“Here are some things you should think about:

1. You are not black.
2. You are not from the American South.
3. You are not a black person from the American South.”

You can read the full article here.

Duca argues that

“You are not only disrespecting the culture of the black American South. You are also accessorizing yourself with it for profit. It is wrong (and often racist) to play the part of a marginalized person without having experienced their version of marginalization. You are not entitled to pick and choose certain elements of cultures....

Culture reflects the core of a person's being. It defines their experiences and perspective. It is inextricably linked to social, political and economic realities. It is not something you can just "put on" like a funny hat.”

This reminds me of the famous black American comedian Paul Mooney, who argued that white people such as Eminem performing rap was “blackface without the make up”.

What are people's thoughts on this?

DareGod

It's bullying (i.e. Iggy Azalea is being bullied) and I'll tell you why. There are hundreds / thousands of white pop acts who have been using elements of black culture in their performances since forever. People are now picking on Iggy Azalea for some reason, when there are an endless amount of others who have been doing it for years. I hate seeing someone being ganged-up on, whether they are famous or not, and I find it disgusting, weak and pathetic. She's an easy target because one person decided to pick her up on it and now everyone's doing it. Beyond pathetic. It reminds me of school where the weakest person was picked on and then all the pathetic bully sheep started picking on them too, because they were an easy target and everyone else was doing it.

Snoop Dogg is a perfect example of a hypocrite regarding this. He posted juvenile video messages on Instagram being nasty towards Iggy, for "trying to be black." Then, in the Roast of Justin Bieber, he tells Justin Bieber "Justin, you want to be black and I want to tell you that we accept you as one of us."

It's bandwagon bullying idiots just being moronic dumb c**ts, basically.

bogwalrus

Its fashion. That's all. I think it is unfair to say "you can't dress like me cause you're not black".

Dirty Dingus McGee

MakeEmLaugh wrote: »

This reminds me of the famous black American comedian Paul Mooney, who argued that white people such as Eminem performing rap was “blackface without the make up”.

What are people's thoughts on this?

My thoughts are that Paul Mooney is a white Irish name and he has no right to it.

He should have to change his name.

NachoBusiness

Eminem did alright from it.

Tiger Woods ripped off the white man by playing the white man's little white ball game .

Dressing like a white man here too.

MakeEmLaugh

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

My thoughts are that Paul Mooney is a white Irish name and he has no right to it.

He should have to change his name.

His real name is Paul Gladney.

raze_them_all_

Do any of them mention eminem on their you're not black speeches??

MathDebater

Most American's couldn't handle hearing an Aussie voice rapping. How many grime or British rappers make it over there?

You have to adapt to suit an American audience. Duca is your typical white New Englander with a saviour complex.

hatrickpatrick

F*cking hell. I used to massively respect both the Huffington Post and the Guardian newspaper, but in the last 1-2 years they've both slid into the depths of privilege-facism. No idea how this happened, both publications were once champions of protesters and of freedom, now both spend half their time ripping on anyone who does anything mildly un-pc and propagating stereotypes and double standards against men, straight people, white people, Christians, etc.

It's getting old. Does this sh!te actually sell newspapers?

Dirty Dingus McGee

MakeEmLaugh wrote: »

His real name is Paul Gladney.

He shouldn't be allowed to use a white Irish name as his stage name.

The Diabolical Monocle

"It is wrong (and often racist) to play the part of a marginalized person without having experienced their version of marginalization."


ah, but of course.

Fat Christy

Leave Iggy alone!! :mad:

I want to be in her gang of bad b*tches.

KungPao

Nothing to do with Race. Just another Australian pretending to be American for profit.

See Johns, Daniel. Silverchair.

kneemos

Thought rap was a genre,came from the streets of NY or wherever. Can't see how it's restricted to being black.
Americans and they're black issues.
Never seen a black comedian yet that didn't mention racial differences,it's the equivalent of a female comedian talking about periods...lazy and unimaginative.

rawn

Dear Iggy Azalea. Stahhp

Killer Wench

It's not about her rapping. It's about her appropriating a Southern Black accent and using vernacular that is not from her authentic experience. Eminem grew up in 8 Mile, surrounded by Black folk. He rapped from an authentic experience.

Jesus Wept

I don't know who any of these cunce are.

kneemos

Killer Wench wrote: »

It's not about her rapping. It's about her appropriating a Southern Black accent and using vernacular that is not from her authentic experience. Eminem grew up in 8 Mile, surrounded by Black folk. He rapped from an authentic experience.

She's copying a style.Happens all the time in music.

Jesus Wept

MakeEmLaugh wrote: »

Seems like he has made a career out of talking about race.

Here he is being a riot:

'At a performance in West Nyack, New York, on April 20, 2013—five days after the Boston Marathon bombings—Mooney allegedly joked "white people in Boston deserved what they got and (it was) OK to lose a few limbs... as long as no blacks got hurt it was OK." Numerous audience members stormed out and the show's producer "Levity Live Comedy Club" cancelled the remaining shows.[14] On April 23, Mooney appeared on the Opie and Anthony Show on Sirius XM Satellite Radio, and denied he had made the comments as reported, particularly denying he said that "white people deserved to be blown up."'

Killer Wench

kneemos wrote: »

She's copying a style.Happens all the time in music.

No. She's appropriating an ethnic identity and selling it as a commodity.

MakeEmLaugh

Killer Wench wrote: »

It's not about her rapping. It's about her appropriating a Southern Black accent and using vernacular that is not from her authentic experience. Eminem grew up in 8 Mile, surrounded by Black folk. He rapped from an authentic experience.

Killer Wench wrote: »

She's appropriating an ethnic identity and selling it as a commodity.

Paul Mooney criticised Eminem in that video, saying he was "offended" by him.

Presumably you would disagree with Mooney on this point, but agree with Luca about Iggy Azalea?

Dirty Dingus McGee

Killer Wench wrote: »

No. She's appropriating an ethnic identity and selling it as a commodity.

So what.

Actors do it the whole time.Pop music is basically acting just with a bit of singing thrown in.

Killer Wench

Killer Wench wrote: »

No. She's appropriating an ethnic identity and selling it as a commodity.

Exactly She's using black culture as a prop to drape herself in. It's cheap and diminishing, since it's not something she has any ownership or real experience of.

Arsemageddon

Wait 'til the southern rednecks hear some Irish country & western, then the **** will really hit the fan.

kneemos

Killer Wench wrote: »

No. She's appropriating an ethnic identity and selling it as a commodity.

It's not an ethnic identity,it came from the streets and was copied by every tom ,dick and harry.
Ever heard Irish Country and Western ?
The history of music is all about copy,change and development.

Jesus Wept

Killer Wench wrote: »

It's not about her rapping. It's about her appropriating a Southern Black accent and using vernacular that is not from her authentic experience. Eminem grew up in 8 Mile, surrounded by Black folk. He rapped from an authentic experience.

Well, the world went global. It doesn't really matter what small locality you hail from if you can/do immerse yourself with people from anywhere you choose.

Also, lots of people in the music business and life project an image that may be exaggerated or in part/entirely fictitious

Keith from the prodigy was/is into gardening. :pac::P

whupdedo

Candie wrote: »

Exactly She's using black culture as a prop to drape herself in. It's cheap and diminishing, since it's not something she has any ownership or real experience of.

Now candie , that is a load of ****e of the highest order, what would you say about a black person trying to break into the operatic or classical music genres , I've no doubt that you'd label people racist if they said it was exclusively for white Austrian/german males and commend black person for trying to better themselves

Call Me Jimmy

There is a serious bang off this 'appropriating culture' angle, I don't know why exactly but it smells

Call Me Jimmy

Also many people appropriating the phrase 'appropriating culture'. one person said it, it sounded really intelligent then everyone gets to copy him?

Sand

Every pop act is conforming to completely artificial expectations that have nothing to do with actual people or identity. I find it bizarre that people confuse pop music or acts with anyone's identity or culture. I'd hope no ones identity would be so shallow that it could be confused with the work of Iggy Azalea or her colleagues.

First world problems.

harry Bailey esq

I'd ride her like Tony Mc Coy

kneemos

harry Bailey esq wrote: »

I'd ride her like Tony Mc Coy

Steady harry.The nights young.

whupdedo

whupdedo wrote: »

Now candie , that is a load of ****e of the highest order, what would you say about a black person trying to break into the operatic or classical music genres , I've no doubt that you'd label people racist if they said it was exclusively for white Austrian/german males and commend black person for trying to better themselves

Thats not true. Azalea isn't being herself and engaging with black culture, she's claiming it as her own.

If a black person entered a career in classical music (and many, many do), they're not pretending to be something else, they're simply a black musician. Not that I see classical music as being solely 'white'.

Racism is a word thrown around and I don't think she's being racist. I think she's being tasteless and crass, and I'm not surprised some are offended. I'm personally not offended since it doesn't affect me.

If English people affected Irish accents and appropriated Irish culture as their own, plenty on here would be asking what that's all about.

So you should have doubts.

Sand

Candie wrote: »

Thats not true. Azalea isn't being herself and engaging with black culture, she's claiming it as her own.

If a black person entered a career in classical music (and many, many do), they're not pretending to be something else, they're simply a black musician. Not that I see classical music as being solely 'white'.

Is she actually claiming to be a black woman from the southern US? That would be disturbing if thats on record.

Classical music fans have certain expectations of the music and the culture of the music. People conform to them regardless of where they are from if they want to be successful. Nobody mistakes conforming to those expectations as pretending to be German.

Pop music fans have certain expectations of the music and the culture of the music. People conform to them regardless of where are from (including black people from the southern US) if they want to be successful. Dont hate the player, hate the game as a wise man said.

MathDebater

Candie wrote: »

Thats not true. Azalea isn't being herself and engaging with black culture, she's claiming it as her own.

If a black person entered a career in classical music (and many, many do), they're not pretending to be something else, they're simply a black musician. Not that I see classical music as being solely 'white'.

So rap is the sole of ownership of black people and part of 'black culture' but classical music which originated in Europe is nothing to do with being white or 'white culture'. Rightio. That's some set of double standards. You could at least try and stay consistent. You're all over the shop.

kneemos

Candie wrote: »

Thats not true. Azalea isn't being herself and engaging with black culture, she's claiming it as her own.

If a black person entered a career in classical music (and many, many do), they're not pretending to be something else, they're simply a black musician. Not that I see classical music as being solely 'white'.

Racism is a word thrown around and I don't think she's being racist. I think she's being tasteless and crass, and I'm not surprised some are offended. I'm personally not offended since it doesn't affect me.

If English people affected Irish accents and appropriated Irish culture as their own, plenty on here would be asking what that's all about.

So you should have doubts.

Rap music has a style,it's in the form of black Americans.
She's not copying black Americans she's copying the style of music.

MathDebater

Killer Wench wrote: »

She's appropriating an ethnic identity

Fcuking hell. She's putting on an accent to crack the American market. Simple as that. If we start playing the don't 'appropriate' others cultures game and let if follow it's logical course then it will not work out well for anyone. Least of all black Americans.

MathDebater

Candie wrote: »

If English people affected Irish accents and appropriated Irish culture as their own, plenty on here would be asking what that's all about.

Half the fcuking world 'appropriates' aspects of Irish culture on an annual basis and nobody gives a damn.

kneemos

MathDebater wrote: »

Half the fcuking world 'appropriates' aspects of Irish culture on an annual basis and nobody gives a damn.

The Celts brought Irish music to Ireland and Irish music is a big part of Cajun music,this is how it works and develops.
If nobody copied anybody we'd have an extremely limited variety of music.

MathDebater

Without 'cultural appropriation' and exchange the whole industry and medium would stagnate.

Niemoj

/yawn

MakeEmLaugh

Candie wrote: »

If English people affected Irish accents and appropriated Irish culture as their own, plenty on here would be asking what that's all about.

Strangely, when The Pogues appeared on The BP Fallon Orchestra on RTÉ Radio 2 on 21st September 1985, their Irishness was called into question. Noel Hill, the Irish concertina, said they were performing "a terrible abortion" of Irish music.

Cait O'Riordian, the bassist for the group at the time, said

“We had to think that we weren’t Irish, we were London-Irish, so why should some Irish guy [such as Noel Hill] be any more receptive to us than some English person? It was so far beyond anything he could grasp. It was new. And why would he know what it felt like to be London-Irish?”

beks101

She's bloody annoying is what she is. I've heard the name and the songs ...'songs'... on the radio but hadn't put two and two together that it was her.
Shut up. SHADDDAP. Christ when did this qualify as music. It's noise with naked people and lots of swearing. I feel so old.

Ranchu

Candie wrote: »

Exactly She's using black culture as a prop to drape herself in. It's cheap and diminishing, since it's not something she has any ownership or real experience of.

This has been going on since the dawn of pop music, literally. Have a listen to Jerry Lee Lewis or there's another lad called Elvis you might have heard of.

whupdedo

harry Bailey esq wrote: »

I'd ride her like Tony Mc Coy

Did tony mccoy ride her ,jesus he'd get up on anything with a big nose

jank

More racist nonsense (yes that is what it is) from the Huffpost.

Nodin

MakeEmLaugh wrote: »

....................

“You are not only disrespecting the culture of the black American South. You are also accessorizing yourself with it for profit. ...............

I think its silicone she has in her ass, not the black American south.

Plryty

This news article falls under a topic on white rappers that gained some traction around 18 months back when Lord Jamar, a rapper from the famous hip-hop group Brand Nubian made some poorly expressed comments on white rappers in hip hop music for VladTV (see youtube).

A number of rappers got involved with VladTV giving their opinions & arguments from their perspective in hip-hop culture. They're well worth checking out.

As for cultural appropriation in rap music, it's a common criticism thrown at rappers who try to act like they're from another area by altering their accent or use of different vernacular speech patterns. There is a marked difference in irish rap (eg messiah J) to aussie rap (eg Hilltop Hoods) to New York (Nas) to southern american (Outkast). Or if you want to use female rappers compare Missy Elliott to Queen Latifah. Iggy, sounds like no other australlian rapper & thus is getting called out on acting like something she is not.

floggg

DareGod wrote: »

It's bullying (i.e. Iggy Azalea is being bullied) and I'll tell you why. There are hundreds / thousands of white pop acts who have been using elements of black culture in their performances since forever. People are now picking on Iggy Azalea for some reason, when there are an endless amount of others who have been doing it for years. I hate seeing someone being ganged-up on, whether they are famous or not, and I find it disgusting, weak and pathetic. She's an easy target because one person decided to pick her up on it and now everyone's doing it. Beyond pathetic. It reminds me of school where the weakest person was picked on and then all the pathetic bully sheep started picking on them too, because they were an easy target and everyone else was doing it.

Snoop Dogg is a perfect example of a hypocrite regarding this. He posted juvenile video messages on Instagram being nasty towards Iggy, for "trying to be black." Then, in the Roast of Justin Bieber, he tells Justin Bieber "Justin, you want to be black and I want to tell you that we accept you as one of us."

It's bandwagon bullying idiots just being moronic dumb c**ts, basically.

I think it's really mainly down to the fake southern drawl she puts on when rapping. She's australian - why is she trying to sound like she's from Atlanta?

VinLieger

floggg wrote: »

I think it's really mainly down to the fake southern drawl she puts on when rapping. She's australian - why is she trying to sound like she's from Atlanta?

Cus it helps make her money? If people are offended that have that incredible freedom that seems to be forgotten when things like this happen to you know just not buy her songs or listen to her music

PARlance

I'm just glad no one has mentioned my hero, Nathan Carter, yet. Contrary to popular belief, he isn't related to the Carters of Brooklyn, the Jay Z Carters, however the Donegal Scouse has somehow managed to develop an American accent when belting out his hits.
Speaking of Scouse, The Beetles also covered up their accents when singing.
It's takes a true great like Ronan Keating to belt out a tune without covering it up.