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Music Fans vs. Music Snobs
**Camera slowly pans in to find Slim sitting in a comfortable chair with a fireplace in the background. He takes a sip of scotch on the rocks, licks his lips, then looks at the camera.**
Hello there. Thanks for joining me today. My name is Slim Jackson. Some of you may remember me from the Ramblings of an Articulate Black Guy. I’ve grown a lot since then…in multiple places. As you can tell by this smoking jacket, the fireplace, the expensive leather chair, the box of magnums placed ever so conveniently on the cubby to the left of me, and this glass of aged scotch, I’m waiting for a jump-off to arrive I’ve become quite the sophisticated fellow over the last couple of years. And as many of you may have seen recently in a posting of my mine on Single Black Male, I’ve developed a taste for music other than boisterous rap with gun shots ringing out in the background.
I continue to amaze those that know me well and hardly at all with my new ear and appreciation for music. For example, this past weekend I went to a R&B event at this spot called Gospel Uptown in Harlem. Even 3 months ago this type of behavior would have been considered obscene and out of character for me. But I, the man that looks the opposite of his name, put on some slacks and a nice shirt then headed out to get my musical swerve on.
Upon entering her sideways the event, I heard a very talented singer blowing the crowd away with her vocal range in a Stephanie Mills’ Home sort of way. I lost my composure for a second and borderline danced in the aisle like an overly dramatic woman at a black church. After getting myself together, I grabbed a couple of drinks, relaxed, and enjoyed the rest of the night. By the way, they served fried chicken on gourmet plates there. I never seen that before, but would love to see it again. #dontyoudarejudgeme
Anyways, one thing that I took away from the night was the fact that everybody was really focused on having fun and watching people do what they enjoy most (sing.) All in attendance had a love for music that I haven’t been able to see or appreciate on that level before. In other words, they were true fans of music and not any particular artist. This brings me to a very interesting point of distinction: fans vs. snobs.
As I’ve continued to expand my musical horizons and tweet, blog, and write about it, 2 types of people have emerged. There are those who reply as if I had just found faith in God and shout all sorts of words of praise as I mention the artists that I like. They will then suggest other music that I should listen to that are similar and may be to my liking or at least worth checking out. They are the fans. Then there are those that respond with one or more of the following:
- Oh, that’s cool. I have all their albums, limited and special editions, and a few of their toe nails. You ain’t a fan of them until you get on my level.
- You just started listening to them? You mad late son. Step your game up.
- Oh, you like them? I don’t. Let me tell you all the reasons why.
- Oh, she aight. My girl sing better than her though.
Can I f*ckin live you damn music snobs? **Readjusts smoking jacket and finishes glass of whiskey** Sorry about that. It’s just that I feel some type of way when I’m sharing my joy in something that I discovered and someone has to come along and point out the obvious or something that could have went without being said. Music really is a universal language and you can’t expect everyone to know and/or understand all dialects going back to the beginning of time. It’s better to find something late and gain an appreciation for it whenever discovered rather than not find it all. So fall back and let me be great and get greater/mo’ better. So about this new artist I checked out…
**Door bell rings.**
Oops. That’s all for this week folks. I just wanted to say don’t be a music snob. If you have nothing good to share with someone who just discovered music, then don’t say anything at all. I’m bout to put this Marvin on, open up this door, then open up…**Roll credits for 2 minutes**
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**Moaning heard in the background**
49 Responses to “Music Fans vs. Music Snobs”
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Hello there. Thanks for joining me today. My name is Slim Jackson. Some of you may remember me from the Ramblings of an Articulate Black Guy. I’ve grown a lot since then…in multiple places. As you can tell by this smoking jacket, the fireplace, the expensive leather chair, the box of magnums placed ever so conveniently on the cubby to the left of me, and this glass of aged scotch, I’m waiting for a jump-off to arrive I’ve become quite the sophisticated fellow over the last couple of years.
^^^This had me laughing so hard!
This was a great post and I agree!
Thanks for naming the spot cause now i will go there, thankie mucho!
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Music snobs really annoy me!Just b/c you’ve known about this rapper since he recited the ABCs, it doesn’t mean that I can’t like their latest single and nothing more. And just b/c your grandma sings solos in the Elder Choir, it doesn’t mean that my favorite vocalist can’t sing. No, I don’t need Big Mama to come in here and show me how it’s done. LOL.
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People who think they can sing a little somethin’ tend to be music snobs. Just because you can sing doesn’t mean your ear for good music is better than someone else’s. Get over yaself.
Slim, check out Alice Smith. Her album is a few years old, but kinda life changing. You’d enjoy it.
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Wu Young Agent of M.E. Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Alice has some pipes on her. She goes in on the last few seconds of “Dream”.
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Slim Jackson Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Thank you for being a fannnn **In Golden Girls melody**
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L. Dejean Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 1:02 am
the fact that you know the melody to “Golden Girls” brought my respect for you up to a whole new level *starry eyed*! lol!
I’mma check her out too Miss Jenkins!
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Well, I’m definitely a music fan…no snobbery lives here. I appreciate all types of music..and I actually like when people hip me to something/someone new..that I may not have previously been open to…
Great post!
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“By the way, they served fried chicken on gourmet plates there.” #ohyoufancyhuh
Some how your alcohol switch original countries in the course of a blog #liquorsnob
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CHeeKZ Money Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
hahahahaha
hahah
ahah
ahaha!
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L. Dejean Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 1:05 am
ROTFLMAO! #IDIED!
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I HATE MUSIC SNOBS (but I love, love this post Slim. Nice jacket, btw).
I have nothing else to add, really. Music snobs can go kick rocks sans socks and may their entire iTunes library die a horrible, horrible computer virus death.
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I love love love Alice Smith. Cd is getting old but still a favorite on the iPod & when anyone new hears it they love it too
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Yeah you have to be open to everything. I am a little eclectic when it comes to my music. My mix playlists are all over the place.
Peace, Love and Chocolate
Tiffany
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SaneN85 Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Me too. Me too.
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Eff music snobs!!Darn, today isn’t Friday.
Slim, I saw on twitter that you like Eric Roberson. Check out the Foreign Exchange. And J*Davey is pretty cool, too.
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Nickerz Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 10:22 am
The Foreign Exchange changed my life.. and i just discovered them a few weeks ago…
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Slim Jackson Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 10:25 am
I will have to holler at this Foreign Exchange goodness that I keep hearing about now. Word. Microsoft.
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L. Dejean Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 1:17 am
I am finna download Foreign Exchange…and i’mma look up J Davey after! Thanks for the suggestion (even though it was to Slim, lol)!
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L. Dejean Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 1:29 am
I can’t find J*Davey on my favorite *cough* site…may have to wait to purchase it…
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That must be TV magic how your Scotch turned into Whiskey :p
Anywho, I simply adore the Marvin reference (I just discovered not 1, but 2 new albums by him)
And music snobs just tend to be highly opinionated listeners with little frame of reference or knowledge
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Slim Jackson Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hey, if the old spice dude can swan dive onto a horse, I can drink scotch and whiskey during the same tv broadcast.lol.
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LaBakir Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Ha, well carry on my dear fellow!
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Orange Star Happy Hunting Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 11:13 am
Those are the fake music snobs LLS!
I had to live and love a bit, before I could really HEAR Marvin, ahh he is my favoite all time male vocalist and recording artist.
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LaBakir Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Yeah man, I love Marvin. I was blown away (and still am) as I dug deeper into his music catalogue and read books about him.
I guess this is when I can be a snob b/c as I compare old school artists to today’s artist.
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Orange Star Happy Hunting Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Exactly!!!!!
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I Love the whole Masterpiece Theatre setup.. i WAS waiting for the cigar though..
(I watch masterpiece theatre, i shouldn’t make fun.. LOL)
I also find that backpackers have a tendency to wanna ream me #UltimatePause “Oh.. what yu mean yu ain’t got the new mixtape!? you don’t represent..”
and i’m lookin around like “Who da h*ll is YOU!? Does someone cut you royalty checks for all that there..”
I can’t be mad at anyone that’s discovering different music.. my playlists are really crazy and i love that.. I’m not here to be the advocate for “music you should’ve had already”.. i’m just glad they’re hearing it, period..
But some ain’t ready for european lounge music just yet..
And Hindi music is from GOD!
#ShamelessPlugForHindiMusic
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Slim Jackson Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 10:32 am
You be belling dancing and sh*t too? #ignorantcommentiknow
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LaBakir Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 10:37 am
That music in Slumdog Millionaire goes HARD!!! I took a Bollywood dance class…dopeness.
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L. Dejean Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 1:21 am
i LOVE Hindi Music! The soundtrack to Devdas goes in! That’s my favorite movie of all time and every song is simply amazing! I have it on my ipod…its one that DEFINITELY has to be on any music player i have! I’mma finna listen to it now!
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L. Dejean Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 1:22 am
oh, i know it word for word…lol
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Nice Slim!
I think this can parallel into other appreciations besides music, such as sports. I think of the whole LeBron James shenanigans, and people are sooo opinionated and intense on the subject.
*Oh, that’s cool. I have all their
albums, limited and special editions, and a few of their toe nails.[jerseys, posters, playoff ticket stubs] You ain’t a fan of them until you get on my level.*You just started
listening to them?[watching? You aren't a real fan] You mad late son. Step your game up.*Oh, you like them? I don’t. Let me tell you all the reasons why.
*Oh, she aight. My girl sing better than her though. [my boys at Rucker play better]
Can’t folks just be fans already, without trying to be “snobs” as you put it? lmao!
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Slim Jackson Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 10:58 am
This bball parallel is great. Great example!
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CHeeKZ Money Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
funny you guys mention sports snobs… there is an audition for WFAN (sports talk radio station) this weekend in Long Island. Its all going to be sports snobs… I am thinking about going. I am scared they are going to ask too many hockey questions.
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LOL, I may be a borderline music snob, but I am always glad when folks discover artists for themselves and open to all genre of GOOD quality music , its a beautiful thing, almost as much joy as I get when I discover something new LLS!!!
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Well I’m a film guy and you don’t know snobs til you deal with movie snobs. I am a below the line and above the line the former is the grunts on the street the later is the talent that brings the actual story. Being on both sides(like being an def n offensive coach in football) I don’t cater to one so when movie snobs get on their soapbox I usually reply as a grunt. Simply because no grunt ever messed up a film but plenty of above the liners have and they are very snobbish. As for the movie going snob they are baffled that I don’t “kill” certain films (all mainstream films with reckonizable stars and any action flick period) I can only like romantic sappy pointless films. Or moody dark noir
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SaneN85 Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
I’m a self-proclaimed movie snob, but I don’t think I fit that description.
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Damn reply got entered half way(damn cell phone)….
I was saying how the film snobs aesthetic is to overrate “character” driven “small” films but kill all mainstream flicks. It’s really funny because they never take anything into account beyond their own liking of a director, writer or actor.
Hip hop now is old enough to have these snobs. But I wonder when illmattic dropped( it only sold around 200,000 copies in it’s first year) did these aficionados buy it? There was obviously no file sharing in 94 the way it is now. Fools playing catch up like they are fresh fries. Then they out here talking about Guru this and Gangstarr that. Back when Gangstarr shot Mass Appeal video in my projects (Linden Houses) I swear it seemed only The East, & The Ville really dug em. But nowadays at certain hip hop venues the love of 90′s backpack rap
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Got cut off again!! Yea to close this 2010 love for 90′s rap seems very snobbish and very forced, I had Common when he still had Sense, the roots..anyone remember “do you want more”? Gimmie the fans and save the frontin for a fan page on facebook.
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Ugh music snobs irk my spirit. I always get you’re too young to know this or that song. Can’t I just enjoy the lyrics? Why I gotta be an old head to enjoy Donny, Luther, Marvin etc. Moving on Emily King is a good look to check out too. She does really nice covers of classics.
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Music Snobs reign supreme on Twitter. I just have fun proving them wrong, but usually tune them out.
Keep wetting your palette with good music my g! [||]
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I just love what I love (in regards to music), and I find that 75% of the time I appreciate songs as opposed to artists. *shrugs*
Anyhow, I love this post, Slim. I also found it hilarious that you are still talking about being fat.
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Little Miss Sunshine Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
and i still find it hilarious that someone told him to change his twitter name to chubjackson.
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SaneN85 Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
That was me, but I said chubbyjackson and someone else read it wrong, and thus chubjackson was born.
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CHeeKZ Money Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
what? Slim aint chubby?
PAUSE THE HEAVENS.
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I’m not a music snob at all. I love listening to EVERYTHING (holler at that tunak tunak)and what people find good is there deal… although I will cut trick who talks bad about Mariah Carey. **cue in living color voice** Don’t nobody talk bad about Mariah Carey.
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Slim Jackson Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
I chuckled at the thought of you cutting someone with the smile on your face that’s in your pic.
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i might be a music snob. Might! But I know I run with a gang of music snobs.
If you ever hear us talk you know we get heavy into the music and being the first to know about something is a very very big deal (i put ninjas on to the boondocks. admit it). There is value in having foresight and being able to recognize talent at an early stage without industry influence (I put ninjas onto Nicki Manji). Its almost like you are inventing that artist’s brilliance (i put ninjas onto ether).
Some people tend to be dismissive to other’ opinions. If you can make a relative point, I will respect your opinion. But don’t expect me to not shit on you when you are shitting on common sense. the light.
Don’t tell me Gucci Mane is good b/c he is popular. And don’t tell my Tyler Perry movies are good b/c he has a positive message. But don’t get me wrong I know what fans are going thru. My crew makes silly statements all the time.
We got into a Just Blaze vs Kanye West argument. And it ended with “I listen to my Just Blaze than you. So you can’t tell me nothing”.
NYHoop even mentioned our bball. This past wknd we got into Lebron and the hoop historians all sided one way. The three of us have been following Lebron since his Jr year of HS. (Same with OJ, Wall, Beasley, Cousins, B Knight, Irving, and Tobias Harris ) So when of the bball historians quickly got dismissive with any body else trying to enter the conversation. I don’t think it was right, he had good point in defending Lebron. But whatever .. u know how Laker fans get when talking about Ball.
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Snob here! #bitemeandmyitunes
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I’ve downloaded several of the suggestions posted up! =0) My iTunes Library & iPod Touch (its my whole world, lol) as well as my ears thanks you!
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