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Has Bruno Mars been stealing Black culture? [Cultural Appropriation]


peachtea

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As a black female i don't think his is. He credit black artists for his music. He said something like "without them their won't be a him" something around that line. Cultural Appropriation happen When another race take something like hip-hop and tell all the credit for it without actually give credit to the actually Creators

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It is interesting the youtube video just cuts out where she says she hates Bruno Mars so much she will celebrate his death by baking a cake. 

 

Actually you can hear the end of the word cake in the beginning..

 

I got where she was trying to say but her point gets lost after she does that imo

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She has come clear points, especially with the Prince/other black funk sings and Bruno comparisons tbh

 

But to be fair, Bruno did suffer in the entertainment industry being a MoC, i think a read in a interview at one point that Bruno said that the hollywood exec wanted Just the way you are(or nothing on you, i can't remember) to be sung by a white dude

 

Bruno doesn't exactly fit the "mold" himself, he may be "ambiguous" but lbr the ambiguous look usually favors women and its usually of the light skin/light eye variety/ damn near straight hair- bruno has none of those (and he's short) and most people do think Bruno has black ancestry- hell my mom thought Bruno was mixed for the longest ROFL

 

Overall, i don't think Bruno is a cultural appropriator- he gives credit and never whitewashed the music. They are worst people in the music industry right now - Lil pump / Lil Xan / 69 for an example(s)- that are way worst dropping N bombs everywhere in their music and being ignorant of the history of our music

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Yes he has lol it doesn't always have to have a negative connotation to it. He DOES borrow from black music, it's where he gets his inspiration from and he said it himself. To me it's not a big deal cuz like people have said he's always given credit to black artists and black music to whom he paid homage to. I like his music and he makes bops but let's be real about this.

 

Also I'm not going to drag him considering there are soooo many other culture vultures out there who aren't even acknowledging the fact they get their inspiration from black music/culture. These are the people that need to be called out the most rn.

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No, he credits those who influenced him to the highest respect. Yes he's racially ambiguous but he obviously has African in him.

People need to understand what the word 'culture' means. If I as a black woman grow up in Japan, and I all I know is Japanese culture, that's my culture because I grew with that. He's not doing it because he's trying to assimilate to what's popular because his work before he was famous sounds just like his current.

These are the same types people who were agruing against others that Obama wasn't 'mixed' because he's half full blood African.

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He was literally thanking Teddy Riley, Baby Face, and the likes in his Grammy speech. Are white culture vultures so rare these days we have to come at Black-passing Asian-Latino artists who credit their insiprations? 

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bruno has always been respectful from day one to the culture he's inspired by and shows a genuine appreciation for the ones who've created it so i wouldn't say so, no.

 

Just because he is respectful doesn't mean he isn't appropriating black culture tho...his music is definitely inspired by black music from the 60-70s and he acknowledged that himself. He's not getting dragged as much because he is respectful and has always given credit to black artists. Also he makes bops, looks racially ambiguous and most blacks like him so there's that.

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Just because he is respectful doesn't mean he isn't appropriating black culture tho...his music is definitely inspired by black music from the 60-70s and he acknowledged that himself. He's not getting dragged as much because he is respectful and has always given credit to black artists. Also he makes bops, looks racially ambiguous and most blacks like him so there's that.

 

in my mind, being respectful and acknowledging your inspirations goes against the concept of appropriation. i do believe that culture can be shared and be used to inspire others, the problem lies when you show zero respect for those whose culture you are partaking in. bruno doesn't do that - yes he's not black but he never comes across as the type of person to only take the 'cool' aspects and disrespect the people who created it. 

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I just found out Bruno isn't part black. :derp:

Exactly. A lot of people don't know but he has benefitted from that a lot. It kinda gave him a pass within the black community cuz so many thought (and still think) he was black. It's a good situation to be in tbh. The world wants black music coming from non blacks so Bruno has the ideal look. He's on the lighter side and can go mainstream while making black music and also getting love from black people thanks to his Afro hair lol

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I'm black and I don't think he is? I've never gotten that vibe from him, he's always been respectful and more stuff I should list. I'd type more but I'm too tired to argue and care about other's opinions.

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in my mind, being respectful and acknowledging your inspirations goes against the concept of appropriation. i do believe that culture can be shared and be used to inspire others, the problem lies when you show zero respect for those whose culture you are partaking in. bruno doesn't do that - yes he's not black but he never comes across as the type of person to only take the 'cool' aspects and disrespect the people who created it.

 

I don't disagree with what you said about Bruno Mars, I'm a big fan of his and I think he genuinely loves black music and shows respect to those who inspired him. But appropriation to me includes borrowing. It's about power too. When you take something from a community with less power than yours. Kinda how the Kardashians steal from blacks and make that stuff while when WE try to endorse our own stuff, we're being looked down upon. Bruno is on the lighter side and has benefited from his racial ambiguity. Appealing to both white and blacks, enjoying this privilege others wouldn't have just because they got a shade darker. Like I said people want black music from non blacks and artists like Bruno Mars and Cardi B are enjoying this privilege let's be real. They are borrowing from blacks and getting that fame off our culture while WE cannot pretend to the same popularity. This is the point here.

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I'm so confused with what is "appropriation" vs "appreciation" now theirs variations to appropriation?... like wtf ... I feel people want to be mad. When I think appropriation I don't think Bruno. He appreciates the culture, borrowing and, influence has been around for centuries. How is that in anyway "appropriation" that makes no sense to me.

 

Like, I get the obvious, many of our faves could fall under appropriation, but Bruno. Come on. 

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Just because he is respectful doesn't mean he isn't appropriating black culture tho...his music is definitely inspired by black music from the 60-70s and he acknowledged that himself. He's not getting dragged as much because he is respectful and has always given credit to black artists. Also he makes bops, looks racially ambiguous and most blacks like him so there's that.

That's not appropriation tho. I feel people keep using that as a buzzword to be edgy. That isn't in no way appropriation by definition. 

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isnt that literally the whole point of cultural apropiation? that the artist does not credit their inspirations and make it seems like its from his own, he is not appropriating if he does indeed credit and point out where his music comes from, like how??

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Exactly. A lot of people don't know but he has benefitted from that a lot. It kinda gave him a pass within the black community cuz so many thought (and still think) he was black. It's a good situation to be in tbh. The world wants black music coming from non blacks so Bruno has the ideal look. He's on the lighter side and can go mainstream while making black music and also getting love from black people thanks to his Afro hair lol

I don't disagree with what you said about Bruno Mars, I'm a big fan of his and I think he genuinely loves black music and shows respect to those who inspired him. But appropriation to me includes borrowing. It's about power too. When you take something from a community with less power than yours. Kinda how the Kardashians steal from blacks and make that stuff while when WE try to endorse our own stuff, we're being looked down upon. Bruno is on the lighter side and has benefited from his racial ambiguity. Appealing to both white and blacks, enjoying this privilege others wouldn't have just because they got a shade darker. Like I said people want black music from non blacks and artists like Bruno Mars and Cardi B are enjoying this privilege let's be real. They are borrowing from blacks and getting that fame off our culture while WE cannot pretend to the same popularity. This is the point here.

 

i do see and understand what you're saying, and you do make a good point. but i just feel like if we look at bruno mars as a person i don't believe he's stealing anything. the system is fucked up: it sucks and it's wrong that people would rather have black music from nonblack persons and it's been happening for years and years. the system is truly disadvantaging us, but on a personal level i don't think bruno feeds into that? like if we look at the entire picture there is definitely an argument to be had, but on a personal case by case basis... yes bruno benefits from those things you mentioned but does he steal and appropriate? no, i just don't believe that is the case here. 

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