Tupac #9 music artist of all-time on Access Hollywood

[RJ]

Access Hollywood aired a segment last night, counting down who they considered the top 10 music artists of all-time. I was surprised to see that Tupac was ranked #9, as I'd become accustomed to him not getting the mainstream recognition he deserves.

Labelled the modern day "Marvin Gaye," the short segment barely scratched the surface of his accomplishments but showed video footage, including clips from "California Love," "I Get Around," "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted," and "I Ain't Mad Atcha," a brief interview clip, and showed artists speaking on Tupac's influence.

This list may not be completely accurate, but if memory serves correctly it was:

10. Sting
09. Tupac
08. James Brown
07. Tina Turner
06. Bob Dylan
05. Frank Sinatra
04. Elton John
03. Madonna
02. Michael Jackson
01. Elvis Presley

[Crimson and Clover]

Originally posted by RJ

01. Elvis Presley

Always :) ;)

[RJ]

Originally posted by Crimson and Clover
Always :) ;)
yea Ill give him that... alot of people loved Elvis but I am glad Tupac is up there with all them great musicans ...

only time will go by and people will start to love and appreicate Tupac for what he really meant to the world!

[AllIWantIsYourClutch]

MJ is #2....Hell yes.

[Mr. Stefani]

Madonna and her ****ty squeeky ass voice #3. What a list.

[RJ]

Does everyone agree with the list?

I do for sure, it has the best of the best of ALL TIME!

Elvis, Micheal, Frank, Madonna, Sting, Tupac

Damn the list is unbelieveable! :D

[~*Hannah_Lee*~]

Originally posted by Nirvana
Madonna and her ****ty squeeky ass voice #3. What a list.
Yeah....the only people I can even stand on that list are Elvis and Sting, but I can't even stand him anymore. His Police days were pretty good, though.

[¤I Love Clay Aiken¤]

Originally posted by RJ
10. Sting
09. Tupac
08. James Brown
07. Tina Turner
06. Bob Dylan
05. Frank Sinatra
04. Elton John
03. Madonna
02. Michael Jackson
01. Elvis Presley

Im fans of Elton, Michael, and Elvis the most. Im surprised though... no Beatles?

[SBTB Geek]

Tupac doesn't fit well on that list. He was good, but in no means he was great. In his own genre, he was a genius, but with the rest of the music world, he wasn't much. Eminem took away his throne.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally posted by Nirvana
Madonna and her ****ty squeeky ass voice #3. What a list.

oh come on. Madonna is the greatest pop icon (at least for a female) whose ever lived. You hate Madonna and like Gwen??? Considering all the influence Madonna's had on Gwen, I find that to be like hating MJ and loving Justin Timberlake and Usher. Even if you're not a fan, to deny she is not a legend and someone who has been one of the most important and biggest stars of the last 20 years is bull.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally posted by ¤MsConanOBrien¤
Im fans of Elton, Michael, and Elvis the most. Im surprised though... no Beatles?

apparently it's just solo artists only, because you'd at least expect Beatles and Stones on a top 10 greatest list

[Mr. Stefani]

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
oh come on. Madonna is the greatest pop icon (at least for a female) whose ever lived. You hate Madonna and like Gwen??? Considering all the influence Madonna's had on Gwen, I find that to be like hating MJ and loving Justin Timberlake and Usher. Even if you're not a fan, to deny she is not a legend and someone who has been one of the most important and biggest stars of the last 20 years is bull.

gwen hates madonna. well she liked her as a teen. She called her a skank in some interview(91 i think) a long long time ago, since she was using her whoreness to sell her music.Debbie Harry is/was her idol. Madonna and No Doubts music is nothing alike. justins just copying what mj was doing years ago. i hate him.

[Crimson and Clover]

Originally posted by RJ
08. James Brown
06. Bob Dylan
05. Frank Sinatra
04. Elton John
01. Elvis Presley

Those are the ones I like so the list is ok with me. Especially since Elvis is #1.

[DianeChambers87]

Nop where is the greatest vocalist of all time (imho) the late Freddie Mercury?

[RJ]

Originally posted by SBTB Geek
Tupac doesn't fit well on that list. He was good, but in no means he was great. In his own genre, he was a genius, but with the rest of the music world, he wasn't much. Eminem took away his throne.
PLZ BE QUIET!!!! ask eminem who is the greatest and how can you say Tupac is nothing with the rest of the music industry? Tupac is the Mecca of our generation and the modern day 'Marvin Gaye' and Black Elvis! so shhhhhh!:D

[Dean Winchester]

Originally posted by Nirvana
gwen hates madonna. well she liked her as a teen. She called her a skank in some interview(91 i think) a long long time ago, since she was using her whoreness to sell her music.Debbie Harry is/was her idol. Madonna and No Doubts music is nothing alike. justins just copying what mj was doing years ago. i hate him.

out of curiousity tho. Why do you hate Madonna? I find it hard to believe anyone who grew up in the 1980's and likes that style of music would hate her. Okay, Like A Virgin and Material Girl were fluffy Britney-type songs, but she's been "legitimate" ever since 1989 with critics. Madonna is to a generation what Elvis was to his generation, and The Beatles were to theirs. Yes, she is no great shakes when it comes to singing, but any Madonna fan knows she is not Mariah or Celine as a vocalist, it's common knowledge. For most of us in our 20's and early 30's, Madonna is THE icon of our generation.

[Mr. Stefani]

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
out of curiousity tho. Why do you hate Madonna? I find it hard to believe anyone who grew up in the 1980's and likes that style of music would hate her. Okay, Like A Virgin and Material Girl were fluffy Britney-type songs, but she's been "legitimate" ever since 1989 with critics. Madonna is to a generation what Elvis was to his generation, and The Beatles were to theirs. Yes, she is no great shakes when it comes to singing, but any Madonna fan knows she is not Mariah or Celine as a vocalist, it's common knowledge. For most of us in our 20's and early 30's, Madonna is THE icon of our generation.

My sister loves her, so i've pretty much her all her stuff. I don't like her music at all. I can't stand her voice or her music. Its dreadful. and I don't like that style of music. I don't like crap. Growing up I was more into alt and ska. I think its an Orange County thing.

[SBTB Geek]

Originally posted by RJ
PLZ BE QUIET!!!! ask eminem who is the greatest and how can you say Tupac is nothing with the rest of the music industry? Tupac is the Mecca of our generation and the modern day 'Marvin Gaye' and Black Elvis! so shhhhhh!:D

Who are you to be the spokesperson for our generation?... You are just one in a million. It's not even right to compare him with Marvin Gaye, and Elvis, they broke down barries, and created art.
I'm not saying that Tupac is nothing to rest of the music industry. It's just that he isn't worthy to be on a list with those fellow musicians. He was a great RAP act, but not great to the overall music audience. Maybe if he didn't associate himself with losers, I would of seen him a different way. That's why I think his work pre-Death Row is the best.

Of course if you ask Eminem he will say Tupac is best. He's just being modest.

[AllIWantIsYourClutch]

Originally posted by SBTB Geek
Tupac doesn't fit well on that list. He was good, but in no means he was great. In his own genre, he was a genius, but with the rest of the music world, he wasn't much. Eminem took away his throne. I agree.

[RJ]

Originally posted by TradingMooses
I agree.
Hmmm alright, you guys dont know much do ya? I have video tapes of people from every music genre you can think of the give it up for 2Pac .... Y cant 2Pac be compared to Elvis? Well guess what, he is and he is even considered the 'Black Jesus' ... next time plz come back with better replies and face it 2Pac is one of the greatest people to come in music EVER... the list says it itself and yes you can say it was a show but it was a poll and fans make Legends and I believe the fans have spoken!:D

[¤I Love Clay Aiken¤]

Originally posted by Nirvana
justins just copying what mj was doing years ago. i hate him. And hes good at it. He can dance and he can sing. I was never a big fan of Madonna, but I still love her songs and I like he shes not afraid to shock people. As for that list, Im also surprised Mariah Carey didnt make the list. I watched her discography thing on VH1 and she broke so many records and had some many #1's. But hits dont necessarily make you the greatest artist of all time. Also, wheres Prince?

[~*Hannah_Lee*~]

Originally posted by RJ
cant 2Pac be compared to Elvis? Well guess what, he is and he is even considered the 'Black Jesus' ... next time plz come back with better replies and face it 2Pac is one of the greatest people to come in music EVER
Tupac and Elvis will NEVER be in the same category. NEVER. Elvis changed the face of rock and roll and set the standard for music to come. Tupac's accomplishments cannot compare to that. "Black Jesus"??? Whatever...no one can be compared to Jesus....but sure not him. If you was gonna try to compare anyone to Jesus it would be someone like Moses or Noah or Paul or John....but Tupac??? That's hilarious. I understand you're a fan, but he's not the greatest. I mean, you don't see me comparing Kurt Cobain to Elvis or Jesus because I think he's great. He was great to me, but he's the greatest ever.

[SBTB Geek]

Hmmm alright, you guys dont know much do ya?
We know what real music is, and what deserves such recognition.

I have video tapes of people from every music genre you can think of the give it up for 2Pac ....
One or two people cannot speak for an entire genre of music. Next topic...

cant 2Pac be compared to Elvis?
Because Elvis was groundbreaking, and one of a kind. His music touched more people's lives than Tupac's. His audience was wider.

Well guess what, he is and he is even considered the 'Black Jesus' ...
You idiot, how dare you compare a freaking pot head, drug addict to Jesus!!! Please just keep religion out of this...

... next time plz come back with better replies
I'm not here to give you want. If my replies don't satisfy you... GET OVER IT.

face it 2Pac is one of the greatest people to come in music EVER...
I agree, but he doesn't belong with those artists who are GREATER.


the list says it itself and yes you can say it was a show but it was a poll and fans make Legends and I believe the fans have spoken!

LOL... the list was created by Access Hollywood... a ridiculous talk/gossip program. Are you sure the fans voted?... or did the producers of the show.
Those polls are rigged all the time anyways.

Next time come up with better replies. Or just keeping on thinking of him as the "Black Jesus." :wave:

[Crimson and Clover]

Originally posted by RJ
Y cant 2Pac be compared to Elvis?


Cause Elvis is a 10000000000 times better than 2Pac

[Dean Winchester]

Originally posted by ~*Hannah_Lee*~
Tupac and Elvis will NEVER be in the same category. NEVER. Elvis changed the face of rock and roll and set the standard for music to come. Tupac's accomplishments cannot compare to that. "Black Jesus"??? Whatever...no one can be compared to Jesus....but sure not him. If you was gonna try to compare anyone to Jesus it would be someone like Moses or Noah or Paul or John....but Tupac??? That's hilarious. I understand you're a fan, but he's not the greatest. I mean, you don't see me comparing Kurt Cobain to Elvis or Jesus because I think he's great. He was great to me, but he's the greatest ever.

I agree. I'm not very religious, but I know better than to compare a singer or actor I like to Jesus. If you like Tupac, that's great. But Tupac DOES NOT COMPARE TO JESUS CHRIST!! I am not church-going and I have a lot of beef with fundamentalist Christians, but still, I see sacreligious when I see it. No dead singer. Not Tupac, not Elvis, not Lennon, not Cobain, NOBODY. Is in Jesus's league

[Mr. Stefani]

Jesus is white?:confused: Theres a Jesus?:confused:

[RJ]

thats the 1st time Tupac has beem put in a high recognition like this .... also I can compare whoever I want ... the Hip Hop crowd on tv , radio compare 2Pac to Elvis and Jesus, talk to them about it! 2Pac is an Icon, Icon... do I have to say again? Icon... he has sold around 100 million albums world-wide, I know Elvis has sold more but think about it Elvis is 'white' ... 2Pac was a young n*gga from the hood and made people world-wide feel what he is saying ... and still does today ... he releases double albums constantly every year ... and with Elvis only his DIE HARD fans mellow with him still, but he is cool!

[Dean Winchester]

Originally posted by RJ
thats the 1st time Tupac has beem put in a high recognition like this .... also I can compare whoever I want ... the Hip Hop crowd on tv , radio compare 2Pac to Elvis and Jesus, talk to them about it! 2Pac is an Icon, Icon... do I have to say again? Icon... he has sold around 100 million albums world-wide, I know Elvis has sold more but think about it Elvis is 'white' ... 2Pac was a young n*gga from the hood and made people world-wide feel what he is saying ... and still does today ... he releases double albums constantly every year ... and with Elvis only his DIE HARD fans mellow with him still, but he is cool!

Comparing 2Pac and Elvis is one thing. Elvis was a man. Jesus is another thing. I am not practicing with religion, but still.

[AllIWantIsYourClutch]

Originally posted by RJ
thats the 1st time Tupac has beem put in a high recognition like this .... also I can compare whoever I want ... the Hip Hop crowd on tv , radio compare 2Pac to Elvis and Jesus, talk to them about it! 2Pac is an Icon, Icon... do I have to say again? Icon... he has sold around 100 million albums world-wide, I know Elvis has sold more but think about it Elvis is 'white' ... 2Pac was a young n*gga from the hood and made people world-wide feel what he is saying ... and still does today ... he releases double albums constantly every year ... and with Elvis only his DIE HARD fans mellow with him still, but he is cool! Wow. Okay no.

The only similarity between 2Pac and Elvis is that people have doubted if their dead or not.

2Pac can NEVER be compared to Elvis.

[Crimson and Clover]

Originally posted by RJ
thats the 1st time Tupac has beem put in a high recognition like this .... also I can compare whoever I want ... the Hip Hop crowd on tv , radio compare 2Pac to Elvis and Jesus, talk to them about it! 2Pac is an Icon, Icon... do I have to say again? Icon... he has sold around 100 million albums world-wide, I know Elvis has sold more but think about it Elvis is 'white' ... 2Pac was a young n*gga from the hood and made people world-wide feel what he is saying ... and still does today ... he releases double albums constantly every year ... and with Elvis only his DIE HARD fans mellow with him still, but he is cool!

Do you think Elvis was some rich guy when he started out, cause he wasnt. His family was very poor, they couldnt even pay the fees when he was born.

[Tammy]

Originally posted by RJ

05. Frank Sinatra
02. Michael Jackson
01. Elvis Presley

I guess I agree with those ones (still not sure). I don't really know much about any of these artists, and wouldn't consider myself a fan of any (except Elvis).

[britt britt]

Originally posted by RJ


10. Sting
08. James Brown
07. Tina Turner
06. Bob Dylan
05. Frank Sinatra
04. Elton John
01. Elvis Presley

I like them. Sting and Bob Dylan especially.

[Fez619]

You can't compare Jesus to anyone, it is ridiculous.

But, anyway the reason why Tupac will never been in the same catergory as Elvis is because A) 2pac is black, there is way too much racism in this world B) 2pac is a rapper. That is a bad combo. In terms of ground breaking Elvis wins hands down no question about it. But in terms of a voice for the world Tupac is the winner. Elvis isn't even in the same league when it comes to that. There are classes being taught at colleges based on Tupac. Tupac IS in the same league as Elvis. Don't say he isn't because he is. But, sadly he never been considerd that way on a national basis because of his genre of music. People don't tend to care about rappers say in most cases they are right. But, 2pac is the exception. 2pac deserves to be given the credit he deserves. 2pac not in the same catergory as Elvis whatever, man. He is whether anyone likes it or not.

Don't compare Elvis' life to 2pac's. They lived much different lives. There is a difference between poor, and really freakin' poor. Elvis' family might have been poor but 2pac was below poor. All he had was a two sweatshirts, and a pair of pants. Also, a mattress with no sheets. Don't believe me ask Jada Pinkett Smith as she said it herself. In case you don't know they were very good friends back in the day.

Elvis' family actually loved him. Everybody talks about how 2pac's mom loved him so much well not really into pac started making it big. Yeah she loved but you have to understand for most of pac's childhood she was addicted to crack. 2pac's own dad has said that pac had such a hard life that some the things were way too explicted to say.

Well, I'm done for now I might have more to say later.

[BowWowsBaby]

Originally posted by RJ
Does everyone agree with the list?

I do for sure, it has the best of the best of ALL TIME!

Elvis, Micheal, Frank, Madonna, Sting, Tupac

Damn the list is unbelieveable! :D

no.....I'm still lookin for Aretha Franklin :mad:

[Hollow]

10. Sting
09. Tupac
08. James Brown
07. Tina Turner
06. Bob Dylan
05. Frank Sinatra
04. Elton John
03. Madonna
02. Michael Jackson
01. Elvis Presley
what RCAP.

[USTVFanFromUK]

Originally posted by Mr. Stefani
gwen hates madonna. well she liked her as a teen. She called her a skank in some interview(91 i think) a long long time ago, since she was using her whoreness to sell her music.Debbie Harry is/was her idol. Madonna and No Doubts music is nothing alike. justins just copying what mj was doing years ago. i hate him.
Ummmm.
http://launch.yahoo.com/read/news.asp?contentID=206467

No Doubt's Gwen Stefani And Madonna: Kissin' Cousins Of A Sort
(LAUNCH, 10/31/2001 5:00 PM)

By Kastle

(10/31/01, 5 p.m. ET) -- It seems that two of pops most visible divas are related, albeit distantly. No Doubt's Gwen Stefani tells LAUNCH that she shares the same gene pool as Madonna, dating back to when Stefani's grandfather and his family moved from Italy to Detroit, where Stefani's father lived until he was 11.

"We really are related because, just pay attention closely: My grandma's sister's husband's mother is a Ciccone from Detroit," she says. "I just always say that story 'cause I think it's funny." Madonna's surname, of course, is Ciccone.

Stefani says there haven't been a lot of family gatherings, but she has met Madonna and has very high regard for her: "She's a sweetie and she's always been really cool to me and, "She's a sweetie and she's always been really cool to me and, I mean, it's one thing...it's like growing up in the '80s and stuff, being from the scene that I was in. Like, I was totally into ska music and when you're that age you're like militant about it, you know, and of course at that age everything around me was--like, any pop music or Madonna or anything--was like, 'Whatever,' you know what I mean? And, you know, after being a female in music for all these years and watching what she's done and how she's been able to maintain this career and keep people interested after all this time, and to grow older in front of people and still be sexy and all those things, obviously I've grown to really admire her," she says.
No Doubt, which plays the second of 10 opening dates for U2 on November 5 in Austin, Texas, is preparing for the December 18 release of its new album, Rock Steady. Madonna releases a second greatest-hits album on November 13.

Yep! Gwen sure does hate Madonna. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Penny Lane]

Geez, what an asinine list! No Paul, John or George? Yikes!

Paul and John especially. The most prolific singer/songwriters of the 20th century for heavens sake! Who made this list? I'm popping my cork!:mad: :eek: :rolleyes:

[BowWowsBaby]

Originally posted by Penny Lane
Geez, what an asinine list! No Paul, John or George? Yikes!


Or Aretha :eek:

[Shine]

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
out of curiousity tho. Why do you hate Madonna? I find it hard to believe anyone who grew up in the 1980's and likes that style of music would hate her. Okay, Like A Virgin and Material Girl were fluffy Britney-type songs, but she's been "legitimate" ever since 1989 with critics. Madonna is to a generation what Elvis was to his generation, and The Beatles were to theirs. Yes, she is no great shakes when it comes to singing, but any Madonna fan knows she is not Mariah or Celine as a vocalist, it's common knowledge. For most of us in our 20's and early 30's, Madonna is THE icon of our generation.

Hey, wait a second here, "Like A Virgin" and "Material Girl" are two of Madonna's best songs! :) Actually, it is the stuff that she has done since 1989 that really turns me off. I can't imagine people remembering her for "Ray of Light". The most recent Madonna CD I own is Like A Prayer. My older sister (she's 30) is a huge Madonna fan, but she says that her last couple of CD's have been poor.

[jekouptown]

ELVIS....HAHA.
Like CHUCK D said.
Elvis was a hero to most
But he never meant ---- to me you see
Straight up racist that sucker was
Simple and plain
Mother---- him and John Wayne

and JAMES BROWN was a much better ENTERTAINER.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally posted by jekouptown
ELVIS....HAHA.
Like CHUCK D said.
Elvis was a hero to most
But he never meant ---- to me you see
Straight up racist that sucker was
Simple and plain
Mother---- him and John Wayne

and JAMES BROWN was a much better ENTERTAINER.

why do a number of African-Americans hate Elvis with such passion. And do not say "because white people won't get over him". Remember 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G.? I'm waiting for people to get over their deaths, and it hasn't happened. So don't criticise Elvis fans for still being torn up if you're still upset over Tupac. Hell, Marvin Gaye has been dead 20 years and many people still aren't over him yet, so don't turn around and do this "you need to get over Elvis and John Lennon" crap... get over Marvin and Tupac first before pointing fingers.

I am not a huge Elvis fan but he was a good entertainer. Yes, he was white, no he never tried to win over an r&b audience (and nowadays people like Christina and Justin and J. Lo are trying too hard to win over the r&b market). But he was good at what he did.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally posted by dukey
Hey, wait a second here, "Like A Virgin" and "Material Girl" are two of Madonna's best songs! :) Actually, it is the stuff that she has done since 1989 that really turns me off. I can't imagine people remembering her for "Ray of Light". The most recent Madonna CD I own is Like A Prayer. My older sister (she's 30) is a huge Madonna fan, but she says that her last couple of CD's have been poor.

well, 1989 was the "changing" year for Madonna. Like A Prayer was the last of her true Pop cd's, but it was also the first of her more mature experimental cd's that continues to this day.

Music and American Life are two of her best albums, it's just people don't know what to make of Madonna singing guitar-driven music... they expect electronic dance-pop, and if they hear guitars, they feel betrayed. I thought Ray Of Light was her most overrated album, critics and audiences loved it, but most hardcore fans I know thought the album was crap. There were good songs on it, but people were so crazy over it just because it was a new (at least for the mainstream) sound. The albums surrounding it were superior to it IMO.

[vashti1999]

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
why do a number of African-Americans hate Elvis with such passion. And do not say "because white people won't get over him". Remember 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G.? I'm waiting for people to get over their deaths, and it hasn't happened. So don't criticise Elvis fans for still being torn up if you're still upset over Tupac. Hell, Marvin Gaye has been dead 20 years and many people still aren't over him yet, so don't turn around and do this "you need to get over Elvis and John Lennon" crap... get over Marvin and Tupac first before pointing fingers.

I am not a huge Elvis fan but he was a good entertainer. Yes, he was white, no he never tried to win over an r&b audience (and nowadays people like Christina and Justin and J. Lo are trying too hard to win over the r&b market). But he was good at what he did.





It's not about people not being able to get over someone who died. (I really don't see anyone who hasn't gotten over the passing of Marvin Gaye.) The thing is that you had people like Little Richard and Chuck Berry doing the same thing Elvis became known for doing it before Elvis did it, and he's since been put up on a pedestal that Berry, Richard, etc. could only dream of. Elvis was basically the music that those guys did with a pretty, white face on it. Like you said, he never tried to win over an r&b audience so why would an r&b audience like him? It's the history of someone other than Blacks having great success with something seen as a creation by Blacks and not at least acknowledging it.

[AKA]

Originally posted by vashti1999
It's not about people not being able to get over someone who died. (I really don't see anyone who hasn't gotten over the passing of Marvin Gaye.) The thing is that you had people like Little Richard and Chuck Berry doing the same thing Elvis became known for doing it before Elvis did it, and he's since been put up on a pedestal that Berry, Richard, etc. could only dream of. Elvis was basically the music that those guys did with a pretty, white face on it. Like you said, he never tried to win over an r&b audience so why would an r&b audience like him? It's the history of someone other than Blacks having great success with something seen as a creation by Blacks and not at least acknowledging it. Yeah. I think those guys deserve more cred than Elvis (I'm really not a fan of his). The first white guy to do anything revolutionary with rock music would probably be Jerry Lee Lewis, not Elvis.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally posted by vashti1999
It's not about people not being able to get over someone who died. (I really don't see anyone who hasn't gotten over the passing of Marvin Gaye.) The thing is that you had people like Little Richard and Chuck Berry doing the same thing Elvis became known for doing it before Elvis did it, and he's since been put up on a pedestal that Berry, Richard, etc. could only dream of. Elvis was basically the music that those guys did with a pretty, white face on it. Like you said, he never tried to win over an r&b audience so why would an r&b audience like him? It's the history of someone other than Blacks having great success with something seen as a creation by Blacks and not at least acknowledging it.

true, but Eminem is exactly the same thing as Elvis (aka, a white dude doing a "black" genre and suddenly becomes far bigger than his influences) but nobody hates him. One rap zine has been out to destroy Eminem, but most people actually laugh at how pathetic they are in their attempts to knock him down.

But about the "why would an r&b audience respect someone who doesn't pander to them". For example, Kurt Cobain never tried to appeal to an r&b audience, and while Nirvana might not be well-liked in the urban community, you never see him getting the same wrath of hatred Elvis gets. But I think these days, POP acts like Justin, Christina and J. Lo are trying way too hard to be acceptable in r&b circles to the point it is really annoying, and all three of them I liked better when they were just making pop music and not trying to make sure they impress anyone.

But was Elvis really as racist as people make it out to be? If I recall correctly, wasn't Whitney Houston's mother a backup singer who toured with Elvis for years? I highly doubt even in the 70's that an African-American would work for someone who hated black people... even if they had the fame and money that Elvis does.

[jekouptown]

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
why do a number of African-Americans hate Elvis with such passion. And do not say "because white people won't get over him". Remember 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G.? I'm waiting for people to get over their deaths, and it hasn't happened. So don't criticise Elvis fans for still being torn up if you're still upset over Tupac. Hell, Marvin Gaye has been dead 20 years and many people still aren't over him yet, so don't turn around and do this "you need to get over Elvis and John Lennon" crap... get over Marvin and Tupac first before pointing fingers.

I am not a huge Elvis fan but he was a good entertainer. Yes, he was white, no he never tried to win over an r&b audience (and nowadays people like Christina and Justin and J. Lo are trying too hard to win over the r&b market). But he was good at what he did.

You make a good point. There are a number of African Americans that don't feel as strong about ELVIS as most. We are not making TEESHIRTS that read "fugg elvis" so hate is a strong word. I read a transcript of an interview with ELVIS. He said this " all black people can do is shine my shoes and buy my records".
Now when BALLY said they didn't like the way blacks wear the bally shoes we quit wearing them. Now BALLY regrets making such a statement.
I think 2PAC was good. I am from NY and we are big BIGGIE SMALLS fans so I am not sticking up for 2PAC here. I don't really understand why BOB DYLAN or TINA TURNER made the list personally. I would think ELTON JOHN, LENNY KRAVITZ, THE CARPENTER GIRL...LYNARD SKYNARD. To me if you reach every audience then you can be called GREAT. If ELVIS didn't reach the african american audience then how did he touch so many people. Maybe like CLAY AIKENs fans do the fans of ELVIS purchased three and four copies of his music making it a hit on the charts.
I have a question for you...why is it ELVIS can go from gospel to rock and nobody says anything but KANYE west makes one song called 'JESUS WALKS' and he is the biggest hypocrite ever.?

[Dean Winchester]

well, Elvis was in a different era. Remember 15-20 years ago, people like Prince could put a gospel song, a funk song, and a rock song on the same album, and nobody flinched... yet today you get somebody like Pink who does an r&b song and a rock song and suddenly "I don't believe the audacity of that sellout hypocrite".

The problem with ALL genres of music right now is that it's too much of an "us" vs. "them" idea. There's very very few crossovers these days. 20 years ago, Lionel Richie was able to score hits on the pop, r&b, adult contemporary, dance and even the country chart, basically all of the major singles charts except Album Rock. Yet today you will never see an artist come out who has the across-the-board appeal. The country market only embraces the country artists, the r&b market only embraces the r&b artists, the rock market only embraces the rock artists. So it makes it really dificult for any current artist who is across the board to really get their well-deserved success. Nowadays you either have to be rock, or country, or hip hop, or r&b, or whatever else.

[Fez619]

Notorious BIG lied about his life even his mom said so. So...I don't think he deserves to be apart of this discussion.

I agree with what BuffySlayer79 said.

[vashti1999]

article from the NY Daily News:

Rock 'n' brawl

Mag's crowning of The King draws ire of black group

BY ADAM NICHOLS
DAILY NEWS WRITER

A group of black activists, including singers Dionne Warwick and Chuck Jackson, are all shook up about Rolling Stone's claim that rock 'n' roll is the birth child of The King.
The magazine's current issue celebrates the 50th anniversary of rock, tracing the genre's origin to Elvis Presley's first recordings.

"I knew Elvis personally, and he would be the first person to say, 'Don't say I started rock 'n' roll,' " said Jackson.

"Without black artists like Little Richard and Chuck Berry, Elvis wouldn't have got started. He would be playing country-and-Western."

Jackson was one of a handful of people from the group Millions for Reparations who protested outside Rolling Stone's midtown offices yesterday.

Saying the magazine "whitewashed" the early contributions of black artists, the group vowed to demonstrate again tonight and tomorrow at anniversary concerts planned for the Roseland Ballroom.

"Those who built the foundations of rock 'n' roll, people like Little Richard and Bo Diddley, are having their contributions negated," said Warwick. "That is completely unfair."

It seems like these people just didn't exist, but in reality they made rock 'n' roll."

The special edition of the magazine features artsy photographs of rock 'n' roll stars - from Elvis to Sting and U2. Black artists, among them Jimi Hendrix and Janet Jackson, are included.

Rolling Stone spokeswoman Lisa Dallos said Elvis' recordings half a century ago were a huge landmark for rock music, which is why they are being credited with its birth.

But, she said, "We totally acknowledge the contribution of black artists to rock music. In our immortal list of the 50 Top Rock Artists, seven black artists are in the top 11."

The Roseland concerts, sponsored by the magazine, will feature black artists, including James Brown, Diddley and Lenny Kravitz, she said.

[Dean Winchester]

people need to understand the thing with Elvis (even tho Little Richard had it too but doesn't seem to get the same credit) is that he had star power. He was someone who walked into a room and commanded everyone's attention.

A good comparison would be singing-wise (at least in the 1980's), Madonna was FAR from the best female vocalist of her era, she had nothing pipewise next to Alison Moyet or Annie Lennox or Irene Cara, and her early songs were hardly genius in the era... but she was a phenomenal entertainer, had star power, sex appeal and was charismatic, which really rocketed her to levels that might've not happened if she was a stiff entertainer. I

Even if people dislike Elvis, they really cannot deny that the man was born to be a star. Maybe he didn't "invent" rock n roll, but he was the first superstar. Nobody denies there were British acts in the US before Feb 8, 1964... but pretty much everyone agrees the "British Invasion" began with the Beatles. I think it's the same difference with Elvis as it is with Beatles or Madonna. It's the star power.