Sometimes you read these quotes from celebrities and you have to ask yourself, “did they really say that?” We, as humans, can say some really outlandish things at times but unlike celebrities, someone isn’t always recording or holding us accountable.
In a recent sit down with The Guardian, pop singer Tinashe sat down to discuss the state of her career. Being called the “next Aaliyah” early on and even teaming up with hit maker, DJ Mustard, for a song or two, it’s obvious that Tinashe’s career has hit an uncomfortable plateau. Many would say it because she keeps giving us the same song over and over again. Others would say they’re tired of the same cheerleader-esque routine she gives us during performances and in her videos. The true Tinashe fans have been waiting for a follow-up album, Joyride, that was 18 months ago and the label refuses to release it. So what’s the real problem?
According to Tinashe, she admits maturely that things haven’t always gone according to plan and that’s life. She goes on to state that sexism in the music industry is real. “It’s so much easier for male artists, I know it is,” she says. “Male artists don’t really co-sign female artists like that, and if they do it’s always like, ‘Are they fucking?’ It’s never, “oh, I really like her music.”
Despite being on tour with headliners such as Justin Bieber, Katy Perry Nicki Minaj, collaborating with Britney Spears and being hand-picked by Janet Jackson for her 2015 BET Awards tribute, Tinashe is also calling out fans for only allowing a couple of successful black female artists at any given time.
“Recently, my cousin was with a friend of a friend, who was in high school, and she was like: ‘I’m a fan of Kehlani,’ but in a way that was like, ‘So I can’t be a fan of Tinashe, too.’ Then my friend posed the question, ‘Why not be a fan of both?’ It’s kind of like sports; people feel like they have to pick a side,” she shared. The real kicker was when she stated, “There are hundreds of male rappers that all look the same, that sound the same, but if you’re a black woman, you’re either Beyoncé or Rihanna. It’s very, very strange.”
Tinashe, who has never kept her mixed heritage a secret, says that remains an issue as it did growing up throughout those difficult school years. “There’s colourism involved in the black community, which is very apparent,” she explains. “It’s about trying to find a balance where I’m a mixed woman, and sometimes I feel like I don’t fully fit into the black community; they don’t fully accept me, even though I see myself as a black woman. That disconnect is confusing sometimes.” A shrug. “I am what I am.”
We’re at a loss for words, honestly. Yes, the hip-hop community is known for their super fans and their fan tribes but I’m sure you can find some people that are fans of multiple artists, no matter their skin tone or their genre. It gets old and tired real quick when people pull the race card on situations that don’t even warrant any racial motives. When certain people are used to people viewing or treating them a certain way, they grow up seeing the world through those lenses. Tinashe is a beautiful girl and a talented artist, but in order for her to move forward, she has to put those daunting insecurities to the side. Until then, we will continue to bump Rihanna and Beyonce and Ciara and Kehlani and whoever else is making heat because we love it all, no matter the shape, size or shade.
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