Pharrell GQ Interview Responds To GIRL Album Cover Critics
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blackrain
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First, he reminded GQ’s Zach Baron that there was indeed a Black woman on the album. She simply had light skin. Later in the interview, however, he explained that being Black is about so much more than a skin color.
“This is the new Black,” he said after questioning why so many Black people are interested in tearing each other down. “Oprah Winfrey: That’s the new Black. She’s a Black billionaire. President Obama: He is a Black American president…That’s the new Black. LeBron James: the first Black man ever shot on a Vogue cover, a Black man. Me: a guy that’s written a song at 40! Nominated for an Oscar, four Grammy awards – at 40! That’s the new Black!”
He then added, “Black is a spirit, and it is ubiquitous.”
The award-winning producer also believes that insecurity caused some Black women to be upset with his album cover.
“There were a lot of Black women that were really angry at some of those girls, but some of those girls are the ones that instantly get mad when they don’t see somebody that’s dark,” he said. “And it’s like: ‘Yo, you don’t need nobody to represent you. You represent you. You represent the best version of who you could be. You go out there and change the world.’ Because I’m Black, and I wouldn’t trade my skin color for nothing. But I don’t need to keep wearing a badge that tells you that I’m Black every time I do something!”
Pharrell on Album Cover Controversy After pointing out that his mother is Black and she runs his company and that his wife is Black, Pharrell dove deeper into the real issue surrounding the album cover controversy – people who are assigning levels to “Blackness.”
The Black woman on the cover didn’t receive recognition as being Black simply because she was of a lighter complexion.
“So why are we still having this conversation?” he asked. “Because look:” Lenny Kravitz is biracial, but to me and everybody else I know, he’s known as one of the biggest Black rock stars of all time. Our president: He’s biracial! Mom was white, daddy was Black, and he is Black. So what do you want me to do, go picket in front of the White House that he’s not Black enough?”
According to Pharrell, instead of trying to “point around and ask for that kind of sympathy,” Black people should “get together ourselves and support ourselves.
Comments
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Ain't He Half Sewer Rat Tho?
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I would have preferred pharrell just say those complaining ass ? can kiss his ass. Folks act like the black color range is only dark ass pigmentation. Stupid ? ...let that man cook.
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I would have preferred pharrell just say those complaining ass ? can kiss his ass. Folks act like the black color range is only dark ass pigmentation. Stupid ? ...let that man cook.
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Pharell my dude..but that ? is non sensual and exactly what we fear
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He should respond to the album being flat garbage.
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I think that is the move to show you have really made it in the music industry and ascended beyond. Put the token BW in and you have your cover and cover story against the backlash.
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I don't see why there was even a controversy.
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He should've have responded to that ? with more than two sentences
These the same hoes that have no words for link Wayne and his anti dark skin women comments -
This sounds evasive to me. Skin color is essential to blackness, and what does all of that stuff about Obama and Oprah have to do with the charges of his critics?
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Pharrell's been saying what I've been saying all along.
But the truth is (and I'm sure I'll be banned or flagged down for this even tho it's The real).
People who prefer darkskinned females are in the minority of the world. Its nothing racist or self hating or slanderous or brainwashed, its just what the majority prefers.
And u shouldn't have to wear some Badge Of Blackness (that's more than likely a front) as he says for conversation purposes. Especially around other Black People - other Groups is another story.
Like cmon people, Lupita is not tha baddest darkskinned woman in the world, she's a 2 with the body of a 10 year old boy but yet we're championing that like she's a dime becuz some ? have Insecurity Issues. And I definitely understand it but it looks silly - and in her case it is silly.
Props to Pharrell for speaking the real. Becuz not only are most Black People Brown anyway but the notion that we have to cosign every darkskinned woman who's in shape/thick that gets on JUST BECUZ she's darkskinned isnt really keepin it real.
I could end up wifing a darkskinned woman and end up with a darkskinned daughter but my own choice still doesn't change the fact. U have to be mature to really understand that.
So in Pharrell's case darkskinned women aren't doing anything but projecting their own negative stereotypes. Which is a cancer that they have to heal. Can't nobody do it except for them. We already got unconditional love for em but they don't have it for themselves for one reason or another -
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Actually @MoneyLuver dropping some truth for real...
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@Dr.Chemix I'm only keepin it 100. ? wanna diss you soooo bad if you ain't say them or theirs ain't the greatest, whether it's true or not.
Its just like I said becuz it's just what it is, Most black People are some shade of brown.
Honestly doe, when I speak on something (anything), I try to stray away from using my own personal opinion as much as possible. I never want to be one of those "know it all" type people
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just have more than just light skinned on there simple solution...
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I don't really care, but I will say THIS:
Those folks saying that it aint no big deal would probably flip if Mary J. Blige released the "BOY" album..
And on the cover she's surrounded by White (or White-looking) men.
And don't lie and say it wouldn't bother you, because most of y'all would have something slick to say about that.
But, like I said, I don't really care about this dude's album cover...
..But, he knew what he was doing when he chose those broads to be on his album cover.
He probably wanted it to appeal to a more mainstream audience.
Oh-well.
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I.C. Male: "Why Mary aint got no Brothers on her album cover. Ol' sellout ? !"
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Low self esteem black ? always looking for acceptance and confirmation in other places OTHER THAN THEMSELVES. lol
Pharrell don't owe them ? ? , tell them ? to work on their self esteem.
It's like fat ? protesting Beyoncé to put fat male leads in her videos. lol People have preferences, not everyone has to like your type. -
MoneyLuver wrote: »@Dr.Chemix I'm only keepin it 100. ? wanna diss you soooo bad if you ain't say them or theirs ain't the greatest, whether it's true or not.
Its just like I said becuz it's just what it is, Most black People are some shade of brown.
Honestly doe, when I speak on something (anything), I try to stray away from using my own personal opinion as much as possible. I never want to be one of those "know it all" type people
You don't put your personal opinion but yet lupita is a 2 gtfoh -
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Darth Sidious wrote: »I think that is the move to show you have really made it in the music industry and ascended beyond. Put the token BW in and you have your cover and cover story against the backlash.
IS THIS COVER REAL?
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that horse ? . race is a social construct based on skin color.
and if the color of a ? skin is unattractive to u, you're a homosexual... which is cool... -
I just use her as The example. And since this is about Pharrell's album cover and the big "controversy" is skin tone it just goes hand in hand.
I promise to stop beating a dead horse tho. I italicked that part just attempting to let y'all know that.En-Fuego22 wrote: »MoneyLuver wrote: »@Dr.Chemix I'm only keepin it 100. ? wanna diss you soooo bad if you ain't say them or theirs ain't the greatest, whether it's true or not.
Its just like I said becuz it's just what it is, Most black People are some shade of brown.
Honestly doe, when I speak on something (anything), I try to stray away from using my own personal opinion as much as possible. I never want to be one of those "know it all" type people
You don't put your personal opinion but yet lupita is a 2 gtfoh
Nyongo = 2 - Fact / a 3 tops. Nothing higher than that
Unsweetened Iced Tea = Greatest drink created - Opinion
I do believe in the phrase "what you eat don't make me ? " but ugly is ugly. There is no "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" clause in her case. ? looks like a diseased fruit bat -
INCREDIBLE_DRO wrote: »Darth Sidious wrote: »I think that is the move to show you have really made it in the music industry and ascended beyond. Put the token BW in and you have your cover and cover story against the backlash.
IS THIS COVER REAL?
fan made -
MoneyLuver wrote: »I just use her as The example. And since this is about Pharrell's album cover and the big "controversy" is skin tone it just goes hand in hand.
I promise to stop beating a dead horse tho. I italicked that part just attempting to let y'all know that.En-Fuego22 wrote: »MoneyLuver wrote: »@Dr.Chemix I'm only keepin it 100. ? wanna diss you soooo bad if you ain't say them or theirs ain't the greatest, whether it's true or not.
Its just like I said becuz it's just what it is, Most black People are some shade of brown.
Honestly doe, when I speak on something (anything), I try to stray away from using my own personal opinion as much as possible. I never want to be one of those "know it all" type people
You don't put your personal opinion but yet lupita is a 2 gtfoh
Nyongo = 2 - Fact / a 3 tops. Nothing higher than that
Unsweetened Iced Tea = Greatest drink created - Opinion
I do believe in the phrase "what you eat don't make me ? " but ugly is ugly. There is no "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" clause in her case. ? looks like a diseased fruit bat
You can not log on again good day -
Lol @ saying color or complexion doesn't matter.
Rule #1 for American marketing... Avoid race. Place white or undescribable race in ad.
