by
Black Girl With Long Hair
Solange has always been unique. She cut all her hair off on a whim back in 2009, she has spoken frankly about having a baby young and the freedom that came when she divorced the baby’s father, the photos from her second wedding broke the internet, she is recognized as one of the country’s most stylish celebrities, she quit Brooklyn to move to New Orleans, her son speaks fluent French. She takes pictures like this…
Anyone who has been paying attention knows that Solange Knowles is dope, insanely talented and a completely separate identity from her older sister, Beyonce. (And while we’re discussing this, shout out to Mama Tina for raising two dope black girls.)
On September 30 Solange dropped her latest album A Seat at the Table. It’s an easy listen, with Solange, in her fluttery soprano voice, offering gems of black girl wisdom (there is a song called Don’t Touch My Hair) over lush instrumentals.
The response from critics and fans was overwhelmingly positive. But Tyree Boyd-Pates a professor of Africana Studies at California State University who has written for Fusion and The Huffington Post had a different take.
First he posted a bizarre review of the album…
Okay fine, everything ain’t for everybody (although we’re still trying to figure out what “strong branding” has to do with whether music is good.)
But he took it a step further when he insinuated that the positive reviews of her album were because of her relation to Beyonce.
Cue Black Twitter, which gathered Boyd-Pates in his mentions…
We’ll file this under ‘when being casually sexist goes wrong’. Now excuse us while we listen to Cranes in the Sky one more time…
16 Responses
This startled a laugh out of me!!!
My friend’s tweet was shared!!
he’s entitled to his opinion. i don’t see the big deal…he didn’t say anything lots of ppl don’t already think. if there wasn’t some truth to it, i wouldn’t have read so many reviews saying, “she’s so much better than her sisiter!”. furthermore, i like Beyonce for what she does, but have never been interested in Solange. i don’t like her voice and never liked any of her music or her style. also, the person that tweeted a comparison to Corrine & Lianne…ummm, absolutely NOT!
The same way chimamanda was rightfully pissed when some ignorant people kept crying how ungrateful she was for Beyonce using her very famous words in her song. A complete insult to these women who struggled on their own to become who they are and y’all (beyhivers)say Beyonce is a god they should worship.
I listened to Solange’s album on Tidal because of this article. I appreciate the lyrics and the artistry. It has a very smooth sound that makes for easy listening. I even enjoy her mellow voice. It sounds like life, but prettied up and tied with a bow. I much prefer the realness and intensity of Beyonce’s music. I like to feel my music. I love hearing intense emotions that take me on a rollercoaster. Honesty though, the two really shouldn’t be compared. Completely different styles.
I think they are so different and I like them both for different reasons. It isn’t fair to compare them because they are so different. I bought Solange’s 1st album and loved it. It is OK to like both sister music. Just like you can go from listening to Trap music to listening to classical. We are allowed to like all kinds of music.
I think she would have never dropped an album if she wasn’t beyonces sister because her vocals are not that special but on the other hand beyonce would have never dropped an album without “that” voice because her personality is quite boring so at the end it’s good that the sisters have each other and complete each other
You know nothing Jon Snow. There are many awesome artists who may not have the strongest vocals and are killing it because they know who they are and display that in their art. Maybe you haven’t listened to any of her music prior to this. She just so happens to be Beyonce’s sister, but Solange as an artist has nothing to do with Beyonce. Listen to the True EP if nothing else. You’ll see.
Dude, come on really lol she is FINE and love the video
Actually I have never purchased a Beyonce album but I have purchased a Solange album. 2 totally different artists. 2 different genres too imo.
This man sounded so bitter for no reason …..
…Not a fan but I’m sure she did well..always does!
I love Solange’ music. Always have. I like her music more than Beyoncé.
Many Solange fans are not fans of Beyonce’s music tho….they have totally different aesthetics
She is perfection!
Polished, sophisticated Neo soul vibe. Well done Solange.