Guest Elamin Abdelmahmoud discusses Lenny Kravitz's recent comments on the disconnect between black radio/publications and his music. They explore Kravitz's early life, his album 'Mama Said', the song 'Believe', and iconic hits like 'Fly Away' and 'American Woman'.
Lenny Kravitz's universal appeal can be attributed to his ability to create catchy, feel-good songs that transcend specific genres and resonate with a wide variety of listeners.
Lenny Kravitz's importance lies in his talent for distilling and progressing musical ideas, making him a bridge between generations.
Deep dives
Lenny Kravitz's Versatile and Democratic Appeal
Lenny Kravitz is known for his wide appeal, with songs like 'Are You Gonna Go My Way' and 'It Ain't Over Till It's Over' resonating with a broad audience. He has the ability to evoke different eras and genres, from rock to funk to R&B and more. While he may not have a dedicated fan base or passionate super fans, his music is universally liked and appreciated. Lenny's democratic appeal can be attributed to his ability to create catchy, feel-good songs that transcend specific genres and resonate with a wide variety of listeners.
Lenny Kravitz as an Important Musician
Lenny Kravitz is considered to be an important musician in the music industry due to his ability to take musical ideas from previous eras and evolve them into something new. Artists like Bruno Mars and Billy Joel have also demonstrated this skill. While opinions differ on whether Lenny Kravitz is a good or bad artist, his importance lies in his talent for distilling and progressing musical ideas, making him a bridge between generations.
Lenny Kravitz's Genre Agnosticism
Lenny Kravitz's music defies categorization within specific genres, making it challenging to label him as a typical artist of the 90s. He successfully navigated multiple genres and created songs that appealed to various radio formats. Being genre agnostic during a time when genre distinctions mattered, Lenny Kravitz challenged conventions and blended elements of rock, soul, and other influences into his music. This willingness to experiment and incorporate different musical influences contributes to his uniqueness and creative output.
Rob looks back at his MTV watching days as a child in the late 80s before turning his attention to Lenny Kravitz. Along the way in his monologue, Rob highlights Kravitz’s appearance on ‘The Arsenio Hall Show’ in 1991 and the perceived disconnect between black radio/publications and Kravitz’s music. Later, Rob is joined by writer Elamin Abdelmahmoud to further discuss Kravitz’s recent comments on this disconnect.