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Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

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by Andrew Future
Mobo has distanced itself from the ever brewing culture of homophobia in some black music by removing two nominees from this year's event.

Vybz Kartel and Elephant Man were asked for written apologies for homophobic lyrics in some of their earlier work and having failed to make them, the best reggae act category will now be contested by just Toots and The Maytals and Sean Paul.

Mobo issued a statement saying: “Mobo believes in free speech, but does not condone homophobia or bigotry and has been active, on an ongoing basis, to reduce such prejudice and broaden the debate.”

The Mobo awards take place on 30th September at London's Royal Albert Hall.

DiScuss: Surely ALL music is ‘music of black origin’? Would a ‘music of WHITE origin’ awards ceremony be condemned as racist? Should they include a ‘best bottling’ category for 50 Cent?


Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

It would be interesting if someone did create a WOBO award.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

What would that be? White Of Music Origin? That would be interesting!

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

Err.....White Of Black Origin, surely? Even more interesting, methinks.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

I think the best we can hope for is a MODO awards - music of drug origins. With catergories such as Drink, Caffiene, Religion, Blood, Herione, Acid, etc... And then a lifetime achievement award can goto Keith Richards.

And there can be audience voted sections for music best listened to under certain substances... What then? Movie awards and book awards that have drugs central to the plot? What next? Kids told drugs are ok and magic mushrooms given out with milk and cookies? Then we'll have the MOSO for music about sex.... babies in bondage...

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

all pop music may be heavily influenced and derived, at some level, from the blues, although they also have "white" influences, such as most european folk music in their lineage, making the concept of "origin" pretty much obsolete
but, unless youre getting pointlessly anthropological on our asses, europe did actually have music when there were very very few non white people?
and it isnt racist, as white people and asians and anyone else can win it.
music of purely white origin doesnt have enough of a young, contemporary following to put on a similar event, but i guess you could say the classic fm award or something are pretty close.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

There we go.

This is the kind of intelligent, rational response that so rarely gets posted on this place.

My work here is done. Off to pub for lunch.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

Yeah, MOBO's not necessarily racist, but it's pretty pointless really. Unless other mainstream awards are regularly given to folk musicians and classical composers?

N.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

I think the point of the MOBO's starting up in the first place is to give recognition to musical acts of black origin regardless of colour because they weren't getting any despite being very popular/innovative.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

you're spot-on. i don't understand why it's so readily accepted that all music is of black origin. i think it's because black people have 'got rhythm.'
the mobos aren't racist because they don't offend anyone, and like you said, anyone can win them.

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

I was reading the big issue yesterday with an interview with Ian Brown he made a fair point. Though I or Ian Brown(least he said so in the interview) have no time for homobic rubbish he brought up the point that Jamica is a different culture to ours - it would probably be better if they just didnt talk about their feelings publicly but in Jamica they are brought up on the bible...which of course talks rubbish about gays and lots of other things at that.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

the bible just talks rubbish.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

There can be no justification for prejudice. If I remember rightly, the bibical 'justification' for homophobia is a single line from the Old Testament, which Christians should view very much as a secondary text to the Gospels, which basically say love thy neighbour, with NO preconditions or exceptions. I am fed up with people perverting the messages of Christianity and Islam to suit their OWN nasty little ideas about the way the world should be.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

Christianity and Islam may mean well, but they've created so much hate and fear and....and god knows what else that I have nothing but suspicion of organised religion as a whole now...

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

What about Judaism which is based on the Old Testament, then?

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

How many jewish rappers are there anyway?

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

1/3 of Beastie Boys = jewish

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

Ali G
Whoopie Goldberg
and that ugly singer from The Realistics HAS to be Jewish.

I hear 50 Cent's turning to the Kabalah too.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

In the Old Testament, only Moses (with the Ten Commandments) came up with very clear and specific laws that were dictated to him from on high. The other prophets tended to speak in much vaguer language that is clearly open to interpretation (and is likely to have been 'interpreted' a little in thousands of years of different translations, I would say). I believe I am right in saying that the main principles of Judaism are about following the Ten Commandments.

The more.. erm.. indiosyncratic sects like Jehovahs Witnesses often place a lot of stock in the vaguer bits of the Old Testament, Book Of Revelations (which is meant to be St. John describing his dream of the end of the world in writing) or the writings of the first missionary, St. Paul. Sadly, those are also the esoteric bits of the Bible most subject to interpretation and most twisted around by cults and extremists.

The Bible itself, since Constantine institutionalised Christianity as the state religion of Rome and declared himself the first Pope, has undergone many translations/edits that were undoubtedly coloured by the thinking/politics of the time. While the core messages of Christianity (be nice to each other, and don't freak out about screwing up now and again - you're only human) are probably untainted, many doctrines (like Catholics and contraception or Priests Celibacy) may fall down like a pack of cards if, as some have speculated about the contents of Dead Sea Scrolls, missing chapters were discovered that threw new light upon the missing twenty years of the life of Christ. (his life as a teenager and twenty something - the years when most of us do most of our growing up/experimenting/screwing around ).

Back to the point:
So you're growing up in Jamaica, and a priest says that
it's wrong to be gay. Is he infallible? Nope... just a bloke. So you ask how he backs up his statement, and find out that it's not a commandment or something Jesus said, but one of the other characters in the Bible. Do you actively discriminate (or worse) against gays?

The choice is yours.


Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

"The choice is yours"

The unfortunate fact being, though, that most people who subscribe to organised religions do so to avoid having to make choices.

So they're growing up in Jamaica, and a priest says that it's wrong to be gay. And they just believe him, because that's easy.


N.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

Bit patronising, isn't it?

And don't the people subscribing to organised religion have to make a choice to do that ( and a pretty big one at that). Surely if they simply wanted to avoid making choices and be lemmings they wouldn't make a choice like that?

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

The Bible also condemns homosexuality in Romans 1, and in Genesis with Sodom and Gomorrah. But that's the act, not the person. God says love the person, not the act. That doesn't mean be homophobic, but not necessarily agreeing with their activities, which is different. Some people can't understand that there is a difference!

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

I like some of Elephant Man's music, but if he isn't man enough to apologise for using homophobic lyrics in some of his songs, I'm glad he's been removed.

Having said that, can't they remove Sean Paul as well, just for being absolute shite?

The awesome Toots and The Maytals deserve to win that award! Who decides who wins it anyway? as it would be criminal if Sean Paul won it!

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

I look forward to the day we have a Music of White Origin award.... and all the Elephant men in the world can complain that there aren't any awards for people for gaybashers

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

the MOBOs should be abolished. not because they're racist, beacuse they're SHIT. who needs yet another awards ceremony? making music is not about being 'the best', it's about expression.

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

and no one has sade the HOMO awards. i'm proud of you all.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

How about the MOFO Awards for those Gallic motherfuckers across the Channel?

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

i'm sure i heard something on some TV programme with someone saying that exact things - are the mobo's racist

weird timing. or similar thinking. either way

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

what's sade doing at the HOMO awards waves? i never knew she way gay?

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

Surely DiS made the point; if ALL music is of black origin then how could a MOWO show exist?
And if it did, what would be on there? I dont want another fucking awards show with U2 gobshite on it or Blur singing about how 'my old man's a jellied eel'.

The point lost is that it isnt a ceremony just for blacks but for origin of music, as the title suggests. That said, why do they have to fill it with r'n'b crap.

Get rid of award ceremonies altogether and focus on great bands that have been inspired by black culture (Clash, Marley, Specials, Sabbath, Blues) and inspire others (me)

~x~

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

All music does near enough come from black origin anyway so all these retro rockers should be there, getting best haircut awards at this years mobos.

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

Best? Best? what's best? Most popular? The most popular kid in my class was a c*nt...

But then so is Sean Paul...'ear me know...

(the opinions expressed in this post do not reflect the views or opinions of the writer or DiS)

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

"The most popular kid in my class was a c*nt..."

does she happen to be in a band now.....? ;)

p.s. Toots deserve to win every award going. Probably.


Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

Dude, that's funny, but no, not that person...

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

ROW DA BOAT! RIPPIN DA PANTIES!

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

yeh well, she is.

smartarse.

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

on another note, if all was just within the world, tv on the radio would be at the head of the mobos.

but it's not.

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

ok so i just thought i'd put in my 2cents worth

nobody's asking if the NME awards or the Kerrang awards are racist. i've been watchting them for some time and pretty much all it's recipients and nominees are white as rock music seems to be the domain of skinny whiteboys (i've always found rock/indie crowds to be less tolerant and progressive than they claim to be but that's a different topic altogether). the MOBO's are at least a bit more inclusive and many winners and nominees are from more diverse racial backgrounds. like it or not the reality is that there is a distiction between 'white' music and 'black' music. the origins may be the same (and so in that respect the name MOBO isn't entirely accurate. i think they just picked it because it had a cool acronym) but the gap has widened with time and 'white' music gets significantly more exposure and than black music and so i do think it is necessary to have an award ceremony of this kind.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

But they're not called the Music Of White Origin awards are they? GET REAL.

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

as for the homophobia it's a huge problem in dancehall, reggae and even rap because of the macho hypermasculine culture that surrounds the music. even though the MOBO organisers mean well with this gesture i don't think homphobia is going to go away any time soon and there will be many acts present who still hold those views.

so i suggest the buju banton award for most mysoginistc hate filled homophobic rant.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

Well then... Homophobia, jewophobia, celophobia, whose goiing to complain?

Me, I have twatophobia!

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

"Me, I have twatophobia!"

and that's a fear of a ladies'... no, i will restrain myself...

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

i dont remember any awards ceremonys getting pissed with oasis when they made homophobic comments. and what about Eminem, most of his earlier lyrics (and alot of his later material) were extremely homophobic, i never saw mtv awards or other music awards making him apologise or banning him. surely the artists should be free to express themsleves however they want, anyone whos directions are influenced by someones lyrics is a bit crazy anyway.And if there actions werent influenced by the lyrics they would find stimuli somewhere else. (movies,newspapers...) isnt that why they are banning them? because they dont want people to do what they say in the song?
also arent the lyrics in question from material released a few years ago? so its not like the album the mobo is plugging contains homophobic lyrics.
i reckon they shouldnt have banned them and made a fuss over nothing. maybe they just wanted the free publicity for the mobo awards as a whole.

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

In this day and age everybodys getting pc. It could be some kind of publicity act dropping them to make a scandal then bringing them back with them a huge viewing audience.

I dunno but if the MOBO's are knuckling down on such behaviour then they have to ban half the rap and hip hop artists from the awards too.

Are Eminem and Fiddy not biggots wrapped up in an expensive facade of loose beats and contreversial rhymes?

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

"How many jewish rappers are there anyway?"
At least one. Soce The Elemental Wizard is Jewish and gay.

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

there's no difference between beenie man saying 'let's execute all gays' ( the actual lyric is i think something like 'i'm dreaming of a new jamiaca where we execute all gays') and someone else saying let's execute all blacks/jews/women etc. it's just bigtoted nonsense and shoudn't be rewarded by being given airspace and awards and radioplay, it should be ignored as the ignorant follduggery it is.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

Yeah but it's okay when Emimem does it.

Oh I forgot White rappers are ironic while Black rappers are homophobic.

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

If most of todays music is of Black origin then there should be people up for MOBO awards that arent black though...surely?

And so as they arent it really is just music written by Black people? as opposed to being based on blues etc.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

previous nominees include
the streets
eminem
sugarbabes

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

well i'll be quiet then.

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

You know, when i wrote for this very site and wrote an article criticisng the inherent racism of the Mobo's and suggesting a Music of White origin awards ceremony in aan ironic manner...someone decided it didn't pass the mark. Yet here we are, recycling idea's chucked out two years ago. Funny that eh?


Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

Yeah, and half the posts here re: this news piece are *still* a pile of same-old-bollocks nonsense too. Thankfully tho, after the last couple times this whole debate has come up here in the last few months (....*again*...), the other half of the posts this time are actually sensible constructive and intelligent comments on this matter - so spose we have moved on from that old article of yrs eh chuckles !

It's fairly sad when you think some of the most ridiculous replies to this news stories are somehow an implicit justification for that old pile of nonsense. You shoulda been back last time this all came up.....ah, delusion...

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

Graham, did your article contain coherent sentences?

N.

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

you'd only know if you read the fuckin' thing! But of course, it was never actually published, so you didn't. Q. and E. to the motherfuckin' D.

*read above* i'm really quite irritable when I've not slept in 36 hours, sorry.


Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

The whole notion of "music of black origin" is ultimately totally self defeating. Why the hell is self-ghettoisation so de riguer nowadays? There's a good reason why people would look at you funny if you said you were proud to be white. It would be nice if the idea of celebrating "black heritage" provoked exactly the same reaction. People might find it "empowering" now, but it will end up causing more problems in the long run, i.e. people will keep harping on about race when we have the opportunity to start trying to bury it.

Should we not start growing up and stop pretending skin colour is remotely relevant to anything? Any correlation between being "black" (whatever the fuck that means nowadays - anybody that doesn't have totally European ancestry?) and "having rhythm" isn't a causal one. Is it supposed to be genetic or something? There is no "blackness" gene.

I suggest widening the definition of "racism" as thinking that there is actually any such thing as "race". Its just a shit idea made up by misguided colonialists and makes about as much sense as a "music by people who wear glasses award". Fuck race.

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

I'm sure Andrew didn't have anything other than the best of intentions when posting this news item, particularly as it's great that the MOBOs are recognising and dealing with the homophobia inherent in some of its now ex-nominees. But debating whether a 'MOWO' awards would be racist, and whether the MOBOs themselves are in fact racist, is specious and beside the point.

There don't really need to be any other awards ceremonies, but if the MOBOs were created to give encouragement and prestige to black performers or those who produce 'music of black origin', then what's the problem? After all, aren't most of the other awards ceremonies, whether the Brits, Mercury Music Prize, or those run by magazines like Kerrang and Q, rock and pop-centred, and therefore often white-centred? It goes without saying that we don't need a MOWO awards...

Yes, the concept of 'race' was produced to provide justification for oppression, and ideally it shouldn't be a deciding factor or a cause of 'difference' for anything. But we can't just sweep hundreds of years of racism under the carpet like it hasn't happened, and still doesn't happen. I agree with you though, Chiaroscuro, that in a ideal world there wouldn't need to be such ghettoisation - but this isn't an ideal world.

Now back to music....

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

Woukld it be sexist to say that girls don't get ironic humour?

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

How can these awards be racist if fucking Tim Westwood won one last year? The man is Ali G incarnate.

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

Yes, if it were true, and if you showed me some, Andrew.... ;)

Re: Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

I do think the MOBOs should be abolished not because of the homophobia surrounding it, but the whole multiculturalistic vibe. I thought one of the prevailing ideas at the moment in society is that multiculturalism has failed? The MOBOs should be changed to be more of a awards ceremony for pure British R & B, Rap and so on, and it should be renamed as such. You could reward artists such as Dizzee Rascal, The Streets, Sugababes, blah de blah. Or even call it the BUM's! British Urban Music.

And if you think about it, A MOWO award ceremony would be set upon by most proponents of political correctness, and rightly so. The MOFO French Awards would be hilarious though. A Jonny Halliday-Daft Punk collaboration!

Mobos: not homophobic, but are they racist?

music like a lot of things in society seems to be divided along racial lines with some notable exceptions (though consider why eminem is seen as 'rock' and consitently played on rock stations when he is anything but).

if you invent an award ceremony that rewards r&b and rap acts a large number of it's reipients will not be white. no matter what the awards are called. that is the way things will stay until things change outside the music industry. so the issue isnt whether or not there shoud be a music of white origin awards.

i don't like the term 'urban' as it's just become shorthand for nonwhite anyway. and whan manufactuers talk about an 'urban' (read: black) audience it assumes that they all live in inner cites and hold certain attitudes etc, which is very insulting to a lot of people.

andrew-future wrote
"Ali G
Whoopie Goldberg
and that ugly singer from The Realistics HAS to be Jewish."

in response to the question how many jewish rappers are there?

ali G or the guy who plays him is jewish but he's not a rapper

whoopi goldberg may well be jewish but i've never heard of any rap releases from her.

and as for the 'ugly singer from the realistics', what he has to be jewish because he's ugly? i don't even want to get started on that.