"The cost of being "real
Black authenticity, colourism, and Billboard Rap Chart rankings
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2147635 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Wendy M Laybourn (0000-0002-6217-3674, Department of Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, USA, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2018 |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue | 11 |
| Pages | 2085-2103 |
| Publication date | 2018-09-02 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Ethnic and Racial Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0141-9870 • E-ISSN: 1466-4356 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/01419870.2017.1343484 |
| OpenAlex | W2727365171 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 10 |
| References cited | 39 |
Research on black authenticity identifies "oppressive othering" and "white standards of beauty", particularly lighter skin tone, as key components. Few studies disentangle which of these two theoretical components matter the most for a particular outcome. Rap music, whose lyrics are often categorized as authentic expressions of blackness, offers an intriguing case to compare the effects of "oppressive othering" (as alcohol and drug lyrics) and "white standards of beauty" (as the rap artist's skin tone) on national music charts. Analysing artists' skin tone and lyrical content of songs ranked on Billboard Rap Year-End Charts from 2007 to 2011, results show that lighter skin tone is significantly and positively related to higher chart rankings. Alcohol and drug lyrics, however, had a non-significant effect. Implications are discussed in relation to the effects of the commodified imagery of "authentic" blackness in the new digital era of music
Aesthetics · Art · Beauty · Chart · Commodification · Literature · Lyrics · Tone (literature · White (mutation · Music History and Culture · Race, History, and American Society · Social and Cultural Dynamics
A High Note
“They Killin’ Us for No Reason”
How Leikeli47 is glitching heteronormativity across the music industry
Skin shade and relationships
The racial formation not taken
Feature-Based Structures of Opportunity
From chart-topper to gold record
She Still Works Hard for the Money
Race and Genre Ambiguity in the Critical Reception of Popular Music
Hybridized Black Authenticity
From Dark to Light
Shades of Discrimination
Black Authenticity
Shake it, Baby, Shake it
Leveling the intra-household playing field
Black Feminist Thought
A “Man's Woman”
Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott and Nicki Minaj
Skin Tone Stratification among Black Americans, 2001-2003
Changes in drug use prevalence in rap music songs, 1979–1997
Gold Digger or Video Girl
The Persistent Problem of Colorism
Racial Authenticity in Rap Music and Hip Hop
Freaks, gold diggers, divas, and dykes
Rap Sheets
Blackophilia and Blackophobia
Racial Formation Theory and Systemic Racism in Hip‐Hop Fans’ Perceptions
What’s the Rap About Ecstasy
The Effects of Images of African American Women in Hip Hop on Early Adolescents’ Attitudes Toward Physical Attractiveness and Interpersonal Relationships
From Independent to Corporate
Reading Billboard 1979–89
Prophets of the Hood
Art As Collective Action
The Skin Color Paradox and the American Racial Order
Social Context and Musical Content of Rap Music, 1979-1995
Misogyny in Rap Music
If You're Light You're Alright
The Panel Study on American Religion and Ethnicity
Skin Tone and Stratification in the Black Community
| Unique citing works | 10 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,67 |
| Citation span | 2020 - 2024 (5) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 10 |