Tommy Richman keeps getting blasted for saying he isn’t a hip-hop artist

As a seasoned gamer with a knack for keeping up with the ever-evolving world of music, I must say that the recent controversy surrounding Tommy Richman has left me scratching my virtual head. It seems that the line between appreciation and appropriation can sometimes blur, especially when it comes to cultural genres such as hip-hop.


If you’re tuned in to radio broadcasts, TV ads, or following popular music trends, chances are you’ve come across Tommy Richman’s well-known track “Million Dollar Baby.” Recently, he made headlines by distancing himself from the hip-hop genre, a move that has sparked some criticism. In a tweet that was later deleted, Richman clarified, “I am not a hip hop artist.

After receiving criticism from California radio host DJ Hed regarding one of his tweets, Richman revised his stance slightly. He clarified his previous statement by writing, “I’ll repeat, I am grateful for everything. I’m expressing that I don’t want to be confined to a specific genre. My musical roots lie in hip-hop, but I consider myself a singer.

Some may have assumed that an explanation alone would have been sufficient to dissuade criticism of the Virginia artist. However, this was not the outcome as Joe Budden aggressively criticized Richman, essentially labeling him as someone who exploits or appropriates black culture without genuine understanding or appreciation for it (a culture-vulture).

On “The Joe Budden Podcast,” Budden stated, “You belong among those who can benefit from your success but may not engage with Black people. This observation comes at a time when hip-hop has embraced you. It’s a reflection of many white artists whose pathway to success was hip-hop, only to abandon it and move on to country music, as if their history in hip-hop never existed.

Additionally, Budden mentioned DJ Hed’s critique of Richman. At that point, this West Coast disc jockey declared he wouldn’t spin “Million Dollar Baby” or any other songs by Richman. In a tweet, Hed expressed, “Thankful I had the warning before doing my radio mix. Now I have two empty slots. What should I play? (From an artist honored to be part of hip-hop). NO ONE is more significant than the culture.

The critique aimed at Hed and Budden echoes the chatter that arose when Post Malone transitioned from hip-hop to other music styles. This shift in genre left Post feeling deeply troubled, leading him to turn to alcohol.

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2024-10-07 21:23