This race issue isn't that interesting .... if it's good, who cares where it's from, or who's doing it? I know KDJ and Theo are two producers who speak out about appropriation of black music, but I'd interpret their comments as more against people who misappropriate it (which, to be honest, is just about everyone). Anyone who thinks that's racist is suffering from more than a dissociation of sensibility - it has more to do with justified anger over what is the focal point of a cultural tradition being cheapened to make some bank/fame.
However, in the case of the more intelligent German house producers (i.e. Brinkmann) it really is 'Vision Meets Vision'; Brinkmann is trying to do something different, to bridge the German minimal tech and the Detroit soul. I think he's still practicing, but the Ingrahm track and 'Can I Ask You' from Soul Center CD 2 are just awesome. He isn't stealing black music, watering it down, and getting accolodates off it, he's taking it as source material for something different. Also witness Basic Channel playing around with dub; doesn't sound like Tubby's, because it's a variation, not Tubby Lite. Keb Darge sums it up well in some liners: 'Sissy Walk will be familiar, some young pretender achieved glory on the back of this and a Just Brothers track by adding a few stupid shouts and noises, then kidding on he was a great innovator.' This is, I think, what lots of these Detroit producers are talking about. I got in an argument with somebody about how Fatboy Slim was entitled to do this: he really isn't. There's no excuse for mediocrity, but if you're going to do it, don't insult peoples' traditions of quality, original music. But no one would doubt Keb Darge's knowledge of and respect for black music: he's responsible for literally saving hundreds of 45s from extinction, and makes some mean, mean sets of music you'd never heard otherwise. For a good article on this issue, relating to jazz and Wynton Marsalis, check this URL: http://www.tnr.com/012201/wieseltier012201.html Alla prossima, Matt
