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VIBE Responds To Robin Thicke…
September 3rd, 2008
Danyel Smith responds to Robin Thicke’s comments!
By now I’m sure a majority of you heard about the comments Robin Thicke made against Vibe Magazine in regards to who they place on the cover of their publication. A Billboard reporter asked Thicke of his difficulties of breaking down color barriers in the music industry and the blue eyed bandit responded, “When I did a recent interview with Vibe magazine I asked, “Why can’t I get the cover? This is a magazine I love. If there’s one magazine that I’d want to be on the cover of, it’s Vibe.” Their response was they don’t have white artists on the cover; that the only white artist they’ve had on the cover was Eminem. I guess if that’s what it is, it is what it is. And I respect that because I live in a house with a black woman.I won’t use the word “racism.” I will say it’s a tough — but rewarding — fight.”
Catching wind of these comments, VIBE’s EIC (Editor-In-Chief), Danyel Smith, released a statemen defending the publications choice of why and who makes the cover of Vibe Magazine. Said Smith of Mr. Thicke’s views, “We have a great deal of respect for Robin Thicke and his music, and we remain flattered by his desire to be on a VIBE cover. A VIBE cover is a huge milestone in any artist’s career — recent cover stars include Young Jeezy, Mariah Carey, 50 Cent, Usher, Senator Barack Obama, Eminem, Lil Wayne, and Robert De Niro, to say nothing of our 15-year history. We wish Thicke the best, and we’re glad he discusses his thoughts on race and R&B in the new October 2008 issue of VIBE.”
As always, I turn to you (my faithful SoundOff readers) to throw me an opinion or two. Personally, I really don’t think this is a race issue, more so a sales issue. I love Robin Thicke to the death, but how many covers could he actually sell? To be honest, I think the “They don’t have white artists on the cover” comment was just another way of saying, “Sorry Robby, your not there yet”. But hey, that’s just me…..”Magic” is STILL my ish!
Sincerely
Low “It’s my B-Day, time to have some fun….IM OUT” Key
I think Danyel Smith might be called racist by calling him a blue eyed bandit. What would you say if he called you a name like black ignorant woman. You know if I was him I wouldn’t want to be on vibe anyway because if there going to comment like that then the hell with them.
In all honesty, with most stories there are 3 sides to a story, one of which being the truth, which is usually a combination of the other 2 stories. He probably did ask about getting the cover and they probably (well not probably, considering he’s not on the cover I guess they did deny his request), but the reason isn’t racism. VIBE caters to a specific audience, being hip-hop and R&B and while that is what Robin Thicke does, he hasn’t really blown up yet. So the reason he’s not on the cover isn’t neccessarily because he’s white, it’s that he’s not going to sell magazines. NOW, if he were black maybe his sales would be stronger therby getting him on the cover.
Uusally there’s 3 sides to a story: his side, their side and the truth. I think Vibe/Danyel Smith has lost touch in some form of the music industry. Robin Thicke is what I call “real music”. Unlike Lil Wayne, etc. – those artists/songs that get on your nerves because they’re played soooo much and the song ain’t about nothin. I don’t think Vibe/ DS could give him a legit answer – hence the BS statement.
what if DS/VIBES was a white woman and R.THICKE was black,It would have made headlines n b all over the news.i just want to say the word racist means to b discriminating of one’s race. N yes black ppl do discriminate againts other races ok.MAYBE Ms.Smith should have thought about her respond first.R.THICKE is a good artist n i like reading vibe mags.peace n one love to all
Well really its like this.. If the shoe was on the other foot we as black people would be saying that it was Racism. To me it is a double standard. Let the man be on the Cover of Vibe and stop, unconscious, counscious racism.
Trying to dress it up like it’s not.. Really!!!!
personally i like robin thicke and his music and one day he is going to be on a magazine that has more class then ds/vibe. so if i was robin i wouldn’t sweat ds/vibe cause robin everybody has their day to shine and yours is on the way cause magic is my ish too
Robin Thicke is not selling enough records (i.e., CDs, ringtones, MP3s) to get on the cover of Vibe or any prominent magazine at this time. Furthermore, in my view, Robin is still a new artist who is just starting to build a buzz and a strong fan base.
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it’s up to vibe who and what they want to put on their cover for whatever their reasons are. it may seem rude and you may not agree with it, but if that was their reason, i appreciate their honesty. i don’t see anything wrong with keeping it black. how many publications have historically and still to this day have kept it white? i do believe, like others, that was only part of it. if deniro and eminem have graced the cover, the problem is not race, but level of success. i am sure vibe would not have had a problem putting george michael on the cover (who i recently saw at msg in nyc, he was so worth the almost 20 year wait !) have they? anyway, while some may like thicke, he is a new artist and as far as i’ve heard the jury hasn’t reached a verdict yet.
If the table were turned and TIME said that to a Black person, all hell would break out. Racism is racism. It’s time for it all to stop. Smith’s comments were wrong. It is time for a REAL change. Catch the wave, y’all. Just because we do it now, does not make it right!!!!
Hi. Robyn
I don’t care what anyone says, robyn thicke is a beautiful person and I like him.
forget Racism, you are one of us. I would love to see you on the cover of any magazine
I LOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVE UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow I’m really stuck on this one…. I thought that Robin Thicke was lying because he was doing an interview on race and r&b and for some to say, “we don’t put white people on the cover of the magazine,”really lets you know that it’s real. Vibe did not come out and say they didn’t say it. I understand that getting a cover is a milestone, but it doesn’t seem that it was put to Mr. Thicke like that, and it should have.
I very much doubt VIBE blatantly told Robin, ” we won’t put you on the cover because you’re white.” Robin may have read into things a bit. Nevertheless, I believe Robin Thicke receives MORE attention because he’s white. Granted he had a modest hit with “Lost Without You”, but so have other black R&B artists without the same level of publicity. Thicke had his very own solo set (not a part of a tribute performance alla Jill Scott and Anthony Hamilton for the Al Green tribute) on the 2007 BET Awards and has performed on 106& Park twice despite his poor vocal skills. Frankly, I’d rather see Raheem Devaughn, Dwele, Erro, Eric Benet, even Jon B. (white) and Daniel Merriweather (white) on the cover of VIBE before Robin Thicke.
@Diamond
Uhhh…please read carefully. She did not call him a blue-eyed bandit, LowKey did.
Education is key.
Give TEENA MARIE the cover! Need I say more?
Guys – you’ve got to be kidding! You know darn well that if a predominantly white mag told a Black dude that he could not be on the cover because he did not have blue eyes and had kinky hair, you’d cry racism to the NAACP! Jackson & Sharpton would get involved. Let’s keep it real…Racism is unacceptable no matter what side it comes from!
Totally inappropriate response from Vibe to thicke’s question!
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