Jenn M. JacksonVerified account

These claims that Bruno Mars is "bringing Funk back" are erasive to Black Funk artists who pioneered the tradition. FUNK. NEVER. LEFT.

Yes, he gives "credit" to Funk artists on occasion. He also has a primarily white audience which has no memory or care for Black artists

In Bruno's case, 'bringing Funk back' essentially means, "Funk was a Black thing and now I gave it to white people." That's appropriation.

I need us to stop relaxing our critical lens to anti-Blackness and appropriation when it is a non-Black POC harming us.

The Bruno Mars praise is also patriarchal cause some of y'all were giving Eminem, Justin Timberlake, and Robin Thicke passes too. Stop it.

Taking our shit and repackaging it for white people is not innovation. Even if these non-Black ppl sing well, it's appropriation. Period.

Listen, you can like Bruno Mars's music and still be critical about how his role in the industry erases Black people. Then and now.

Bey made a legit country song (that is lit). Country folx: "nah." Bruno sings Funk music. Y'all: "He brought it back!" ....ok.

The irony is: Bruno Mars did Elvis Presley impersonations as a child (the man who stole Blues). And now he appropriates Funk. Y'all.

Bruno's 1st album, "Doo wop and hooligans" appropriated Doo Wop. Funk is the music that was so central in his life growing up? Which is it?

I don't have personal feelings about this guy. The whole industry is erasive and appropriative of Black ppl. But, let's be honest about it.

I guarantee if Bruno Mars was femme or idenified as a woman, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Y'all let men get away with a lot.

Like Bruno Mars if you want. Ppl still like Timberlake, R. Kelly, Robin Thicke, Dre, Eminem, and whole lot of other men too. That's on you.

I hope Morris Day and the Time see some sustained coins from Bruno Mars giving them "credit."

I hope Chaka Khan and Earth, Wind, and Fire get some bags from all this Bruno Mars "credit" y'all stay hollerin about.

I hope Rick James's estate and George Clinton get some dollars from all this "credit" Bruno Mars gave them.

I hope Kool & the Gang get some cheese off all these "credits" Bruno Mars gave them.

Bruno Mars's dad (the one who apparently LOVES Funk) had a 50's music review with Elvis Presley music prominent in the show. Mars was in it.

Bruno Mars was "raised on" a range of music growing up including that of many white artists. But, Funk is somehow his calling? ok.

I hope the Commodores get some coins from all this Bruno Mars "credit."