The Bruno Mars debate on cultural appropriation has taken place over the past few years with critics accusing the singer of using his racial ambiguity to convey genres that are historically black. The Grammy-winning artist made the claims during a recent attention Breakfast Club interview with his Silk Sonic partner, Anderson .Paak.
“People like to accuse you of being a cultural thief, which I find interesting because you’re a colored man,” host Charlamagne told God to Bruno (21:50). “What would you say to those people?”
Bruno explained that he had always acknowledged the funk, R&B and pop artists who came before him and insisted that there was nothing but love behind his material.
‘I would say: You can not watch an interview, you can not find an interview where I do not talk about the entertainers who came before me. And the only reason I’m here is because of James Brown, because of Prince, Michael [Jackson]”That’s the only reason I’m here,” Bruno said. ‘I grew up as a kid and watched Bobby Brown [and] and said, ‘OK, if that’s what it takes to make it, then I need to learn how to do the running man, I need to learn how to make the moon run.’ That’s it. And this music comes from love, and if you can not hear it, I do not know what to tell you. ‘
He further said that he carries his inspiration on his sleeve and hopes that future artists will also take clues from his work.
‘What’s the point if we as musicians can not learn from the guys who came before us? What did they do? “He said before asking Charlamagne if the criticism had upset him. ‘… It comes with the concert. And there is real merit in what people say about black entertainers not getting their flowers, and I mean by that, I’m by that … I understand, but it’s just Twitter. ”
The sit-up took place a few hours after Bruno and .Paak released ‘Leave the Door Open’ – the first track from their newly formed band Silk Sonic.
You can see the full interview above.
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