Black and Brown dynasties of today
(20th to 21st century music & entertainment)
by: Frederick A. Landy
the 'music connoisseur'
FIRST, LET'S DEFINE the term "dynasty".
dy·nas·ty
/ˈdīnəstē/
-
a line of hereditary rulers of a country.
-
a succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or another field.
source: https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/dynasty
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SECOND, LET'S EXAMINE the term "dynasty".
With now having an understanding of what the term "dynasty" means, I believe it allows for a deeper conversation with regards to who are on the list as far as it goes with 21st century musicians and entertainers; that will come in the next section, entitled, 'EXPLORE the "dynasties" of today.'
Moreover, I believe a conversation that involves the words "influence" and "popularity" can be heard within the given term. Yes, to an extent, especially in today's time, being in the 21st century, it seems like the number of followers on various social media platforms, let alone the number of subscribers makes for a dynasty to be created.
Sure, the above may stand to be true, if the individual is the first ever in one's family line to begin to find ways to successfully create "generational wealth." This is with the understanding that the individual was born moreso after 2001 versus before that time. Generational wealth, meaning, in laymen terms, bringing about monetary means from an idea, concept or even just through one's talents and abilities, thus establishing a "line of credit", if you please, that will last for decades and decades to come.
Furthermore, many of the individuals that will be listed in the next section did not come from the era of social media which has now 'uped the anty' with regards to who can see what and how soon. This "speed-of-lightning" relayal of information has brought about major deals and collaborations in the area of music and entertainment for many who are grade school age, to being in college or even just out of college. It is truly amazing the power of social media.
With that, I still believe, as the list will show next, that 'foot action' still has its rightful place. This comes about once we really take the time to think of what it is that we would like to have happen for our lives which, in turn, will bring about that "generational wealth." Whether it is to own one's own beauty salon, make it to the NBA, NFL, become a singer or an actor, yes we must consider, create and then conquer. This is what I call the three C's of goal-setting which brings dreams to pass. As I also have the three p's of life, which states "passion plus a plan equals purpose. " That's for another time.
Again, I said, we must consider, that means to map out from a year to three years in advance, what the short-term and long-term goals will be to achieve it.
Next we create, yes, create the timeline. Now right here, you may have thought I was going to say create the vision board. Yes, to a degree, do that, but out of all of the cut-out pictures from that old GQ & Cosmopolitan magazine with the car of our dreams and the dog we want to have one day, I believe a little chaos and confusion and being to stir.
There is nothing wrong with it. In my opinion, I believe vision boards only work effectively when we are able to take a few things, in chunks, put it within a timeline which then allows for us to realistically see how we can obtain it within that one to three year time period, thus allowing for actual results manifested in our lives.
I believe the individuals that I have included within the next section of this article, thus establishing my list of "Black & Brown dynasties of today (2oth to 21st century music and entertainment)", the fathers and/or mother's that is, may have done the above, which ultimately led them to CONQUER, bringing about that "line of credit" for their children and even grandchildren. This line of credit, I do not believe was so much so based fully on their level of influence and popularity, though good in its place, but moreso on their level of action, that's the conquering.
This is to say, anyone one at any level can lay a foundation to create a "dynasty." Okay, okay, yes, the "influence" and "popularity" had to be there or else we would not know the individuals let alone their children! Sure, that can be true, but I promise you the named individuals in the next section went nameless to the masses, for many years before that moment came where they hit stardom and fame.
They may be a household name now, but at one point they were just a name. With that being known, let us consider our names, which even at the time of establishment through a birth certificate was deemed of importance. Read through to the end and I will further bring this point to full circle.
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THIRD, LET'S EXPLORE the "dynasties of today".
It's the list you all have been waiting for. The list of who I've come to see have done it and done it with immense grace and beauty. These are they that have created a dynasty within the music and entertainment industries, more mainstream-secular, if I may give a heads-up as well, thus becoming inspiration to us all. I've put them in senority, not so much of who I believe has more money, but moreso by who it seems we, the masses, knew first with regards to their gifts, talents and abilites.
This is also not an exhuastive list, where one may argue that I've missed some, but again, it is moreso who has really passed down a legacy and it is still being upheld today. Also, it is coming from someone born in the 80's and how the relevance of who I first came into acquaintance with is being reflected as well.
So without further adue, here goes the list, of the 'music connoisseurs' "Black & Brown dynasties of today (2oth to 21st century music and entertainment)". This list will be shared first by category, then by family surname and lastly by image:
MUSIC
THE JACKSONS'
THE SIMMONS'
THE STAPLES'
THE CLARKS'
THE MILLERS'
THE COMBS' ("DIDDY DOMAIN")
THE KNOWLES-CARTERS'
THE SHEARDS'
THE CEPHUSES'
ENTERTAINMENT
THE WAYANS'
THE PRINZES'
THE SMITHS'
THE OTHER JACKSONS' ("CUBE COUNTRY")
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LASTLY, LET'S ENGAGE the term "dynasty".
To finish the thought from the section entitled, "Examine the term 'dynasty'", I must say it again, yes, the now named were nameless to the masses many years before they hit stardom or fame.
Let us go and read those past articles or go on YouTube and listen to the various interviews, whether with Oprah or DJ Envy and the whole crew at The Breakfast Club, it was like after four (4) albums or just performing locally at various musical venues then it happened. It was after being an extra in a few shows and movies that no one had ever even heard of, then it happened. It was after reaching out to scouts and coaches, multiple times, by sending film and mixtapes to the top three (3) professional sports teams of one's choice that it happened. It was after having a failed attempted or two, which does not make anyone a failure though, to launch that business or really see the product catch on and begin to really sell and sell and sell, that it happened.
What happened you asked, the ability to somewhat begin to create, even at a small level, the "dynasty" which will last for decades and decades to come. Now the above does not always apply universally to everyone, but I'm finding out that in many cases, this is a common scenario. This is to say, begin to create a dynasty even at the level and when I say level, I do mean socio-economical status level that we maybe currently be at in our lives.
To further bring this point home, let us never forget, as I use to tell my students and still yet tell many young people today, "We are not our zip codes, we are our names! So let's live out our names to the best of our abilities!"
Yes, zip codes, which can ascribe certain thoughts and images to such a ones that may live in a particular city, having been born and raised even thus creating a type of response when a certain side of a city is mentioned. Thoughts and images that convey, if a person or persons lives on a certain side of a city or within a certain zip code, that such a one may be of a particular type of demeanor or personality, sometimes not always received by society as the norm or most acceptable. Thoughts and images that further convey that if a person or persons live in a certain zip code, that they may make a certain amount of money per year from the job they have, thusly making it be the reason why they live within that zip code.
Though, to an extent, this may seem to be true, I've come to find out that some of the best inventors, game-changers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, singers, musicians, actors, athletes and the list is endless, umm let me see, and excused my french, the "umm" that is, but I'm just saying, out of the trenches many have rose. So the truth of the matter is that, it is how we choose to look at our seemingly disadvantage and use it for the advantage. It it is how we choose to speak positive words of affirmation to ourselves in the mirror concerning who we are and what we may desire to be. It is these types of actions that I believe will make the difference and have, for many that rose to the occasion.
Moreover, I believe that there is going to be another huge wave of dynasties coming about within the next year or so, but it takes 'Engaging' with the public; sharing our latest ideas and inventions with the right ones who will invest, thus allowing for that pop-up shop, that modeling opportunity, that moment where we become drafted and picked by a professional sports team, that moment where we create our own fashion line, get into that trade school, have our own record label, start our own nail and beauty salon, etc. It is that 'Engaging', even through social media, by pushing our ideas, talents and abilities to be noticed, which will allow for it to happen and oh yes, it is going to happen.
Furthermore, you may not have children now or even desire to have children one day, but think of someone, I mean it could be a niece or nephew, a god-child, a child you may want to adopt or see how you can become a mentor and even in that, a legacy can begin to be established thus allowing for a dynasty to grow out of it.
I believe it is simply the question of, "who do I feel I can trust to carry on, not just when I'm gone, but even while I'm still present?" that one should ask him or herself in order to create a dynasty. I believe this question has to be considered so that the actualization of the torch-carrier can be pinpointed or identified; again, that is if there are no biological children in the picture or not desired to be in the future. It will then be at that moment, once this has been achieved, that one can at least say that there is now a name that can be attached to the title of 'torch-carrier', creating longevity to the vision(s) of such a one.
Oh and also, if there are children in the picture, let me simply say this and then I'm done. Not all children have been called to carry on the family business, but definitely the family name. Meaning, they may not have a passion for what you have a passion for, but that still have a passion. Let them explore it and still let the family name be great and carried on, but great and carried on for what they desire to do and believe they were purposed in life for.
In conclusion, I want for all of the game-changers, trendsetters and the 'firsts to ever do it', to stay motivated; stay encouraged, because a new wave of dynasties are coming. Don't you want to be in that list? Well get in line, because there are eyes that are about to be watching and ears that are about to be listening. As the lyrics to one of my latest songs "Regroup" goes, which is on my newest cd Four, I present these words as an invitation for someone to begin to take action to achieve their dreams, goals and aspirations and those lyrics say this: "It's your dreams, it's your goals/ please don't let them grow old/ pull them deep from your soul/ Because your future is counting on it/ and your heart will be waiting for it." Yeah, let us not let our ownselves down. Never forget, you got this! It's all you! Now go and do your very best to make the list at whatever level right now and then watch and see how the rest will become history!
-Frederick A.
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