Should Quincy Jones Be So Hard On Young Artists?

   

At 79 years old, music industry legend Quincy Jones has seen the business change for the better and for the worse. 

For the Grammy-Award-winning composer, one of the downsides is seeing artists without musical training being called "producers." In 2010, he made headlines by rebuking comparisons of him and Kanye West. This week, he criticized Bad Boy Entertainment mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs for not being able to "recognize a b flat if it hit him." As the BET Awards approach on Sunday, the debate rages on between those who prefer the old-school and new-school styles of music. 

Keith A. Martin doesn't want to be labeled "old-school" or "new-school." The 54-year-old Philadelphia native has enjoyed listening to music from his college days  in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as well as some of what is played on the radio. 

"Some of what [Quincy Jones] is saying is right," the married grandfather of two says. " When you think about what he's done with several genres of music and then you look at new guys who only do Hip Hop and R&B--there really is no comparison." 

Martin defends younger artists like Kanye West and R.Kelly on their musicianship. He says that West is documented for knowing how to play multiple instruments--but more artists should strive to do the same. 

"I was a big Hip Hop fan from 1988 up until about two or three years ago. I can't listen to a lot of this stuff now."

In Orlando, Jeremy Larry--who is in his 30s--shares his concerns about the older generation being too critical of young people. 

"Every other week, there is some [musician] from the '50s, '60s, and '70s saying something about young artists," the cable technician says. "I'm not sure if the two sides can find a common ground." 

~ Zack A. Isaacs