re: New Gary Clark Jr.

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He grew up in a middle class family in middle to upper middle class neighborhoods in Houston and Austin, went to good schools, and had no real struggles in his early life. When he was 17 he was already a Austin musical icon, the mayor of Austin proclaimed a Gary Clark Jr. day. So yes, its pretty fake, guess he is trying to enhance his authenticity.

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The lyrics imply he was called the N word and told to go back to where he came from.

You don't think it's possible there was one racist incident in middle-upper class Houston/Austin to base this on? He even seems to hint that this is about a black family moving into an affluent, mostly white neighborhood.

I'm not saying it's everyone, but I don't have an issue believing an incident in his real life provided the basis for this. There are real racists out there, and one a-hole can create something pretty similar to what he describes.

As I said before, though, the lyrics aren't what I really enjoy most here, although they don't bother me. Part of being a musical artist is dramatizing situations and some role playing. Johnny Cash probably really didn't shoot a man in Reno, but I still like that song too.

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The same affluent white neighborhood in Austin where Eve Monsees taught him to play the blues, and her mom and dad who all happen too be white treated him like one of the family? I like Gary Clark a lot, but if he is trying to develop some street creed by getting people to think his life was in any way similar to a former getto kid growing up on the south side of Chicago, or in the slums of Detroit, or Baltimore that's stretching things a little too far.

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I don't mean to be a jerk, but the lyrics are the direct opposite of presenting himself as a ghetto kid.

He says he's got a house "in the middle of Trump country" then talks about a negative reaction to him moving in from a white neighbor. I don't see a word that's portraying himself in a disadvantaged way.

I also don't read the lyrics as attacking all white people. It's pretty directly tailored at the particular subset of white people that might mind a black neighbor. I don't figure the family you reference wonders if the song is directed at them, it's pretty clear who he aims at, at least to me.

Heck, I'm white and have heard and seen white people make comments about black families moving in. It's far from everyone, but it happens, and it's embarassing people do that.

I did figure people would hang up on the message and social commentary and said as much in my post. Too bad, because it's an enjoyable song in my opinion.

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Gonna be a no for me dawg

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+1 for me. And it has nothing to do with the message. I'm actually a fan of GCJ, but this one just doesn't do it for me.

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I'm actually a fan of GCJ, but this one just doesn't do it for me.

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Same here. I wouldnt shut up about black and blu when it first dropped

The lyrics dont particularly annoy me, though id be lying if i didnt shrug them off as probably opportunistic given todays climate. It feels to me like alot of black artists are afraid of being remembered as quiet during this "movement" or something. Idk

Either way, im all for artists trying new lanes musically. but this ain't it for me

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Please explain how his guitar playing isnt legit?

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His guitar playing is excellent. But he is massively over rated as an artist.

What did I just listen to? GCJr is a great blues guitarist and a great blues vocalist, but that was disappointing to say the least.

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The lyrics dont particularly annoy me, though id be lying if i didnt shrug them off as probably opportunistic given todays climate. It feels to me like alot of black artists are afraid of being remembered as quiet during this "movement" or something. Idk

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...he is a blues artist...

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That hangs out with Jay-z.

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Irrelevant.

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Whats your point

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What exactly do you expect a blues artist to write songs about?