I’m sure you’ve heard by now that teen sensation Justin Bieber has been nominated for a 2010 BET Award for “Best New Artist.”
Justin just so happens to be White and BET just happens to stand for “Black Entertainment Television.”
All of that is irrelevant I guess because it’s not unheard of for the network to honor non-Black artists (Justin Timberlake and Eminem have each been nominated before)… but the question remains about Justin’s cross-over appeal.
Reactions vary, but BET’s Stephen Hill feels that Justin is the total package, “He makes the type of music our audience likes.“‘
[Sidebar: So does Lady GaGa but I don’t see her on the list…]
Award organizers compare Justin’s cross-over appeal to hip-hop’s integration into mainstream america: “Justin Bieber has crossed the color boundaries in the way hip-hop has the other way for a number of years.”
Ummm… I wouldn’t go that far, but he is a talented lil guy! Personally, I’m not even trippin over Justin’s nomination. Shoot. I’m still pissed that Monica was snubbed.
But I Digress…
Late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel hit the streets of LA recently to ask random Black folks how they felt about Bieber’s nomination and the responses were HILARIOUS!
You don’t wanna miss this…
