Point/Counterpoint: The Whole Chris and Rihanna Thing

Point, By Jay1

So I heard that Chris Brown was a no-show at the kids choice awards the other day and it occurred to me that not only do I not care, but I think that after all is said and done that Chris Brown should completely disappear into obscurity and never be heard from again.

Why?




Because when Ike Turner died, I saw that they were talking about him on TV and while talking about him they talked about his drug abuse, how he was "troubled" and how even though he was performing, he had difficulty trying to get gigs towards the end of his life. The even used a clip of "What's Love Got To Do With It" while they were talking, seriously.

So a certified musical genius got reduced to "that guy who Sir Lawrence Fishburn played in that movie and who beat Tina" and that really sucks.

And don't get it twisted, I think what he did was really bad, he should not have done that, and for that he's scum. But how many of you would like to forever be remembered for the worst thing you ever did and nothing else?

The fact that he arguable created a genre, that he had many classic hits, and Gold and Platinum songs is almost completely forgotten. I personally know more people who know Ike as Tina's abuser than know him as the guy who wrote and performed the first Rock&Roll song.

He doesn't even get one of those silly McDonald's Black History Month shout outs (How many times they gonna tell me about George Washington Carver by the way, I get it.) and as far as I can tell, Chris Brown isn't an innovator at all.

He doesn't play any music, he doesn't write his own songs, all he does is dance! His entire act is Usher lite, plus a back flip. He can't even sing!

In theory, based on Ike Turners music and contributions to the culture, there should be statues dedicated to him. At the Grammy's, there should be a "Ike Turner Lifetime Achievement Award" given out. Instead he's the dude who beat Tina.

But that's my point. Maybe Ike's accomplishments in music being erased and replaced with images from that movie is fair.

What Ike did was a crappy, punk ass thing to do, so if Ike had to lose his career, Chris Brown, a dude who has about .0001 percent of Ikes talent, should never be seen or heard from again. He should completely vanish from every facet of Pop Culture. I don't even want to see him on Hollywood Squares.



Counterpoint, by Skip Serpico

Jay1, you ignorant slut.

See, personally I see the allegations about Chris Brown to be a very promising development, but I'm just an optimist that way. Not because I'm pro beating women, I'm totally against it, but rather, I think there's a precedent that abuse plus music equals genius.

You doubt me? Peep Ike Turner, arguably one of the architects of Rock & Roll. And despite his contributions to the most dominant musical genres of the 20th Century, what's Ike most known for, the hits that helped craft music as we know it or the hits he contributed to Tina's frame?

Exactly! The two things go hand in hand.

James Brown has plenty of skeletons in the closet including spousal abuse, but no one's going to question his musical genius. And Bobby Brown's done some dirt to, but he's partially responsible for New Jack Swing (the next big revival, mark my words.)

David Ruffin was also pretty abusive, so much so that some people pin Tammi Terrell's death on him as opposed to the tumor lodged in her noggin.

Personally I feel that she probably just brushed off the Ruffin beatings, since she'd been with James Brown before she ever got to Motown.

And you just know that Liberace was abusing his little boy-toys. That man was an angel with his fingers and a devil with his fists.

Let's be honest, I'm sure the only reason why there aren't any stories about Stevie Wonder abusing his women is because it's really bloody difficult to land a punch when you're blind.

And if you extend "abuse" into substance abuse you'll see how the theory really fleshes out. Jimi Hendrix. Janis Joplin. Kurt Cobain. DJ Screw. All musical geniuses, all substance abusers.

So instead of focusing on the negative aspects of the whole scandal, let's look at that silver lining; Chris Brown might just be our next musical genius.

I'm telling you, that kid's got some more hits left in him.

And probably a few song too.