I wonder what other r&b records from 2011 those people who are freaking out over the Weeknd tape have enjoyed.
Sorry if this sounds snobby! It’s just, ugh, this is all reminding me of how Eminem gets airplay on rock stations. Cultural signifiers and aesthetic preferences becoming confused and elevating stuff for possibly weird reasons.
One of my favourite ever ILX moments (and favourite rockcrit moments!) was when Nate P listed - w/o much editorial context and no real-finger pointing* - all the people who’d put Speakerboxx/The Love Below as their Pazz & Jop No.1 and listed no other hip-hop records. ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE as dudes were VERY defensive, but data is data :)
*Nate expressed regret later but I think if anyone else but him had done it they’d have been more accusatory and the butthurtness of the critics would have been more righteous though no less butthurt.