Lenny Kravitz recently clarified his comments to Esquire about feeling underappreciated by Black media outlets. He went on Instagram to give context to his statements and reveal his viewpoint:
“It is important to me to set the record straight on recent media reports based on an interview I did. My Black musical heritage means a lot to me, and I owe my success to my supporters who have taken this journey with me over the span of my career.”
Sharing what he meant during the interview, the singer explained:
“The comment I made was not about ‘Black media’ or the ‘Black community.’ I was specifically referring to black award shows in particular. My comment was meant to express a concern about ensuring that black artists are being recognized for their work in what is now being called ‘non-traditional’ Black music, which it is not.”
Addressing the Black musicians in the rock scene, he added:
“Rock and roll is the music we were instrumental in creating and is a part of our history. We must retain our heritage and celebrate that together. BET and countless others have paved the way for this type of recognition. I hope that by sharing my concern, a spotlight will be shone on this issue.”
Kravitz’s Comments On Being A Black Man In The Rock Scene
Kravitz received backlash last week after criticizing ‘the folks who run’ Black media and saying he wasn’t featured on the cover of Vibe magazine until nearly a decade into his career. His remark read:
“To this day, I have not been invited to a BET thing or a Source Awards thing. And it’s like, here is a Black artist who has reintroduced many Black art forms, who has broken down barriers — just like those that came before me broke down. That is positive. And they don’t have anything to say about it? I have been that dream and example of what a Black artist can do.”
The singer also mentioned being underestimated by white critics at the beginning of his 34-year career. The 4-time Grammy winner recalled:
“There was this one article that, at that time, said, ‘If Lenny Kravitz were white, he would be the next savior of rock’ n’ roll.’ I got a lot of negativity thrown at me by all these older white men who weren’t going to let me have that position.”
Now, Kravitz is getting ready to release his twelfth studio album, ‘Blue Electric Light.’ His first full-length record in five years will hit the shelves on March 15, 2024.
