Online speculation suggests that Lenny Kravitz’s absence from the BET Awards stems from a personal ban or negative connotation. However, as industry insiders, we’d like to offer more plausible explanations.
“To This Day, I Have Not Been Invited To A BET Thing Or A Source Awards Thing”
Lenny Kravitz
They Need to Make sure the Seats are Filled?
One possibility is that BET simply assumed that Kravitz, a rock artist, wouldn’t be interested in attending an R&B and hip-hop event. Similarly, BET may have feared that inviting non-genre artists would disrupt the show’s focus and alienate its core audience.
Limited but NOTABLE Success on R&B and Hip Hop Charts
Another factor is Kravitz’s limited chart success in the R&B and hip-hop genres. While he’s a respected figure in these communities, his lack of mainstream R&B or hip-hop success may have made him less appealing to BET producers, especially in recent years. However, he has had records chart on the R&B end.
Undeniably, Lenny Kravitz is known for his eclectic mix of genres, including rock, funk, reggae, soul, and R&B. While he has not had as many chart-topping hits in R&B as in other genres, he has had several notable R&B songs and collaborations.
Here are some of Lenny Kravitz’s most popular R&B Charting songs:
- “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over” (1998)
- “Fly Away” (1998)
- “American Woman” (1999)
- “Dig In” (1999)
- “I Belong to You” (2003)
- “Again” (2000)
- “Can’t Get You Off My Mind” (2001)
Kravitz has also collaborated with several R&B artists, including:
- Luther Vandross
- P. Diddy
- Alicia Keys
- Angie Stone
- Toni Braxton
In addition to his own recordings, Kravitz has also produced and written songs for other R&B charting artists, such as Vanessa Williams and Boyz II Men.
While Lenny Kravitz may not be considered a traditional R&B artist, it is fair to say that his music has undoubtedly impacted the genre. His fusion of rock and R&B has helped to broaden the definition of the genre and has inspired a new generation of R&B artists, as he eloquently states in his suggestion as to why he should be invited to the awards show, and he’s right.
The show’s theme centers around charting R&B and hip-hop artists.
Despite these reasons, Kravitz’s absence is likely to change moving forward since he has brought it to the attention of commercial media and online portals rolled with it. BET’s organizers will certainly recognize his significance and invite him in the future.
This is not new.
This situation mirrors the segregation often seen in awards shows across genres. For instance, hip-hop and R&B artists rarely appear at Country Music Awards shows and country stars are seldom seen at the Latino Awards but there is no doubt that talent from various genres are fans of other genres of music.
Hold Your Horses Commercial Media…
When it comes to the history of music, Kravitz is actually on the end that many Black artists would LOVE to be on and deservedly so, commercial success. Lest we also forget the extremely racist statement Rolling Stone co-founder Jann Wenner made when he said Black and female musicians were not “articulate” enough to be included in his book titled “The Masters” recently. There is a problem across the board.
On Another Note…
Black culture has undeniable appeal across many cultures, but we often limit our own reach by only targeting Black consumers. In BET’s case, this is not the situation since they are not a Black-owned entity. However, in any situation, a Black business owner is doing himself or herself a disservice by NOT targeting the general market to achieve greater success and return.
For BET, inviting artists like Kravitz could attract new sponsors and boost viewership. While BET may not prioritize expanding its audience, the potential benefits are undeniable.
In addition, there are probably many R&B and hip-hop artists who would love to work and collaborate with Lenny Kravitz.
