Robin Thicke Says Vibe Wouldn't Give Him The Cover Because He's White

Home

News

Videos

Features

Site Last Updated: 3:25 PM EDT, January 9, 2009	Homepage Us \| MySpace \| Twitter \| RSS

Published: Friday - August 29, 2008
Words by Allen Starbury

Robin Thicke (Photo: Geffen Records)

Singer Robin Thicke, who saw commercial success in 2006 with the release of The Evolution Of Robin Thicke via Pharrell's Star Trak Records, recently revealed some of the struggles he's faced trying to make it in the music biz.

Being that he's more R&B than pop, Thicke said crossing the color line has been a lot harder than many think. Via a recent interview with Billboard magazine, the singer told a story about how he was denied the cover of Vibe because of his skin color.

"When I did a recent interview with Vibe magazine I asked, 'Why can't I get the cover? This is a magazine I love. If there's one magazine that I'd want to be on the cover of, it's Vibe,' " the singer explained. "Their response was they don't have white artists on the cover; that the only white artist they've had on the cover was Eminem. I guess if that's what it is, it is what it is. And I respect that because I live in a house with a black woman."

Although the denial may be a form of reverse racism, that's not what Robin Thicke calls it. He simply says that obstacles like this makes him what he is today.

"I won't use the word 'racism.' I will say it's a tough -- but rewarding -- fight," he explained.

His fight continues too. Thicke says while roadblocks get in the way sometimes, all an artist can do is put their all into the music and nobody can stop you.

"You can't always expect people to be as color-blind or open-minded as you want. What you can do is keep giving your heart and soul, like Bob Marley did," Thicke told the magazine. "His music became so overwhelmingly loving; it was a relentless love in a sense. Keep beating them down with love and they can't stop you."

Currently, Robin Thicke is preparing the release of his third solo album, titled Something Else. It is said to feature no guest appearances, so fans can expect nothing but Robin by himself.

The first single is titled "Magic." The album is slated for release September 30.

Story Tools
Email It | Print It | Post A Comment |

Digg It |

Del.icio.us

COMMENTS (9)

Money Says:
Friday - September 5, 2008 at 5:02pm

Gwen Stefani was on the cover of Vibe and I believe Justin Timberlake was too.

STL shorty Says:
Tuesday - September 2, 2008 at 3:02pm

Tisk-Tisk- ...I like Robin Thicke - don't get me wrong - but he has no complaints because the irony of this situation - is actually only WHITE artists are being set up to succeed in R&B ...ain't that something. Like - Maxwell, Rapheal Sadiq, Anthony Hamilton, Donelle Jones, etc..etc..don't none of them get radio play anymore..It's not that our favorite artists have'nt made albums - hell - the radio wont play it..I dont consider Chris Brown REAL R&B...all them little cats like that Including Neo - they some lil "POP" cats...but REAL SANGIN...now thats what I miss.

drexx Says:
Tuesday - September 2, 2008 at 7:06am

he got to say something do he. Make his-self be known. They will put a dog on the cover if your hot, seems to me that he's hot but not burning up!!!

giantnyc Says:
Monday - September 1, 2008 at 8:35pm

(1)Vibe has put people that have achieved even less on their cover. They put Mase on the cover when he was ice cold. Amerie and Bow Wow also comes to mind. (2)Quincy Jones is no longer the owner of Vibe as you state Dee. He sold it well over a year ago. Even if he did not, your logic is a bit strained. (3)Several non-black people have appeared on the cover of Vibe.

Urban Review Says:
Sunday - August 31, 2008 at 2:47pm

IF this is what Vibe told him then this IS racism, let's not get it twisted... If Rolling Stone told Jay Z they didn't feature Black People, they would be mutha fuking riots in the streets...

The Honkey Says:
Sunday - August 31, 2008 at 7:35am

Im really happy to hear that a white man is unwanted LOOOOL! feeling that he is unwanted among blacks!! BLACK POWER!If u guys wanna know the truth, soon.. all whites will probably paint themselves black in order to get famous. Blacks rule music

Booya Says:
Saturday - August 30, 2008 at 4:08pm

Eminem made the cover because he deserved it. Robin think because he has one hit on the black charts, Vibe is suppose to put him on the front cover?! PLz! He is feeling himself way too much.

Dee is clueless Says:
Friday - August 29, 2008 at 6:39pm

Dee, you have no idea what you are talking about. Read the article that this was taken from and gain some context. Robin Thicke is completely different from Justin Timberlake, Eminem and Gwen Stefani. As a matter of fact, Vibe had a different editor during those times than they do now. And regarding Mary J., she does not have a lot of pop hits. She has a lot of R&B hits. There is a difference between two. So before you pop off, try to get some perspective and insight into your life or you come off as an uneducated idiot. Now, I don't know what Vibe said or didn't say and we will never know. Two separate sides hardly ever recall the same events. Robin isn't crying about it. The blogs are making it bigger than what it really is. The article is like 2,000 words and this is what we focus on. SMDHF

dee Says:
Friday - August 29, 2008 at 5:42pm

This dude has lost his mind trying bring the fact that he's white into it(do yo know who owns Vibe Quincy Jones-all of his kids have white in them)You've had one hit that actually done something & you think you should get the cover-then he goes on to say that there has only been one white person on the cover-there has been more than one Gwen Stefani,JT,Robert Deniro but he claims to be a fan of the mag but he didn't know that information & on top that bring MJB into saying she had a few hits & now she's a huge artist-she's more that a few more than you that's for sure-pls do us all a favor & go sit down...............