Music Groups or Music Dupe?

The slang word dupe mean (n.) "a person who is easily deceived or fooled; gullible. A person who unquestioningly or unwittingly serves a cause or another ..." You might be wondering why the usage of group and dupe in the same sentence. During the course of the article you will figure out why. 

Many of us can name renown artists and the popular music groups that propelled them into stardom. Did I hear someone say Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Diana Ross, Bobby Brown, Kandi Barus, T-Boz, and the list goes on. All artists mentioned have all started with a music group. The Legendary Jackson 5 birth Michael Jackson,  

 

The Supreme gave life to Diana Ross, 

 

TLC produced T-Boz, 

 Destiny's Child launched Bryonce's career.

 

Music groups serves the following purposes:

1. Providing nurturing and boosting the confidence level of a budding artist.

2. Provides a blend of varying vocal range into a perfect harmony. R&B group "Bot To Men" came to mind.

3. Its cheaper to split the cost among group members instead of one person carrying the burden.

4. Groups are easier to market than a solo artist since the fans can identify with different personalities.

 All of these groups started out successful but had one thing in common. There was always one member of the group who had a hidden calculated agenda to outshine the rest and send them deep into the valley of oblivion. Yes I said it, no tea no shade. Books (autobiographies), movies, interviews, have all been used as the platform in which this truth is/was told throughout the centuries.

Is alleged (in a TV documentary) that Michael Jackson felt that the Jackson 5 were keeping him back from creating the global brand he envisioned for himself. With this in mind the other 4 brothers were left to fen for themselves. But the truth is Jermaine Jackson was the one who left the group and remained with Motown (his father-in-law at the time Berry Gordy record company). This is said to be what punched the hole in the Jackson 5 bucket and never stopped the leaks. Listen the turmoil.

 

EVEN AS THE JACKSON'S TRIED TO REGROUP POST MJ'S  DEATH THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE JACKSON 5 SPLIT PREVAILED!!!!

The cameras did role and candidly showed us who the real brothers are!!

   

Rumour swirled that there was also trouble in The Supremes camp forcing Diana Ross to go solo. Listen to the video below.

 

TLC also had its share of the problems associated with music groups too. In fact Lisa aka "Left Eye" wanted to leave the group and did so permanently after she met her early death in a car accident. TLC never regrouped successfully following this incidence.

 R&B "Escape" consisted of Kandi, Tiny, Tameka, and LaTocha went down similar road

 

My favourite boy group of all times "Boys To Men" could not compete with the rise in the hip hip dominance so the group slowly faded. Listen to their biggest global hits. This legendary R&B group is said to be the only one of the bunch I've mentioned that remained loyal to each other and was forced out of the mainstream music because their brand no longer appealed to the market. However, they continued to perform across Europe for their fans and recently took up residency in Vagas where they perform their of music.

 

Finally, "Destiny's Child" has been known to have one of the most underhand split of them all. Beyonce is the child of destiny who left Kelly and Mechelle without real footing in the music biz. What else do we expect when you have your father as the manager of the group? Love me some B but I feel so bad for the other two who have lived in her shadow for the rest of their lives. The price you pay for being the elbow and the feet to launch the real star!

 

So here's the real question. Does it make sense to start out your music careers using groups as your launching pads? Be careful that you don't get left behind musically!!! Exercise wisdom and common sense and play the game safe without getting duped!!!

Kandi Reminisces About Writing for TLC and Destiny's Child

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