Is Bruno Mars' music cultural appropriation or cultural appreciation? | The Tylt
YouTuber Seren Sensei (Sensei Aishitemasu) dragged Bruno Mars as a cultural appropriator. She argues he's a half-Puerto Rican, half-Filipino artist who co-opts black music for mainstream success. But Black Twitter came to Bruno's defense, saying he's authentic in his music and gets the difference between appropriation and authentic appreciation. While Bruno credits his success to black musicians, critics say non-black artists constantly co-opt black music and culture only because it's cool or trendy. What do you think?

YouTuber Seren Sensei (Sensei Aishitemasu) called Bruno Mars a cultural appropriator in a video debate, arguing Bruno has co-opted music from black-rooted genres and black artistry. Hollywood Life has the report:
She went on to point out that comparisons of Bruno to Michael Jackson are a “false equivalency,” because things were so different when the King of Pop was at the height of his career than they are now. “I don’t even think that Michael Jackson, now, in this day in age, would be able to get to the point that he got to previously,” she explained. “And a huge part of that is because people have realized that they prefer their black music and their black culture from a non-black face.” Sensei also slammed Bruno for not being an “original artist,” like MJ and Prince. “What Bruno Mars does, is he takes pre-existing work and he just completely, word-for-word recreates it, extrapolates it,” she went on. “He does not create it, he does not improve upon it, he does not make it better. He’s a karaoke singer, he’s a wedding singer, he’s the person you hire to do Michael Jackson and Prince covers. Yet Bruno Mars has an Album of the Year Grammy and Prince never won an Album of the Year Grammy.”
But others argue that culture is meant to be shared, especially when it's authentic and not offensive. For many, the real issue of cultural appropriation is about privileges and authenticity rather than simply being non-black. Black artists historically have not been acknowledged for their influence. White artists can easily attain mainstream success while performing black-rooted music and adopting black culture, while black artists struggle for the same recognition.
Sometimes, white artists have co-opted black music solely for profit, and to be cool and trendy—like Katy Perry or Miley Cyrus. Other artists, like Iggy Azalea, unauthentically co-opt dialect and sounds in order to "sound black" in their music. She's from Sydney, Australia!
But in the case of Bruno, he's actually influenced by black artistry, was inspired by artists like Michael Jackson and Prince, constantly notes his influences, and credits most musical genres as being rooted in black artistry and black cultures.
Bruno is Puerto Rican and Filipino, and some argue he's a person of color who gets the importance of giving credit where credit is due. Bruno wouldn't exist without his black influences. He knows that, but many argue he can't and should not have to change who he is because he isn't black. It's problematic to say only other black artists can be inspired by black artists before them. Shouldn't the point be to give black artists credit for influencing today's popular music? Bruno is doing that.
And many on Black Twitter agree that Bruno is being authentic!
I woke up to Bruno Mars slander. Not here for it. Ya'll not about to ruin my Friday. How about ya'll focus on the real culture vultures? pic.twitter.com/Hul0k7RvSB
— SheWhoShakesTheTable (@unkempt_DVa) March 9, 2018
4. Bruno Mars has expressed his influences. He not quiet about it. He's not claiming he started the shit. He has said he was influenced by Doo-Wop. Motown. So again, I don't see the hooplah.
— PantheR (@____PantheR) March 9, 2018
if y’all want to attack the culture vultures attack the real ones. how you gon attack bruno mars for making good music and always quoting his sources and mentioning his inspiration pic.twitter.com/LSwOOWcRTJ
— oum (@ouminous) March 9, 2018
Maybe instead of dissecting Bruno Mars' success... which he has no control over... y'all could do more than stream your faves' albums and give them the elevation, support and attention y'all whining that they need... pic.twitter.com/3C7EN28She
— Kingsley (@kingsleyyy) March 9, 2018
Want to know how ridiculous this sounds to some? Look below! 👇
bruno mars ain't even from mars, the planetary vulture
— Rembert Browne (@rembert) March 9, 2018