Is Tommy Richman a Culture Vulture?
The video discusses the rise of Tommy Richman, a 24-year-old artist from Virginia, who achieved a number one hit with his song "Million Dollar Baby" (1:09). This song gained significant traction, even during the Drake and Kendrick beef, breaking into the top five on Spotify (1:25).
The video then delves into the concept of the "Great White Hope," defining it as a Caucasian artist working in a genre predominantly curated by Black and Brown people (4:17). Examples given include Vanilla Ice, Eminem, Post Malone, Jack Harlow, and even Elvis Presley (4:35). The video argues that Eminem's success, while earned, opened a door for less mindful artists to appropriate Black and Brown culture for commercial success (5:30).
A significant portion of the video is dedicated to Mac Miller as an example of a "Great White Hope" who transcended the initial perception of being a "joke" artist (6:53). Mac Miller, initially labeled as "frat rap," evolved his sound, becoming more experimental and showing genuine appreciation for Black art and music, ultimately earning critical respect (7:07).
In contrast, the video presents Yeat as an artist who "bluntly rips off his contemporaries" and relies on the "white boy rapping stick" for his career (8:28). The narrator questions why Yeat receives so much
traction despite his perceived lack of artistic merit (9:19).
The video concludes with a hopeful outlook for Tommy Richman, seeing his passion and drive as potential indicators that he can become a true and authentic artist, unlike some "flash in the pan" acts (9:52). His upcoming album, "Coyote," is anticipated with excitement (10:10).