In a recent interview with Billboard, R&B singer Robin Thicke sounded off on some of his troubles in the music industry—specifically with Vibe magazine.
Thicke, who rose to industry prominence in 2006 under the watchful eye of Pharrell and Star Trak Records was denied the cover of the monthly publication because he’s white.
“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,’”Thicke said of the situation.
The response he received was startling.
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“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.”
Despite the incident, Thicke is taking the trials and tribulations in stride, refusing to condemn the decision of the magazine as reverse racism.
“I won’t use the word ‘racism.’ I will say it’s a tough — but rewarding — fight,” he says.
At the end of the day, Thicke says he will continue to do what he does best: make music that transcends color lines. For this, he cites the late Bob Marley.
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“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. 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.”
Robin Thicke is currently working on his third solo effort, Something Else which will hit shelves September 30. His first single is titled “Magic.”
