Cinnamon Babe: Did their new release hurt or help the rock community?

Recently the band Cinnamon Babe’s front singer, Stormi Maya, has been in a large circle of controversy in the rock and metal community regarding their most recent release, “Rock ‘N Roll Is Black”. Their nu-metal release was made to bring awareness to the history behind rock ‘n roll, and how it originated from black and brown artists. They have received major attention such as being temporarily banned on Instagram and Tiktok because of their recently released song. Did this song actually bring awareness to the situation or further divide the rock and metal community?

When the rock genre originated in the mid-1950s and early 1960s the very first known artist was Chuck Berry, an African American rock musician. Chuck Berry laid the foundation for rock and metal songs that are being made today. For example, Chuck Berry’s song “Johnny B. Goode” contains the same song format as modern rock and metal: verse, chorus, verse, chorus, breakdown/guitar solo, bridge. In his song “Johnny B. Goode” you can hear all of the previously stated aspects and the famous breakdown is based on almost every modern breakdown. The style of Chuck Berry even bled into the dubbed “King of Rock and Roll”, Elvis Presley. Unknown by many, Presley’s most famous song “Hound Dog” was originally made by African American singer, Big Mama Thornton. The foundation of rock and metal music was made off the backs of black and brown artist, which has allowed the rock genre and scene to be able to evolve into other genre such as: nu-metal, metalcore, hardcore, grunge, and many more! Because of these artists that founded the genre, it paved the way for genre evolution from bands such as Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Kiss, and even Queen.

Now in modern rock and metal the scene has become majority Caucasian, which has painted the stigma that rock and metal is only for Caucasian people, but this is not true. African Americans and other people of color can enjoy rock and metal, but they can also create music in the scene. Modern bands such as Sevendust, Cinnamon Babe, Magnolia Park, and Meet Me At The Altar are all either African American fronted or completely African American. Cinnamon Babe’s song did not try to split the rock and metal community, they brought awareness and education to the scene. Thinking that a certain genre of music is only for a specific race of people to make and consume is not logical. As long as you understand, respect, and recognize the history behind the genre of music that you are consuming or creating, it does not matter the race of the people. The rock and metal community was founded in rebellion against the separation of people and not censoring art, yet Cinnamon Babe was censored for creating a song about the history of the rock and metal scene and the history of rock music was covered up. Regardless of race or gender there should still be unity in the rock and metal community because that is its foundation. In closing Cinnamon Babe’s “Rock ‘N Roll Is Black” was a very well written song that shed light of history that is being forgotten and covered up. This band is trying to unite the community, not break it apart.

Check out Cinnamon Babe’s song “Rock ‘N Roll Is Black” and their social media below.

Instagram: @CinnamonBabemusic