[Captain Rhino]

Race, he said, is certainly an important factor, but it is not the only one. “I sense that sometimes there are claims of racial essentialism,” he said, “that are somehow going to trump other forms of identity status. We’re always grappling with authenticity. Rather than isolate the debate solely in terms of racial dynamics, I’d take it to the question of reggae, and ask, ‘Is it legitimate or authentic in that context?’ ”

Yeah. These are exactly the same questions I have whenever I hear Kathleen Battle beautifully sing Rossi arias or Yoyo Ma exquisitely play Bach on his cello.

NOT!

[Huck]

Yeah. These are exactly the same questions I have whenever I hear Kathleen Battle beautifully sing Rossi arias or Yoyo Ma exquisitely play Bach on his cello.

Excellent point, but the cretins who call themselves pop music "critics" wouldn't know Kathleen Battle if they tripped over her.