I truly think that she was blocked while Columbia and Beyonce swagger-jacked elements of her music style and then low key black-balled when she dared to speak out about her вЂњissuesвЂќ at the label. Amerie hasnвЂ™t been able to build up a loyal fanbase I think in part because she took that hiatus to act and host that BET after ALL I HAVE came out. IвЂ™ve heard both statements from others on blogs & sites regarding why they donвЂ™t like Amerie. I also blame the people because standards are really low, people will support these non-talented acts, then complain about music being so subpar, then you have these artist releasing amazing albums, & now those same people are hiding under a rock.ДЇrom the perspective of a family of music lovers (of which I & my nephew are the only Amerie fans), one thinks her voice is too strident, two think that she has no sustained вЂњimageвЂќ and therefore cannot relate to her. Just support the artist, especially the talented ones, then we can talk. The charts donвЂ™t mean much to me anymore, because thatвЂ™s all people focus on, we forget about the music, which is why we have such crappy music nowadays. Inspiring & helping others through music is success to me. Being happy with the music you make it success to me. Her continuing to release stellar quality album is success to me. IвЂ™m just happy sheвЂ™s independent & has control over her music, product, & career, thatвЂ™s success to me. What really is success? It can have many different meanings. Idc if Ameriie doesnвЂ™t have a successful single anymore.

We have few artist like Miguel thatвЂ™s on labels that his label allows him to do his thing creatively & his way, or like Elle Varner (gave her creative freedom, but didnвЂ™t really promote her), or Lupe Fiasco (gave him creative freedom, but his fans had to protest to get that started & they basically told him you can do that, but we may not give you a budget & promote you). They can only push so much, once you sign that dotted line, youвЂ™re label in so much controls your career & if they arenвЂ™t controlling it in the right direction youвЂ™re trapped. Or like Ameriie, Def Jam clearly didnвЂ™t try to promote вЂњIn Love & WarвЂќ, or JoJo, how you gone blame artist Honest when people like JOJO has DONE albums & wants the singles out, but they label wonвЂ™t do such. Michelle how the time with her they wanted the Black Britney Spears, I link that to CiaraвЂ™s situation (they wanted to mold her into that), but since she didnвЂ™t really do just that, they shaded her career. I donвЂ™t always blame the artist: Ciara (she clearly had a label situation), ask K. All the talented people, where do you see them at? Not really on the charts, but usually their products are on point. Adele is selling to me because of the way they marketed her as this pop soul singer, kind of like what The-Dream was saying about the industry not wanting African AmericanвЂ™s to sing soul music, but people praise other races for doing it. Then you have people like Gaga who use Gimmicks to sell rather than her talent. How many talented people, I mean REALLY talented people are on the top? Like the top of the charts are selling albums? RihannaвЂ™s topping the charts, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj (has been charting, not w/ every single, but more than the talented artist).

Amerie 1 thing album cover