What are the qualifications for being considered a "LEGEND"?

[Mrslim1]

body of work?
consistency?
years in the game?
album sales?
fanbase?
etc???

Like ...is Lauryn Hill (solo artist not including time with fugees) a legend on the strength of her one album 10 years ago compared to an Alicia key's who's had 4 successful albums but is still relatively new to us? I know everyone's definition of "new" varies but just roll with it.

Is Maxwell considered a legend? Much like Sade he's proven he can take an extended hiatus (10 years jsut about) and still return with a quality album and his fan base in tact..with his recent Grammy nods and appearances he seems to be more popular commercially than before does he deserve the title?

what determines this?

I feel that its should be a combination of all those things. To be considered a legend you must make timeless music. No matter what music is doing commercially at any time your music should be able to stand the test of time. Your body of work should show growth musically and your lyricals should have extreme depth no matter what the subject matter is. Record sales are a factor but not as big a factor as concerts. If you are able to headline and sell out concerts consistently for years and years without a single ( ie Sade, Maxwell) because of the strength of your fanbase knowing that they are going to get a quality musical performance of timeless music that says alot.

Now since I am a Maxwell fan here is why he is a legend IMO. First Maxwell's voice is second to none. Musically no R&B/Soul artist of this generation is more rooted in the elements of Classic soul music. Maxwell offers you great vocals along with excellent instrumentation and musicianship. He gives you songs with indepth lyrics. He also has classic an timeless songs ( ie Acension , Sumthin Sumthin, Till the Cops Come Knockin , Pretty Wings , Lifetime etc . ) His shows are legendary. Lets take the build up for BLACKsummer'Night. He had been off he scene for 7 years. Before Pretty Wings was released as a single he was able to sell out throughout the country on the strength of his past work which incles the classic Urban Hang Suite , Embya and Now (debuted at Number1) . Selling 144,000 tickets in Minutes . Once Pretty Wings was released it stayed at Number 1 on the R&B charts for 14 weeks. At that time he began to tour again , sold that out again. Dropped BSN that goes to Number 1 ( His 2nd Number 1 album ) and is critically acclaimed . Starts a Arena tour, sells that out again. Gets nominated for 6 Grammys , 2 songs that werent released as singles " Love You" Best Pop Male Vocal and "Phoenix Rise" Best Instrumental . BSN is not an instrumental album , so that shows you the quality of this Man music when most artist dont even offer you instrumentals like the greats Marvin Gaye , Stevie Wonder etc did. Hell Maxwell band members are nominatd for Grammys ( Robert Glasper) Maxwell is successful in every criteria that you would rate someone a legend. He has the sales, the body of work, consistency , years in the game , fanbase and one that you didnt have the ability to tour and sellout concerts for the rest of his career of the work he already has made. Maxwell in this year alone has accomplished more that Most of these artist will ever accomplish. And that after a 7 year layoff and a Great Career before the layoff. Musically artist like Maxwell , Prince, Sade , Stevie Wonder etc offer you so much for Musically so that is what carries then further in the long run. So they will always be able to to tour and perform because of the quality of the music. To answer your question . Maxwell , The Ambassador of Soul, is a Legend

 

[marie addams]

Once Pretty Wings was released it stayed at Number 1 on the R&B charts for 14 weeks. At that time he began to tour again , sold that out again. Dropped BSN that goes to Number 1 ( His 2nd Number 1 album ) and is critically acclaimed . Starts a Arena tour, sells that out again. Gets nominated for 6 Grammys , 2 songs that werent released as singles " Love You" Best Pop Male Vocal and "Phoenix Rise" Best Instrumental

I didn't know what all the categories were for his nominations but these two are my favorites from the album.

where do artists like Brandy and Monica stand?

 

[Mrslim1]

I didn't know what all the categories were for his nominations but these two are my favorites from the album.

where do artists like Brandy and Monica stand?

I view artist like Brandy and Monica as singers that had a few hits here and there but didn't really have a major impact on music as a whole. Dont get me wrong I feel that they are both talented but I just prefer to listen to a Sade or Anita Baker. I just feel they offer you more musically that what a Brandy and Monica can.

 

[Question Authority]

I feel that its should be a combination of all those things. To be considered a legend you must make timeless music. No matter what music is doing commercially at any time your music should be able to stand the test of time. Your body of work should show growth musically and your lyricals should have extreme depth no matter what the subject matter is. Record sales are a factor but not as big a factor as concerts. If you are able to headline and sell out concerts consistently for years and years without a single ( ie Sade, Maxwell) because of the strength of your fanbase knowing that they are going to get a quality musical performance of timeless music that says alot.

Now since I am a Maxwell fan here is why he is a legend IMO. First Maxwell's voice is second to none. Musically no R&B/Soul artist of this generation is more rooted in the elements of Classic soul music. Maxwell offers you great vocals along with excellent instrumentation and musicianship. He gives you songs with indepth lyrics. He also has classic an timeless songs ( ie Acension , Sumthin Sumthin, Till the Cops Come Knockin , Pretty Wings , Lifetime etc . ) His shows are legendary. Lets take the build up for BLACKsummer'Night. He had been off he scene for 7 years. Before Pretty Wings was released as a single he was able to sell out throughout the country on the strength of his past work which incles the classic Urban Hang Suite , Embya and Now (debuted at Number1) . Selling 144,000 tickets in Minutes . Once Pretty Wings was released it stayed at Number 1 on the R&B charts for 14 weeks. At that time he began to tour again , sold that out again. Dropped BSN that goes to Number 1 ( His 2nd Number 1 album ) and is critically acclaimed . Starts a Arena tour, sells that out again. Gets nominated for 6 Grammys , 2 songs that werent released as singles " Love You" Best Pop Male Vocal and "Phoenix Rise" Best Instrumental . BSN is not an instrumental album , so that shows you the quality of this Man music when most artist dont even offer you instrumentals like the greats Marvin Gaye , Stevie Wonder etc did. Hell Maxwell band members are nominatd for Grammys ( Robert Glasper) Maxwell is successful in every criteria that you would rate someone a legend. He has the sales, the body of work, consistency , years in the game , fanbase and one that you didnt have the ability to tour and sellout concerts for the rest of his career of the work he already has made. Maxwell in this year alone has accomplished more that Most of these artist will ever accomplish. And that after a 7 year layoff and a Great Career before the layoff. Musically artist like Maxwell , Prince, Sade , Stevie Wonder etc offer you so much for Musically so that is what carries then further in the long run. So they will always be able to to tour and perform because of the quality of the music. To answer your question . Maxwell , The Ambassador of Soul, is a Legend

Really good post.

A "legend" has to be someone that has made some sort of impact..whether it be commercially, critically, and/or artistically, or all of the above. I don't think you can be considered "legendary" if your music flies under the radar consistently by both the public and the critics. That's why I don't think someone like India.Arie will ever see that legend status. She doesn't have enough notoriety. Someone like Mariah Carey will be a legend (if she isn't one already) based primarily on numbers...as her numbers are unmatched. That, and for having "the voice." Maxwell will be considered a legend (if he isn't one already) just based on the merit of his work. His catalog is highly lauded. I feel like Brandy and Monica could have both been legend contenders but they're too under the radar now, and lack consistency. Spotty catalogs and no one seems to really give a shit about them anymore.

And I'm gonna take a que from you, and replace Maxwell with Mary J. As a Mary fan, I feel she's a legend for multiple reasons, but the major one being for pioneering her very own hybrid subgenre of contemporary r&b. When Mary came onto the scene, she was something atypical; something fresh. We had never seen a female r&b/soul artist like Mary. Not only because she's credited for being the first artist to sing over hip-hop beats, but her entire aura was different. She was one of the artists that had a major hand in popularizing the rapping-singing hybrid, took it to the pop charts, and cultivated it and made it the sound that all know today as "hip hop soul." And furthermore, "My Life" is widely considered to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, album from a female r&b artst. It's one of the genre's most landmark, and Mary's catalog, collectively, is very consistent, as I can't say she has one truly bad album. Hell, she has even inspired some of today's brightest stars, like Alicia Keys, Fantasia, Beyonce, and Keyshia Cole.

To be a legend requires some sort of impact. Today's legends, i.e, Aretha, Tina, Stevie, etc...have all done something and/or accomplished something critically and/or commercially. It can be either or, but I think those who have greatest legend status than others are those are able to combine both. But either way, atleast one has to be apparent.

 

[supern0va_]

not really sure..you kinda know a legend when you see one. Beyonce and Alicia Keys are the most recent artists to achieve legendary status in r&b imo. Sade, Lauryn, Maxwell, and Mary J Blige are legends imo.

 

[Mrslim1]

not really sure..you kinda know a legend when you see one. Beyonce and Alicia Keys are the most recent artists to achieve legendary status in r&b imo. Sade, Lauryn, Maxwell, and Mary J Blige are legends imo.

But is Lauryn Hill ( Solo Artist ) a legend ? She has given us 1 legendary/timeless piece of work ( The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill ). But is that enough to call her a legend ? We as fans are still waiting for more music from her because we know of her talented. Is that 1 classic enough. And even if she does come back out with more music, she still has to be consistent with the quality. Just a question. I put L.Hill ( solo artist ) l in the category of a artist that has a classic/timeless/legendary piece of work who had the potential to be an all time great but never reached it.

 

[Question Authority]

Lauryn could have the catalog to be considered a legend. But that's only if we include her work with The Fugees, or not.

 

[SoulRattler of Venom]

I swear I was going to make this exact thread yesterday... nice drop

 

[Mrslim1]

I swear I was going to make this exact thread yesterday... nice drop

Share your opinion

 

[mystery brown]

A CONSISTANTLY high quality of music.

Longetivity.

They have to sold SOMETHING. As tight as some people are, if they've NEVER any real numbers, they can't be legends.

 

[supern0va_]

But is Lauryn Hill ( Solo Artist ) a legend ? She has given us 1 legendary/timeless piece of work ( The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill ). But is that enough to call her a legend ? We as fans are still waiting for more music from her because we know of her talented. Is that 1 classic enough. And even if she does come back out with more music, she still has to be consistent with the quality. Just a question. I put L.Hill ( solo artist ) l in the category of a artist that has a classic/timeless/legendary piece of work who had the potential to be an all time great but never reached it.

I think she is a legend for her voice, work with fugees AND her only solo album. it was critically acclaimed and got like 10 grammy noms and 5 wins AND it sold 19 million worldwide. I think that's enough to be considered a legend.

 

[supern0va_]

A CONSISTANTLY high quality of music.

Longetivity.

They have to sold SOMETHING. As tight as some people are, if they've NEVER any real numbers, they can't be legends.

i agree with this.

 

[Mrslim1]

I think she is a legend for her voice, work with fugees AND her only solo album. it was critically acclaimed and got like 10 grammy noms and 5 wins AND it sold 19 million worldwide. I think that's enough to be considered a legend.

I agree, Lauryn Hill's entire body of work makes her a Legend. I guess my question is , just based off The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill , would consider here a Legend or an artist with just a Legendary piece of work ?

 

[supern0va_]

I agree, Lauryn Hill's entire body of work makes her a Legend. I guess my question is , just based off The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill , would consider here a Legend or an artist with just a Legendary piece of work ?

wow. i have no idea lol. i think if an artist has only one album and it's a "legendary piece", they should be considered a legend. So I guess yeah just based of The Miseducation, Lauryn Hill is a legend.

 

[Mrslim1]

wow. i have no idea lol. i think if an artist has only one album and it's a "legendary piece", they should be considered a legend. So I guess yeah just based of The Miseducation, Lauryn Hill is a legend.

Well with that said , would you consider Amy Winehouse a Legend ? Alot of people consider Back to Black a legendary piece of work. Just trying to provoke conversation. My opinion is that it takes more than one great album to be considered a legend.

 

[marie addams]

]Well with that said , would you consider Amy Winehouse a Legend ? Alot of people consider Back to Black a legendary piece of work. [/B]Just trying to provoke conversation. My opinion is that it takes more than one great album to be considered a legend.

great point

 

[supern0va_]

Well with that said , would you consider Amy Winehouse a Legend ? Alot of people consider Back to Black a legendary piece of work. Just trying to provoke conversation. My opinion is that it takes more than one great album to be considered a legend.

This is getting really tough. I really don't know. It's all subjective I guess. i wish i could offer more lol I will say I don't think Amy Winehouse's impact was anywhere near Lauryn's. I'm not even a huge fan of Lauryn Hill, but some "legends" have not had albums as big as Lauryn's. She chose to make one album so I don't think she should be excluded.

 

[Mrslim1]

This is getting really tough. I really don't know. It's all subjective I guess. i wish i could offer more lol I will say I don't think Amy Winehouse's impact was anywhere near Lauryn's. I'm not even a huge fan of Lauryn Hill, but some "legends" have not had albums as big as Lauryn's. She chose to make one album so I don't think she should be excluded.

I agree Lauryn Hill's album did have a huge impact. But so did Vanilla Ice. I think the one aspect that Lauryn Hill is missing is the years of consistency. I think being able to put in album after album, project after project of great music is a huge part of being a legend. Now fans are still waiting years later for Lauryn to return to the music scene and that says a lot. But I just haven't heard enough music from her to put her as a bonafide legend. Lets take Maze featuring Frankie Beverly , till this day they are still able to tour without even having an album out for 15 years or so . That's because they have so much classic material . If Lauryn does say she is going to tour , I believe that it WILL sell out but how good will the show be , she doesn't have that much material. I just need more from her.