Many music fans have long argued about the merits of the ever-growing djent genre. While it has been praised for its technical proficiency and unique sound, it has also been criticized for its reliance on a limited set of musical elements. However, there is an even more sinister side to the djent movement that has been overlooked – it’s cultural appropriation.
At its core, djent is an amalgamation of various musical styles, primarily metal and jazz. While this may seem like an exciting combination, it is important to remember that metal and jazz have their roots in different cultures. By combining them, djent takes elements from different cultures and repackages them. This is a form of cultural appropriation that should not be taken lightly.
Furthermore, the lyrical content of many djent songs does not do much to help the situation. Many of the lyrics focus on themes of violence and aggression, which can also be seen as a form of appropriation. These songs present a distorted view of the cultures they borrow and can be seen as furthering damaging stereotypes.
And let’s talk about inequality for a moment (someone needs to be brave enough to post this). Djent often relies heavily on specific techniques and equipment that are not necessarily accessible to all musicians. By doing so, it perpetuates an environment of exclusivity that reinforces the idea that certain genres of music are more “legitimate” than others. This is a form of elitism that should not be tolerated.
The djent lobby did try and stop this article from being published. Djent lobbyist figurehead Misha Mansoor sent a van around to our offices when he heard we were writing this brave opinion piece exposing the dark underbelly of djent. Fortunately, none of our writers believed the shady figure inside trying to coax us with free candy was legitimate.
“We knew there was no free candy when we saw the Periphery sticker on the rear windshield“, said one of our talented writers at Vanflip.
Even more alarming is that djent is quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon, with more and more people listening to it and identifying with it. Sure, it may sound cool and provide a great way to show off your technical skills, but the cultural appropriation it involves should not be overlooked. Are you trying to get yourself cancelled?
The next time you find yourself drawn to the genre, take a moment to think about the implications. Let’s all agree to end the cultural appropriation of djent once and for all. We should focus on supporting true cultural music scenes rather than just jumping on the latest trend. It’s time to stop appropriating other cultures for our own gain.
Let’s consciously decide to stop listening to djent and start listening to culturally relevant music.
