August 5, 2024
Artists

Eight Black Artists Jennifer Lopez Has to Thank for Carrying Her Career


Jennifer Lopez is back with a new album, “This Is Me…Now,” her first full-length solo project since 2014’s “A.K.A.” With it comes renewed interest in critics examining how the singer built her music empire off of the talent of Black artists.

Ahead of its Feb. 16 release, Lopez hinted that her ninth studio album may be her last. “The truth is, I don’t even know if I’ll ever make another album after this. It’s such the kind of quintessential kind of Jennifer Lopez J.Lo project, and I really feel very fulfilled … that’s what I’m thinking—this might be my last album ever,” she told “Entertainment Tonight.”

Jennifer Lopez’s musical success continues to be criticized for her use of other artists’ vocals on her songs. (Photo: @jlo/Instagram)

The revelation and new release came after being dragged for years for her singing abilities, or lack thereof, depending on the review. More recently, when actress Ayo Edebiri’s comments about the entertainer’s career being “one long scam” resurfaced, discourse about Lopez’s lack of acknowledging Black singers who provide huge vocal assists on her biggest records did too.

“She thinks she’s on multiple tracks, but it’s not her. I think she thinks that she’s still good even though, like, she’s not singing for most of these songs,” the Emmy Award winner said in a 2020 episode of the “Scam Goddess” podcast.

“A lot of the write-ups of the songs will be like, ‘J.Lo didn’t have time to make it to the studio,’ like, J.Lo was busy. It’s like, ‘Doing what?’ Not singing, obviously,” said “The Bear” star. She would later apologize when they both appeared on “Saturday Night Live.”

In recent years, the “Hustlers” star has been the subject of accusations that she has a history of riding the wave of success with vocals from singer-songwriters such as Ashanti, Christina Milian, and many others.

Here’s a look back at the “ghost singers” who helped Lopez “Get Right”: