The Trap of Genre Labeling

My personal argument against pigeonholing artists to one genre 

by Miguel Gonzales

Graphic by Sarah Tocci

Why do we need to assume someone’s genre, let alone claim that some musicians, bands, or artists make only one type of music?

The tendency to label music by genre is deeply ingrained in how we talk about and consume music. It’s an easy shorthand to say a band is rock, a solo artist is pop, or an ensemble is classical. Subgenres need to exist to clarify qualitative differences from one sound to another, particularly when labels like “pop,” “rock,” and “classical” are broad. Sophisti-pop differs from the sounds of twee-pop, indie-pop, electropop – and so on. 

My concern doesn’t lie with the existence of subgenres. It’s the way listeners jump the gun, and irrationally make assumptions of what type of music an artist makes. It’s a natural impulse, to quickly assume that an artist’s expression and inspiration only derive from one singular style of music. It’s an easy observation to draw from and conclude what someone’s genre may be, judging from musical elements implemented in their art. These observations, however, are overly simplistic and reductive to conclude anything meaningful, let alone worthwhile to understand an artist's intentions, background, or creative process. 

A notable example is Tyler the Creator’s album Igor. Igor is an ambitious undertaking for Tyler – a deeply personal amalgamation of pop, neo-soul, R&B, funk, soul, and hip-hop to create a reflection of love and heartbreak. Despite its eclecticism, the album was placed in the Rap Album of the Year category at the Grammys, as though it was just another rap album. Being placed only in the rap category didn’t make sense. It’s disheartening. 

“Why can’t we just be in pop? So I felt like – half of me feels like the rap nomination was a backhanded compliment,” Tyler said during a press conference post-Grammy win. 

I despise descriptors such as “global” and “urban,” categories that pigeonhole international and black artists into one corner. To say a work of music is “urban” or “global” comes off as insensitive, suggesting their place in music is confined to these boundaries and cannot lie elsewhere within the music spectrum. 

What makes music powerful is its ability to transform, morph, and push boundaries in every moment – regardless of an artist's background, influences, person, et cetera. Music is always distinctive and “unlike anything you’ve heard,” or similar phrases your friends may say when they discover a new song. It’s fine to observe and notice the variety of genres weaved into the music, but to definitively say they are one genre is absurd.

So, the next time you listen to an album, resist the urge to quickly label it with a single genre. Recognize it for what it is: music evolves, slowly becoming fluid and freer from constraints over time. Ultimately, artists know their art better than anyone else. Let them speak for themselves, and avoid classifying their art into one distinct genre.