Dirty Money's Kalenna Harper Speaks On The Drawbacks Of Being Dark Skinned In The Music Industry

Mar 09 | by _YBF

It's no secret that skin color is still an issue in the Black community and unfortunately the darker the berry - the juice is not always sweeter, so says Kalenna Harper of Dirty Money.

In a recent interview, Kalenna speaks openly about how her dark skin tone once held back her musical dreams as record execs told her dark skin was not marketable. Get the deets inside...

In a recent interview, Dirty Money member Kalenna Harper spoke very candidly about her experiences with being “Too Black” for the music industry. She recently told “Scene And Heard TV,”

“I kind of started off as a solo artist, and I was doing that for a very
long time. And you know, just coming up against obstacles; they was like,
you know, ‘you too black,’ or ‘you’re not marketable.’ Whatever they came
up with in their minds to say that I wasn’t artist material, you know. I
just said I’m going to be a businesswoman, and I’m going to be like the
Missy Elliotts, and the R. Kellys, and the Keith Sweats. I’m going to
write for other artists, and they’re not going to have no other choice but
to hear me, and to buy my music, and to respect me as an artist.

That was complexion wise. It was complexion, and you know something, it’s
a difference between chocolate and brown and peanut butter and even
Snicker bar, you know what I’m saying. Chocolate is something different,
you know. And so the way they made it seem was, you black as night girl;
you crispy, burnt black, and that’s just not marketable right now. And it
wasn’t at the time to be totally honest with you."

Well....Kalenna did get her big break in the industry and I hope other brown chicks get their shine on too.

Watch Kalenna's segment at the 3:15 mark:

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Comments

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It makes me laugh how people

It makes me laugh how people are saying she's making up excuses and comparing her to Kelly Rowland and african-american porn stars. First of all anyone can be a porn star, how you comparing her to african-american porn stars? lol. Second, there is african american singers out but at the same time they all have that look the industry looks for. These days it's not even about talent, for example Nicki Minaj, Cassie( she can't sing she just talks), Amber Rose (all get publicity for being sex symbols), Kim Kardashian and so many others. Anybody can come out with a song these days. Now as for Kelly Rowland, she's beautiful but at the same time she still has that look they consider a pass. Beyonce is black, she light skinned though and have that look, Rihanna has the look their looking for, Jennifer Hudson okay yes she got money and she on television and lost a whole bunch of weight yea yea. I believe what Kaleena is saying because I personally dont think she is ugly but in the industry eye's they just dont want talent, they want something what they consider sex and honestly that's not fair at all. There is a whole lot of ignorance in the industry, look at the music videos, all light skinned jump offs most of them, their hoe's all light skinned. They rap about light skinned and hoe's all the time now. AND LOL to the person who said dark skin women are ugly, first of all LIGHT BROWN, BROWN, DARK BROWN ARE BEAUTIFUL SKIN COLORS, there are so many well built beautiful dark skinned females and they dont age quick neither they still look 30 at the age of 60. How ignorant of you to sit here and say light skinned women are more appealing, lmaoo oh please I have seen so many ugly one's, especially when that make up comes off. There's pretty light skinned women like there's naturally pretty dark skinned one's. It's 2012 now shut up with the ignorance.

by LOLSMH
5:32 pm - Jan 10, '12

I am white European person

I am white European person and I've came to the U.S couple of years ago....Where I'm from we loved black ppl, and your music...it's just when I came here that some black ppl were so rude to me/fueled w hate and disrespect bc I am white, which made me change my view on black ppl from the U.S despite some great artists... being kind, unselfish, loving and open towards ppl it seems sends a wrong mssg here, its hardly seen as humane and necessary act but rather weak..I also am not fond of white Americans, these are the ppl who made black ppl hate white ppl bc of all the injustice done to African Americans..All white ppl are not haters of black race (this you have to know), its your culture that had made you dislike whites, bc they had put you through sufferings-however, know that we are all not the same, and I think that both the beauty and ugliness is inside the person-I respect all races..but we are either good or bad...There is just to much hate in the U.S..I am sorry to say, but it is the disease to deep to be healed any time soon...Peace! You are beautiful if you don't hate your fellow humans...

by CitizenOfUniverse
2:21 am - Oct 8, '11

WOW I'm completely blown away

WOW I'm completely blown away by all these comments. Many people are living a life of stereotypes and its sad. In reality Blacks are looked down by every race, but it's on us to do what we have to do and take advantage of all the opportunities given to ua.

by Anonymous
8:34 am - Jun 3, '11

why are dark girls always

why are dark girls always complaining about being dark skin? love who u are. plus its not her dark skin thats not marketable, its her hideous face!!

by really?
3:30 am - Mar 12, '11

imagine that face lighter

imagine that face lighter with the same talent u know she woulda got more love it's tons of unattractive lightskinned chicks that r getting by on their skin tone alone

by vickey cookie
5:06 pm - Mar 20, '11

why are dark girls always

why are dark girls always complaining about being dark skin? love who u are. plus its not her dark skin thats not marketable, its her hideous face!!

by really?
3:29 am - Mar 12, '11

dark skinned people in every

dark skinned people in every culture are looked down upon. it's really not just an american or a black thing.

by Anonymous
4:19 pm - Mar 11, '11

Being "black" is very

Being "black" is very difficult am telling you...I have been in france for 3 years now and the more u are "black" the more u get difficulties. France is damn racist tho.

by Anonymous
3:46 am - Mar 11, '11

Being "black" is very

Being "black" is very difficult am telling you...I have been in france for 3 years now and the more u are "black" the more u get difficulties. France is damn racist tho.

by Anonymous
3:44 am - Mar 11, '11

I really think Kalenna really

I really think Kalenna really needs to focus on her niche. Instead on letting others focus on her skin complexion. She should have told the music exec how she should be marketed. The music business is about hustling and finding a niche in the market. There is a market for good music, different sounds and unique looks. If she puts out stuff that no one wants to hear, the problem is not skin color. She needs to do her homework, study the business and get good people around her. She doesn't need to follow the latest hit on the radio or style herself after the hottest artist. Most of all, she needs to get rid of P. Diddy! Trust good music, a unique look and confidence will go along way!

by Big Lips Big Nose Nappy Hair Tar Baby aka Coal Black African
7:44 pm - Mar 10, '11

sorry about the double post

by c'est la vie
4:46 pm - Mar 10, '11

White people are not happy

White people are not happy with the European beauty of being too pale or too white. They spend the greater part of their lives tanning on the beach or tanning in a tanning bed, trying to make their complexions darker. Also their pale skin makes them more susceptible to skin cancer. Maybe that's why they are promoting black/white relationships and procreation. They're after the melanin. We have what they want.

by c'est la vie
4:41 pm - Mar 10, '11

BEST COMMENT I HAVE SEEN ALL

BEST COMMENT I HAVE SEEN ALL DAY

by DULL305
5:51 pm - Jan 13, '12

Wow! How more far fetched of

Wow! How more far fetched of an idiotic statement can one actually tell themselves to make it better!! Haha yea you "have what they want" and that's why "they promote" bi-racial relationships!! Hahaha keep telling yourself that if it takes that much to make you feel better about the cards you were dealt! First white people are racist, hold the black race down etc etc NOW white people are trying to procreate with black people for the sole purpose of having offspring with mixed color skin! Make up your minds you ignorant foolish trolls. Seriously, STOP SPREADING IGNORANCE! Please take advantage of ALL THE FREE $$$ this country grants you people bc of the color of your skin and EDUCATE YOURSELVES!! Yeah that's right I said it. Nobody, NO OTHER RACE gets as many handouts as the Black race and yet you A. Still complain and cry and B. Dont take advantage of it & DO SOMETHING like get a damn education and breaking the cycle of poverty. Bill Cosby is one of the rare few that have the BALLS to tell you to get your lazy assses UP and stop the shyt with blaming whites for holding you down. Ain't nobody holding you down except yourselves. Hes just saying what every other race already knows but heaven forbid they say it or y'all will have that idiot Al Sharpton marching along crying racism & suing people..whos got the Bentley and the phat cribs tho?? SHARPTON, never the people he is "fighting for"..,damn fools, he's taken full advantage of you all yet you make him out to be a SAINT. I can go on and on and on. THESE are the reasons other races shun you, not bc they're "jealous of your skin color",not bc they judge you solely on your skin color, bc so many of you STILL refuse to educate yourselves and your children and break the ghetto cycle...you have yourselves to blame for the disgusting projects house living and nobody else. GET A GOD DAMN EDUCATION. WORK HARD.

by Anonymous
8:42 am - Mar 11, '11

everyone look up the word

everyone look up the word NIHILISIM. Its right across from the word NIGGER in the standard Webster Dictionary. It will explain why this Cracker ass cracker is on this web site following everything we do and say.Scientist are at work now as we speake trying to figure out the componds of Melinin. There is nothing on this planet like it. You know why??? Because we were made in the image of God. The Creator. The opposite of good is bad(evil). The opposite of God is Devil. Good=God,Evil=Devil. The opposite of Black is White. The europeans have suceeded in making the world think that the darker you are the uglier you are. What a trick. The darker you are the closer you are to the Creator of all that is good. The devil got yall tricked out, chasing him begging to join him and become him. This sad fact affects every race on the earth with melinin in their skin not just black people.

by Pretty,Black,Smart & Rich
6:24 pm - Mar 19, '11

Wow I think I just met the

Wow I think I just met the most ignorant racist person ever!!! LOL I made up my mind whites are racist you act like the previous poster is speaking for the whole black community that is what is wrong with you non-blacks you put us all in a box when we are in fact all different just like anyone else. You really sound stupid who is giving out money based on skin color um Im sorry but we missed that the Native Americans and Jews got reparations for their history not us we got racism in return you idiot. Government funding goes to anyone who can prove low income which comes in all colors. You are really uneducated look on the cesus bureau and you will find that whites are that largest race on welfare & what about the bailout money that Bush gave to RICH WHITES seems to me the only people getting free money is white folk not black. Getting a job and working hard are key to success but you cannot discount white privledge and black marginalism in success you dummy. Wow is all i can say.

by Anonymous
2:41 pm - Mar 11, '11

Wow! How more far fetched of

by Anonymous
8:41 am - Mar 11, '11

Wow! How more far fetched of

by Anonymous
8:41 am - Mar 11, '11

Wow! How more far fetched of

by Anonymous
8:41 am - Mar 11, '11

Wow! How more far fetched of

by Anonymous
8:40 am - Mar 11, '11

Wow! How more far fetched of

by Anonymous
8:40 am - Mar 11, '11

First I sincerely apologize

First I sincerely apologize if I offended anyone - that was NOT my intention. Maybe the word rare was the wrong adjective to use and was used too broadly. To clarify, I did not mean rare in the world that we live in but rare in the music industry. As per my prior comment I wholeheartedly believe that pretty and very attractive dark skin females tend to stand out more than light skin females in the entertainment business because it is rare to see. In example that girl who played DMX's girl in the movie Belly. She was bad. And got a lot of attention for some time for her being so pretty and her beautiful brown complexion. I think if she was singer rather than a actress she would have been very successful. Probably more successful than some of the lighter shades of women that flood our televisions because it is rare to see very pretty dark skin females in the music biz so her success probably would have been a catalyst for her different look. Bottom line, I am not a light skin girl that hates on dark skin girls. If anything I am on your side and do not believe that dark skin is the reason why a person may get overlooked. Shit, last time I checked aren't all these white people constantly tanning to make their skin darker. Truthfully the only time I hear the ole' "I'm a outcast because I am dark skin" is from a insecure dark skin person. Never from anyone else.

by Jessie
4:34 pm - Mar 10, '11

I'm dark and very pretty. My

I'm dark and very pretty. My husband is very light. There is nothing insecure about me. I am ridiculed and shunned almost daily by INSECURE women that are lighter than me and don't know how I got a fine ass Light skin man. If eveytime you hear someone say something about how they are treated because of their complexion, the only thing that you can come up is is that they are insecure...you are crazy or

by Pretty,Black,Smart & Rich
6:40 pm - Mar 19, '11

@Jessie...what you said is

@Jessie...what you said is ridiculous. Plain ridiculous. "she would stand out because there are rarely any dark skinned females' RARELY ANY DARK SKINNED FEMALES...and then you turned around and said you thought that her being dark skinned would HELP her?? then the only bad dark skinned girl you could pick from was in a move over thats around 15 years old. There ARE no dark skinned women that have the kind of success that Halle, Beyonce, Keri Hilson, Alicia Keys do. And that is not an accident. We havent had MAJOR dark skinned sex symbol since lauryn hill that was 1997. Things are bad, and you cant blame Kalenna for complaining about it when she was only told what was said to her face. You're behaving deluded. If you dont SEE the disparities in the black community, then its because you believe the world is how it is supposed to be. The reason that you only hear dark skinned people complaining about the way they are treated is because they are the only ones being treating badly. Right now you sound like a white person who says why is it black people are always complaining about how hard they have it. I dont see a problem. <--its because 1) you dont WANT to see it, things are in your favor and that suits u just fine and 2) it doesn't affect you - or at least you don't realize that it does. If people KEEP complaining about something maybe there is a damned problem. To name pretty dark women who are mega talented but never made it( IN THIS DECADE): Kelly Rowland, Heather Headly, Tweet, Ms Jade, even jasmine sullivan <---she's dark they just changed her cd cover to lighten her. Until there are as many DARK successful female stars as there are DARK successful male stars then we have a problem.And before you go there this isnt about PROMOTING black or dark people, just stop holding them back. Black people, we hate ourselves SOOO much its so much a part of our everyday language we dont even know it. I get so scared for us sometimes.

by Wow
9:55 pm - Mar 16, '11

First I sincerely apologize

by Jessie
4:34 pm - Mar 10, '11

Girl please how many times

Girl please how many times have we heard the mix commentor talking bout being outcast because of people "hating" on there skin color and not seeing people who look like them when they are all around either you look white, black, mexican or a combination of both.

by Anonymous
6:26 pm - Mar 10, '11

Most white people are not

Most white people are not happy with the European standard of beauty when it comes to being too pale or white. They spend the greater part of their lives on the beach tanning or tanning in a tanning bed, trying to get darker. Maybe that's why black/white relationships and procreation are being promoted. They 're after the melanin. We have what they want.

by c'est la vie
4:30 pm - Mar 10, '11

@ Jesse....your comment about

@ Jesse....your comment about the rarity of "PRETTY" dark-skinned women is just plain ignorant! There are aplenty of beautiful dark-skin women in this world! The postings on This topic just disgust me! Mainly because many of you don't realize how brainwashed and ignorant you really are. Our black society is so jaded by the European standards of "beauty". No other word comes to mind other than SAD!

by Anonymous
4:00 pm - Mar 10, '11

@ Jesse....your comment about

by Anonymous
4:00 pm - Mar 10, '11

Honestly she's not a great

Honestly she's not a great singer or attractive. I'm tired of the color struck crap. And it isn't all that being light skinned. There are not doors opened and no red carpet believe me. I didn't have all the boys in school and life wasn't a bowl of cherries. I'm poor and I've been out of work for 3 years. I'm not dark enough to hang with the "sistas" and too dark get work. And lets be honest light skinned women are objectified in music videos not honored. So get over it. All black women of every shade have trials and tribulations. WE as a group just need to stop its getting pathetic. But that's my two cents.

by Anonymous
3:57 pm - Mar 10, '11

"too dark to hang with the

"too dark to hang with the sistas" like all "sistas" are dark I have never heard of a lighter person being excluded out of hang out time cause of being light what a bunch of croc. You see light people all day everyday "hangin" in the hood with all types of shades of black people. I grew up in the hood blacks of all colors hung out no-one was excluded. Dark black girls are often the ones commenting on how "nice" or "good" a lighter persons hair is. And if you say you are job less because of your skin color just think of someone darker surly you can understand that. I have two daughters who have the same parents one darker and one lighter and people take to the lighter one first without even knowing her so trust skin color has a lot to do with how people treat you and look at you.

by Anonymous
7:29 pm - Mar 10, '11

"not dark enough to hand with

"not dark enough to hand with the sistas" what a bunch of crock they are light even almost white looking people in the hood all day that I grew up with and that fit in with the black race. To take it even further the dark sistas are the ones telling light people how "good" their hair is.

by Anonymous
7:18 pm - Mar 10, '11

OMG. Complexion is so not the

OMG. Complexion is so not the issue. Remember the singer Tweet? She was brown skin and very successful at one point. So was Foxy brown. I actually believe it is just a attractive thing. She is not attractive, even if she was light skin she would not be attractive which makes her not marketable. I am a light skin women and I think dark skin women are who are PRETTY are more attractive than some girls with fair skin because it is rare to see. Now if a bangin dark skin girl would come out I bet she would do very well because 1) a lot of dudes have a fetish for dark skin and 2) it is rare to see.

by Jessie
2:32 pm - Mar 10, '11

What a dumbass statement. I'm

What a dumbass statement. I'm so sick of lightskinned girls thinking that just because you are light you are attractive. IT is not "rare to see" a beautiful dark-skinned woman. Check yourself. P.S. I am not light-skinned or dark-skinned so let's not pull "dark skin woman hatin on the light skin woman" hater card

by Anonymous
3:35 pm - Mar 10, '11

yeah I was gonna say the same

yeah I was gonna say the same thing...I don't think it's the complexion that was stopping her...she's not tall, she's not skinny, and she's not....the most attractive woman out there

by Anonymous
2:46 pm - Mar 10, '11

yeah I was gonna say the same

yeah I was gonna say the same thing...I don't think it's the complexion that was stopping her...she's not tall, she's not skinny, and she's not....the most attractive woman out there

by Anonymous
2:46 pm - Mar 10, '11

Complexion is part of the

Complexion is part of the issue it always is and we can't discredit that. Tweet being successful yes but "very successful" no even when she had talent and great beats why didn't her success last longer and why didn't she hardly sell? Tweet was not popular to the masses because she didn't have that brainwashed "look" that everyone is looking for. Foxy brown was in the rap game which seems to a little more tolerant of dark female rap artist which I believe is due to the fact that it is more a manly/gansta/hood genre.

by Anonymous
2:43 pm - Mar 10, '11

Colorism is very alive and

Colorism is very alive and well in our world. In evey culture black, hispanic, indian the lighter ones are more successful and often better off. Factoring in your skin color with your success is not blaming but being practicle. Tired of people blaming their skin color for no achieving success what about being tired of mixed folk talking about how hard it is to be mixed seems to me there are more complaints on that end. We need to remember and understand that racism towards the darker is apart of history American history to be exact and no-one is born into this world outside of pre-notionos and conditions of the history so it does effect lives. In addition when you see people like Cassie and Rhianna make it I guess people believe they have the total package. Total package comes with looks included so it does have a bearing on success. I remember on the Tyra Banks show she did a study to show how people that percieve people who are ugly are often discriminanted against, she actually had twin sisters go out and pass out fliers and people would not ever walk up to the twin who was made to dress down and look "ugly". Colorism is still very real and people need to start acknowledging that. It doesn't mean that darker people can't and wont succeed it just means that they have to work harder because no one is going to give them a break based on their beauty. If rihanna was Kaleena's color she would have never made it cause we all know her features are not beauty to all and if Kaleena was rihannas color her break would have come faster.

by Anonymous
1:42 pm - Mar 10, '11

Shut the hell up and every

Shut the hell up and every single people on earth except Europeans have been done wrong by America whether its the brown skinned Arabs or the yellow Asians...This girl did not achieve success just because shes black many more factors weigh..does she have an amazing voice can she dance does she have a likable personality thats what we should be looking for instead of blaming it on her skin color. in and since when did Cassie make it the chick is basically arm candy i cant name one song of worth she has in last couple of years every person has to work hard to achieve success no one has it easy so stop you bullshiting we are not living in 1960 and even then they were many great black muscians out there why was that...THE REASON WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE EXTREMELY TALENTED..SO STOP COMPLAINING NO ONE HAS IT EASY EVERYBODY HAS TO WORK HARD BEING BROWN SKIN DOES NOT GUARANTEE SUCCESS. so get your facts straight you last statement is straight up bullshit think before you make a ignorant statement like that

by King
3:31 pm - Mar 10, '11

Shut the hell up and every

by King
3:25 pm - Mar 10, '11

Do some research stupid

Do some research stupid ass....no one said only blacks were done wrong. Everyone was not done wrong to the same extent looka at every other culture and let me know why they all have an issue with color. Why are the west indies, indian, arabic bleaching their skin why are darker hispanics which have more native american heritage on the botton in Mexico. Why out of all races are the darker on the bottom? really it has nothing to do with skin color. No one has to live in the 60's or 40's for that matter but agian as I said b-4 we are born into a world of preconcieved beauty and ideas that came from somewhere dummy. Obviously whites knew what they were doing when they sailed the world and put their ideas and sentiments on eveyone for years which most of us take now as our own. It's the reason why Oprah had to give lil black girls in South Africa their first black doll. Some people actually do have it easier than others in this world just look up the CNN project showing black kids choosing the white dolls again which did happen in the 60's and again like 2 years ago. So I guess to you the top 1% that owns 50% of the weath had no priviledge but actually worked harder. You are so brainwashed and too stupid for your own good. A race started long ago and some races actually just joined and the black race was one of them so no everyone does not have it the same dear.

by Anonymous
6:39 pm - Mar 10, '11

Colorism is very alive and

by Anonymous
1:41 pm - Mar 10, '11

Um Cassie has NOT made it

by Let My People Go
3:11 pm - Mar 10, '11

Oh well! She's ballin

Oh well! She's ballin now!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Diddy is the devil
12:54 pm - Mar 10, '11

Kalenna just need to develop

Kalenna just need to develop a very tough skin! If you're a very sensitive or insecure you will believe anything people say. Kalenna just got to remember people say things for a number of reasons and she has to work on her talent and let that speak for itself. Also, she has to find good people around her and good managers that believe in her talents and know how to market her. If Lauren Hill believed in that saying, she would never have been the first female artist to get the most Grammys. There are so many light skinned artists that don't get any shine like Mya, Blu Cantrell, Faith Evans, Leona Lewis, Cassie etc. What's their excuse for not being at the top of their game now? If light skinned was the only criteria for being successful in the music business, then every white, Latina and light skinned artist would be rich and famous and that's not the case. There are so many out there that are trying to catch a break and can't. Both Katy Perry and Lady GaGa had been dropped from their record companies and they never gave up. There are so many things that you need in the business like charisma, drive, a sense of style, edge, good work ethic etc. Money and fame can't the only goals for artist. Kalenna needs to look at dark skinned people that have been successful in their fields like Oprah, Naomi Campbell, Lauren Hill etc and study them, what made them stand out etc.

by Big Lips Big Nose Nappy Hair Tar Baby aka Coal Black African
11:51 am - Mar 10, '11

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by dfserfed
11:46 am - Mar 10, '11

you know what im tired of

you know what im tired of people blaming their blackness for not achieving success it all comes down to how talented the artist is the music is whats important.Some musicians will have the complete package which is looks and talent some will not. Im not bashing her but i know that some black people will blame their skin color for not achieving success when other factors weigh in as well

by King
11:27 am - Mar 10, '11