Jon B Criticized for Calling Gunna & Chlöe’s “They Don’t Know” Sample “Ratchet”

Typically, music fans love white artists who can sing R&B, often referred to as “blue-eyed soul.” Jon B, who is of Jewish and Dutch descent, recently appeared on the Can We Talk R&B? podcast and has since found himself at the center of cancel culture.

During the podcast, Jon B praised Robin Thicke, another white soulful singer, and mentioned how Thicke reportedly sampled the guitar lick from Jon B’s classic ballad, “They Don’t Know.” According to Jon, his record is sampled frequently, including recently in Gunna and Chlöe’s 2022 track “you & me.” Jon labeled their usage of the song as “ratchet,” expressing his dislike for it.

“They put that ratchet record out,” he stated. “I couldn’t stand it. I wish they never did it.”

Jon B further claimed the sample wasn’t cleared and called out Gunna, stating, “Gunna, we gotta holler about that. That’s some business s**t we gotta handle.” Despite his strong words, he later softened his stance by saying that being sampled is a “compliment.” However, many people were unhappy with his initial comments.

One individual tweeted, “A white man calling two black ppl ratchet is crazy.”

Singer-songwriter Isadore Noir tweeted, “I 100% understand him not being happy about sample clearance, but issue a copyright strike or cease & desist or whatever you have to do. But the scorn and way he’s talking about two young black artists is incredibly disappointing.”

Another person tweeted, “It’s one thing to not like the sample of the song you don’t own, but watch your mouth! Also, this is why I don’t care for blue-eyed soul (excluding Teena Marie). I’m not impressed by what y’all perceive as soulful white artists or white musicians stepping above their normal mediocrity to perform at a level that’s basic for Black musicians. This is why I’m against those tired cookout invites y’all love to pass out. #CloseTheGates.”

Others defended Jon B. One fan wrote, “Jon B ain’t said nothing wrong,” while another added, “They didn’t get sample rights to a classic, used it and butchered it, but people are hung up that he called the version ratchet. You youngins don’t understand Jon B’s contribution to the R&B movement.”

It remains unclear whether Jon B owns his masters, but the sample was cleared by Sony Music.

Source: Various