8709 Special | Where are the talented youth

In years past nothing was hotter and more bankable than children music acts. Tracing back to Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, tweens with smooth moves and smoother harmonies saw fame, success and credit for being legit artists. Nowadays it seems kid artists are only viewed as gimmicks, at least in the R&B and hip-hop world. Yes Miley, Taylor, and the Jonases have found their niche, but where is the spot for the next Shanice, Traci, or even ABC. Maybe it was something just for that time, or a trend that can only be taken in increments. The late 80s and early 90s had plenty artists under the age of 18. The mid-90s saw solo acts like Brandy, Monica, Aaliyah, Usher; and groups like Hi-Five and Immature hittin' up the charts. Even 00's had Sammie, Lil' Bow Wow, and Lil' Romeo battling on 106 & Park. Yet recently teens don't make a splash. For instance, the super talented Tiffany Evans. Not only does she have the chops for someone twice her age, Promise Ring was a banger, reminiscent of the 90s NJS sound. But she didn't get much play. Then there is Karina with her Alicia Keys-like style. Her alubm went unnoticed. Maybe its the awkward transition from adolescence to adulthood. Usher had to find his voice after My Way, and Chris Brown was pending during the release of Exclusive. Bow Wow struggles to connect with those fans that 'bounced wit him' back in the day, and transfer his skills to a more mature plane. Is it the industry? Is it the fans? I believe that children are our future, but clearly in the music biz they seem to be a thing of the past.