Hip Hop Fan Reacts To Brown Sugar by The Rolling Stones 

This song been raising eyebrows for fifty years. Outrageous lol. Awesome track. Peak stones.

Charlie is absolutely the backbone of The Rolling Stones. Everything he does is in service to the song, never anything extra or show-offy. A brilliant minimalist in a way.

I think the entire "Sticky Fingers" album is worth an examination. It is full of not just good tracks but great tracks and they come in all forms. From haunting, to bluesy to tongue in cheek to one of the most beautiful ballads ever written in "Wild Horses". If you took away every other Stones album and song and just gave us Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street, they would still be considered one of the greatest rock'n'roll bands of all time.

This is one of the most famous riffs in rock history! Incredible tune.

So, we have a slaver, a lady of the house, and then the author himself having sexual encounters with a black person. We can also notice a progression in the nature of these relationships from fucked up (slaver-slave), to slightly fucked up (lady of the house-house boy), and then to kinda normal (author-black woman). It's almost like he's putting himself in this controversial lineage and interrogating his feelings about it. In the end, the attraction kinda overpowers any contemplations of the subject. These are fascinating lyrics that he kinda wrote on the spot. And the music is thumping and just as irresistible as these women seem to be for Jagger.

Jagger’s first child is biracial- her mother is Marsha Hunt, beautiful model in the 60’s. At the time of this song, he was dating another beautiful black woman, Claudia Lennear- a well known backup singer who is said to be the inspiration for this song. So, while the lyrics speak to the atrocities of slavery, particularly of sexual nature, that Stones rhythm section, Bobby Keys on sax, Ian Stewart on piano kind of distract us from the darker aspects.

I listened to and enjoyed this song for decades without ever reading the lyrics or understanding all of Mick's annunciation of them, and when I did it really was shocking.

This era was when the Stones earned the title of the World’s Greatest Rock & Roll Band. They were nasty, lyrically & musically. ✌️❤️🎶

yes! Finally someone gets the freaking metaphor. It is about British exploitation/love of African culture, particularly the Rolling Stones love of black music. Good job man.

I think if you want to hear Jagger at his absolute best, check out his emotive vocals on “Let it Loose,” “Shine a Light,” “I Got the Blues,” and “Sister Morphine.”

Because of the lyrics the Stones were pressured a couple years ago to stop performing this song live….Bring it back!

This one and Exile deserve a whole album reaction of yours🎸

Stones lyrics are at their best when they push the boundaries. If you want to get another really controversial one, check out "Some Girls"

I was a teenager in the 60s, and I was so glad when The Rolling Stones exploded onto the scene. They made the way clear for hundreds of other bands to follow after them.

I’ve never studied the lyrics of this brilliant track (just sang along with the chorus) and was really surprised by them when I read them, along with you. Great reaction/analysis.

The Beatles were my band in the sixties until I heard Brown Sugar in 1971. To me, it was the definitive rock tune. From that point on I bought every Stones album and was totally hooked. Seen the band over 30 times from 1972 to 2019. Still like the Beatles, but the Stones will always be the greatest in my mind.

Once you savor it, Brown Sugar's your favorite.

I saw a 12min yes 12 version of this on the MCG in 95. Utterly epic. 50000 peeps screaming every word.

The look on your face when you saw what the lyrics of the first verse were was classic.

Mick said recently he wouldn't write these lyrics today which is telling. Really interesting to hear this dude's thoughts and he makes some well valid points. 50 years on and the tunes still going strong. Long live The Stones!

The seventies were a good time to be a teenager......

I love this song its always been real history and the best of the rolling stones and pure rock and roll !!!

I saw The Stones in 1989..... Spectacular show from one of the all time greatest bands.

One of the greatest rock singles of all time...this tune is beyond epic

As Kant said, "art can sublimate everything". The Stones made a lot of songs that told very dirty, very borderline stories, but made them beautiful and immersive with their melodies. They're geniuses.

Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’ is a must listen.

My favorite Stones song, great album all the way through.

The song is rumoured to be about Duane Allman who spent long hours at Muscle Shoals Studio and liked the brown sugar (smack) and was quite the ladies man. Sixteen is consenting age in some states including Alabama where Muscle Shoals is located. A lot of artists start recording around midnight. Sticky Fingers, one of the most famous album covers in Rock.

earning their title as the 'bad boys of rock' 😉

I’ve learned something new tonight! Ok I never really paid attention to the lyrics except for “brown sugar, how come you taste so good” and I always thought wow I wonder how black women feel, maybe that’s a bit racist? But now listening to the rest of the lyrics, OMG he was subtly commenting on the ugliness of slavery as well so I have a completely new appreciation of this song. Thanks to you!

This whole album is amazing, and “Get Yer Ya Yas Out “ is one of the best live albums ever

Awesome job bro. Best I've heard this song broken down. Nice

One of the finest tracks ever! Full stop! Keep rocking!

You can see present day Claudia Lennear in the documentary '20 Feet from Stardom', which also includes Merry Clayton of Give Me Shelter fame.

You nailed it...its about the musical influence, too.

I love the tone of Keith's guitar in this song. That fuzz sounds so groovy, like a telecaster in melting lava, bubbling and muddy, and goes perfect with Bobby Keys' sax 🤤

I was struck by your linking this song's inter-racial love and the Stones deep sampling of R&B. I'm 74 and I've never heard anyone else make that connection. Thanks!

I always thought that the words were "how come you dance so good" ! And with the reference to "like a black girl should"' I thought it referred to Tina Turner giving Mic Jagger dance move lessons" because he was so impressed with her!

Brown Sugar ROCKS!

Syed, I always appreciate it when you react to a song from the Rolling Stones, and Brown Sugar represents their music perfectly. This song was the one that hooked me when I was ten years old. I had no idea what it was about, but the SOUND of these 5 musicians playing together live in a studio was the most irresistible thing I'd ever heard. What got me the most was the propulsive rhythm guitar and the wildness of the music. You pointed out the band's energy and rebellious nature. Mick Jagger famously said "being in a rock and roll band isn't about growing up... it's about NOT growing up." I'm thankful that the Rolling Stones were as devoted to making music as the bluesmen they idolized.

In 8th grade some of the teachers had a cover band that played this at one of our dances. I was already familiar with the lyrics, so I was surprised they thought that was a good choice for 13 yo kids🤔

Your reaction to the opening lyrics is priceless!

Have listened and loved this song since it came out. Honestly didn't know half the word until today.

Exile on Main Street is the peak. :-)

This isn't racist, it's historical commentary about that which happened. Of course, it's not ethical, but it is accurate. So sad today that the pussification of culture doesn't allow art to speak. Art isn't about being safe. It's about exposing everything about humankind from the unethical, down and dirty to the upright and uplifting. Love or dislike the Stones, they were a major player back in the 70s, setting the tone for bands of that era and influencing hundreds of artists downstream. Great track. Great album.

Another interesting angle on the lyrics is that I grew up with this and I don't think I ever knew what the lyrics in the verses were, just the chorus, and I can't tell you how many times all of us danced our asses off to this at a bar or a club or at a party or wherever or your local bar band covers it. It just seemed like another great Rolling Stones party song like Jumpin Jack Flash or Street Fighting Man or whatever. I don't think I knew anybody that knew what the lyrics in the verses were or talked about what any of it meant. It was just a party song. It seems to me that he's being critical of slavery but then jumping to modern time and acknowledging the irony that now it can happen consensually, whether it's sex or sharing of culture or whatever.

Brilliant Reaction! KUDOS to you!

My word that was kick ass rock n roll.The stones are epic.

I seen them in 1973 Buffalo ny with billy preston on piano jagger had such a good time they canceled 2 remaining shows to play our stadium, also the famous pic of mick in a bathrobe, hair wraped in a towel in a elevator by the famous ann lebawitch was in i believe time or rolling stone , quick fact mick didn't like his underware so backstage he put womens panties on underneath, true story t hey changed the lyrics around 1985 , when they played live, but it's still rock & roll & I like it luv your reactions, you have a knack that others don't about most songs luv from BFLO NY

You are the best hands down sir...thank you again!

The Stones along with The Beatles ruled the 60's ! PEACE !

True classic! Teenagers, Rockin' in the basements of the '70s. We were so lucky. Music of our time!!

Absolutely love it👏👏👏👏

Great Rock n Roll blues

I read an interview with Jagger who claims it's an anti-slavery song. They don't play it anymore due to political incorrectness, but you're right about the Stones' magic. They were always considered outlaws (as mentioned in their song Jig Saw Puzzle) and loved for their so bad but so good vibe. Great reaction, I'm really enjoying your Stones dive, it's nice to hear your perspective on these songs that I've grown up with.

Great track.

Excellent analysis.

Worldwide #1 hit

The Rolling Stones did get their music from Black Southern Blues and also when they toured the U.S., did tour the south and date all of the races

Forever love for the awe-inspiring Claudia Lennear ❤️ 💕 Excellent reaction and interpretation, well done indeed 👏 👍

Whatever you think of the lyrics this is such an amazing song to listen to,brilliant music!

Of course the Stones owed nearly everything to the 'sweetness' of black culture in the 60s; Blues, R&B, Soul, etc, but let's not forget the old 'brown sugar heroin', which many of them fell down the rabbit hole for a spell; and not just the Stones, but also John Lennon, Lou Reed, David Bowie, James Taylor, and many, many others. So this song oozes layers of meaning.and some history too; leaning mainly towards the "debt of appropriation", or that perhaps"imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"... Also in the mix: Jagger's first child is half black; Tina Turner literally taught Mick Jagger how to dance and move onstage, which is a huge part of his whole 'thing'; later Mick dated the singer Claudia Lennear; so you could say the boy's got's their fingers in the puddin'... ;)

You could talk for weeks about songs recorded at Muscle Shoals

Hermoso tema !!! Uno de mis preferidos

Syed... You are so right about the English musicians loving the black musicians music and appreciating it for what it was... at a time when it was hugely ignored in the United States... it took British bands like The Beatles and Stones to break big in American and at every press conference `PROMOTE THESE BLACK ARTISTS.... and of course their record sales of the covers put money into the Black artists pockets. That was the great thing All the British Blues, R&B (The original R&B - Not the one you were bought up on) and pop bands took with them to America. An appreciation and acknowledgement of that legacy. Keep on Rocking

The distorted Sax is unparalleled in rock music to this day!

Top ten greatest songs of all time

It's weird to me, hearing Brown Sugar without Sway coming next. Talk about Mick Taylor solos, it's got two.

THE dance song of the 70s.

Yeah it was at some point in the late 90s that this song suddenly disappeared from the classic rock radio stations, at least where I lived.

The Stones said that they will never Perform this song again, because of the Connotation…. SanJoséBob

I only got wind of these lyrics in the last year or so. I always heard 'how come you dance so good' and assumed the lyrics were about being in a nightclub watching a black dancer.

Brown sugar,1971,live!!!

One of my favorite songs from The Rolling Stones!!! You are right. It's about interracial love which was outlawed in America. The Rolling Stones were bucking up against the white men system in America.

This time frame, after let it bleed, sticky fingers, Exile on main st, the Stones were gods. Incidentally, the who with Whos next, Zeppelin with Zep 4, Sabbath with Master of Reality? My god.

Metafor for Heroin Brown sugar , wild horses , take a walk on the wild side, Stairway to heaven etc etc Dark era after the hippie era , many died.

At 74 --I STUDY HISTORY IN GREAT DETAIL ----for 50 years ----so I research my facts well !

Recorded in December 1969 during their '69 tour. Three days at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios. They also recorded Wild Horses and You Gotta Move.

I don't believe that this videos (several channels, before this was about Under my Thumb), appears sometimes to me few years ago, don't know Stones stuff, lot of their great songs.. Everyone looks surprised but come on I don't believe. But it's good in other way, young people let know the songs to young people.. It's very good...! I'm from punk and New Wave generation, but knew lot of great Bands from the 60's and 70's by friends, older friends, radio stations, concerts, etc.. First time I knew the Stones was in a B&O (Bang and Olofsen) store, seeing a VHS tape in color TV, the great concert in Paris Abattouir 1976...This was in 78..Never to late.. We all became fans, buying records, 82 tour and after the 90 and the rest of them.. Allright 👍🎸👌

Brilliant track !!’

The haunting Moonlight Mile. and Wild Horses, as well as the jazz riff's in the epic Can't You Hear Me Knocking, all make Sticky Fingers a great album.

“Sky Dog slaver” is a reference to Duane Allman.

Richard's dirty background vocals are perfect

Great song

I have read that the Stones have retired this song from their live shows no longer will be played by them.

Oh, trust me we knew what this song was what we heard it I was 13 and I got it

Claudia Lanier was also a back up singer on the Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour with Joe cocker and Leon Russell among many others including Rita Coolidge.

Hitting the whole of this album or Exile on Main st Will garner you max views. Would love you to tackle all of it. Keep up the great work your reactions are always 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Syed, VERY good commentary, especiallyl coming from a totally different genre of music. Not to put down other reactions from other listeners, but you showed depth and pretty much are right on about all aspects of this song (e.g. social commentary DEFINITELY wouldn't be accepted in today's PC society, incredible beats/rifts the Stones are renowned, etc.). But the song is really about Jagger's experiences with black women, and being that the Stones' music was derived from the Mississippi Delta region (where Blues was king), they incorporated New Orleans as a slave port back in the day where the "Master" had his way with the female black slaves, and how the "Master" liked it. And you're right, HELL NO would these lyrics fly nowadays lol. But that said, the rift is sooooooooo damn smooth, much as is the case with sooooo many of the Stones' songs.

Great reaction once again Syed. You've hit peak era Stones here. The opening track to their near perfect STICKY FINGERS album. Check out the song that followed it on the album: "Sway".

This is one of my top 5 Stones’ tunes.

There's a great documentary ad about Muscle Shoals studio, It's worth checking out it might even be on RU-vid

You're on fire man! Might as well cover a song called "Some Girls" by the Stones. LOL

Great reaction and comments! Ike and Tina Turner approved the lyrics and weren't too concerned.

"It feels wrong and right at the same time" is a great analysis of this song.

The great opening studio riff has never been duplicated since

I read somewhere that the Stones don't play this any more on stage.

The Mick Taylor years were the best Stones years. Every album was incredible

If you ever have a chance to go to the Motown Museum in Detroit, it's a great experience. I was there a few years ago and they talk about how bands like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin introduced white American audiences to black American music. In the 1950s and earlier there was heavy segregation of American radio by the programmers who picked the music they would play. Radio stations that were aimed at white audiences played music by white performers (Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, etc.). And radio for black audiences played not just black American music, but usually played black music of the region. Thus, a black station in New Orleans would play different music than black stations in Memphis or Detroit or Chicago. But all of those records played on different American radio stations were exported to England, and they were heard by everyone. The teenage musicians that would grow up to be in Zeppelin, the Beatles, and the Stones were hearing all of those sounds: Motown, Delta Blues, Soul, R&B, Gospel, and roots music. Often times they did fairly minimal covers of those songs and recorded them on their albums, which then came back to America and were played on those radio stations for white audiences for the first time. America is many things. It never has been (and likely never will be) perfect. And it seems like a shame that it took British musicians getting tuned in and turned on by music made by other Americans to be heard from coast to coast in this country.

Love your reaction to this track ...anger and then understanding .......Bobby Keys the best sax player for the Stones is the icing on the cake