On the heels of her brand new self-penned record, Soul, The Floacist is finally speaking out publicly regarding Marsha Ambrosius leaving Floetry. Since the breakup over six years ago, the Floacist had remained silent, while Ambrosius spoke publicly about leaving the group, but now she is finally saying her piece.
“This is the first Floetry album, after a six year split, and Marsha has been doing a lot of excessive talking during that time, all of which has gone unanswered by myself. My silence could have been confusing to the fans, so I wanted to address the split, at the right time, in the correct medium,” explains The Floacist on her brand new track “Soul.”
She continues: “It was important for me to comment truthfully on the main issue…Marsha left Floetry, after so much joint success and foundation building, to join Aftermath Records, with no assurance of an album release. Ultimately, holding Floetry to ransom, to pursue a possibility of ‘mainstream’ success and all that was gained, was whatever they would’ve put into her pocket, and a mixtape release entitled ‘Neo Soul is Dead’. This to me is the perfect example of someone selling out, or selling their soul.”
Back in 2010, The Floacist told us that a Floetry reunion could be possible, but with her new remarks, this is looking more unlikely.
Listen to The Floacist’s “Soul” HERE.
Thoughts?
Floacist and Marsha Ambrosius were once a part of the musical duo Floetry, whose sound was loved by fans around the world. However, after Ambrosius left the group to pursue her solo career in 2008, things have changed drastically between them. Recently, Floacist has made some shocking statements about his former bandmate suggesting that she is a “sell out” for leaving the group. This article will explore what he had to say as well as provide insight into why it may be more complicated than it appears at first glance.
The dynamic between these two artists has been an interesting one since they parted ways over twelve years ago. After making waves together with their unique blend of spoken-word poetry and soulful music, they both found success on their own paths. While Marsha continued to make beautiful music as a solo artist and songwriter, Floacist focused her energy on other projects such as hosting events or working on screenplays.
Recently though, tensions seem to have resurfaced between them when Floacist called Marsha out for being a “sell out” for leaving Floetry back in 2008 during an interview with DJ Vlad TV this past April 2021. Fans are now asking – what could possibly have caused such animosity? Stay tuned to find out!
Background Of Floetry
Floetry was a British neo-soul duo consisting of Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart. The two met in 1997 while studying at the British Academy Of New Music, where they became friends before beginning their musical collaboration. Together they wrote, sang, and produced several albums that bridged soul, hip hop, poetry, jazz and funk. Their lyrics often touched on themes of love, relationships and female empowerment.
The group’s debut album Floetic achieved critical acclaim for its creativity and originality. It featured production from frequent collaborator DJ Jazzy Jeff as well as guest appearances from Common, Bilal and Mos Def. Over the years their sound evolved to become more experimental but still kept true to their signature sound. They went on to release three additional studio albums before disbanding in 2005 due to creative differences between Stewart and Ambrosius.
In 2011 Ambrosius announced her departure from Floetry after signing with Dr Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment label which caused controversy within the music industry as some viewed it as selling out; including fellow artist The Floacist who publicly called out Ambrosius for leaving “for money” rather than following her artistic passions.
Implications Of Marsha Ambrosius’ Departure
Marsha Ambrosius’ departure from Floetry had both positive and negative implications for the music industry. On one hand, her move to a major label meant that she could reach a larger audience with her solo work. It also helped to create more visibility for female artists in mainstream hip hop and R&B. However, some argued that it was inappropriate for an artist who rose from the underground scene to go mainstream without giving back to those communities which supported them early on.
The Floacist’s criticism of Marsha’s decision reflects this sentiment as many felt betrayed by what they viewed as abandoning their own principles. This type of controversy is not new within the music industry; there are often disagreements between fans and musicians when big money comes into play. The same thing happened when Lil Wayne signed with Cash Money Records or when Jay-Z became CEO of Def Jam Recordings.
Ultimately, while some may have disagreed with Ambrosius’ decision, it allowed her access to resources that would help her career in the long run. Her success has since proved that sometimes taking risks can pay off in ways we never imagined possible.
Conclusion
I. Floetry was a groundbreaking neo-soul duo made up of Natalie Stewart (The Floacist) and Marsha Ambrosius. They rose to fame in the early 2000s with their unique sound and were credited as pioneers of spoken word music.
II. Despite achieving success together, Marsha’s departure from the group had negative implications for The Floacist. Not only did it end their partnership, but it also caused tension between them — evidenced by The Floacist recently calling her out as a “sell out” on social media.
III. Ultimately this incident shows how difficult it can be when creative partners go separate ways after years of collaboration. It’s not always easy to come to terms with such changes, especially if one partner feels betrayed by the other’s decision. As they both continue to pursue successful solo careers, I hope that they are able to move past any lingering issues and find peace with each other’s decisions.
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.
