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Rappers Respond to Al Sharpton

As I previously covered here on the Riff, Al Sharpton recently organized protests against foul and violent language in hip-hop, demanding the withdrawal of government-run pension funds from record labels who don't comply. Now artists are speaking out against Sharpton. Web site SOHH.com reports that both critically-acclaimed MC Talib Kweli and hit producer and rapper David Banner (above) have criticized Sharpton, each in their own way. Kweli was firm but thoughtful, saying "I'm an artist and I'm gonna say what I want to say," but also giving respect to, well, Oprah:

I do think that people like Al Sharpton and Oprah and Russell Simmons are our vanguards and our elders and that we should respect them… They have been here representing for us since before even hip-hop was here. What they say is important and it's relevant but I think we need our own leadership so that we can respectfully disagree and say 'I hear you uncle Russell, I hear you Al Sharpton' and be respectful about it. But we can't cow tow (sic!!!!) to them either.

I'm going to hope it was SOHH and not Kweli who made that unfortunate bovine slip-up there. Anyway, on to Banner: his brilliant, minimalist 2005 hit "Play" may be the filthiest song ever recorded, one of a few hip-hop tracks ("My Neck, My Back," anyone?) whose "radio edits" basically required complete re-writes. He was naturally more colorful in his response:

The next time you see Al Sharpton, tell him I said @#*$ him and he can suck my @#*$… I might change the name of my album from The Greatest Story Never Told to @#*$ Al Sharpton. I hate Al Sharpton. This is the kind of @#!* that I'm talking about. They're killing kids in New Jersey and all across the country and all a @#*$% got to talk about is rap lyrics? … He's [Sharpton] a permed-out pimp. Him and Jesse Jackson are out here charging people to do rallies with them … @#*$%s talk a good game about we need to clean up the hood and the lyrics and all that. But I'm out here doing it.

By "doing it," Banner may be referring to his sponsorship of a neighborhood children's program's annual Six Flags trip (pointed out by This Recording) or being honored by the National Black Caucus of the Mississippi state legislature after his work for victims of Hurricane Katrina. But, one wonders if perhaps pulling back on the expletives might have been a good idea just this once.

By the way, to all you commenters who think any reference to sexuality in hip-hop music is "sexist," go give "My Neck, My Back" a listen.

Comments

Nice Blog. But that song is outrageous... And she makes money on that crap?

She should get a life.

Posted by: Bruce on 08/16/07 at 7:44 PM Respond

The music would be alright if there weren't any words (singing)

Posted by: Clarence D. Smart on 08/17/07 at 6:49 PM Respond

Outrageous, definitely. Crap, I say "no." This is a female rapper asserting herself sexually in a graphic, almost shocking manner, something that's traditionally been reserved for men. She's basically providing an instruction manual on how to provide her pleasure. Like Salt 'n' Pepa's "Push It" taken to the extreme, it's insanely catchy pop music that's weirdly private, by necessity taking itself out of any mainstream delivery mechanisms. Now, if you want to tell me about the "male gaze" and how it informs the presentation of women's sexuality, okay, I hear that. But if the male gaze gets brought up, then we also have to bring up the fear of black sexuality that I think underlies a lot of these negative reactions. But in any event, denying artists (and, like it or not, this is art), both women and men, the opportunity to discuss sex, even graphically, shockingly -- in fact, _especially_ shockingly -- seems like a step down the slippery slope to religious oppression. And that is definitely crap.

Posted by: Party Ben on 08/17/07 at 7:15 PM Respond

i'm just swingin thru, but as a young, qualified candidate for state rep in ok, i ran up against the "old gaurd," and it's not pretty. i went head 2 head with a preacher/pimp/hustler/money-hungry/civil rights leader. kinda like an al sharpton jr., just not as intelligent. for power and influence, he pushed an unqualified baffoon n2 office 2 represent a district that is suffering. this is worse than vulgarity in a rap song 2 me...b/c bottom line, he's chasin paper and women just like the aspiring rapper who choses to make what they invest in and sell. these types of men have their place, but at this point in the game, i can't say that they ever have a place criticizing victims, and from what i can tell, al is only calling for the withdrawal of investment right??? or am i wrong? i could be b/c i haven't really heard all of what he said. on one hand, i agree with the mental impact that vulgar rap music has on young black children b/c white/asian/indian/etc. kids can listen to it and not associate themselves with it as their destiny, or even something they could possibly emulate effectively. but when it looks like u, smells like u, walks like u, talks like u, shares ur same struggles, u identify with it, and it permeates ur spirit b/c of the sweet sound. i am a huge fan of rap (country rap tunes in particular, r.i.p. pimp c), but to be honest, there is room for record companies to pump money in less vulgar music that doesn't encourage as many young women to chase "thugs" b/c that's their image of a successful man. and 2 be honest, listen to the albums, and u will hear positivity and truthful messages. the problem is u will also hear some "scary shit." but u know what, kids in the hood live this scary shit every day, i.e., comin home to ur mother givin head to a 19 yr old drug dealer for a bump. chuuuuuuuuuch! that's sum "scary shit" that america can ignore. america can no longer ignore the effects of slavery and the infusion of crack into urban neighborhoods. why? cuz now they have a crack of their own that they have proven to be hypocrytical (spell check anyone?) about in their approach to combatting it. btw, talkin about niggas and hoes ain't got shit on the muthafucka in the way of progress, for lack of better words, literally. inshallah...

Posted by: Hawk on 06/17/08 at 7:22 AM Respond