Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Is the music industry "Rapper Racist?"

I remember a very old Lil' Wayne song, "Shooter" feat. Robin Thicke where he had a line "And to the radio stations, I'm tired of being patient/ Stop being rapper racists, region-haters." 

At the time I didn't fully realize what he meant when he released this 2005 song. But now, almost 10 years later, I think I get what he was trying to say. Although he was directing that line toward hip hop station that completely avoid his records because he was from the South I'M relating it to top 40 stations that I listen to that sometime cut a whole rap verse out of a song... why? I don't know.

For example, that Katy Perry and Juicy J song, "Dark Horse." Some radio stations will play that song but not Juicy J's verse. Is it because some people are really uncomfortable with rap? They do not want to offend their audience?



In addition to that, the amazing Grammy performance with Kendrick Lamar and Imagine Dragons had a lot of the rock band's fan upset. Looking on their FaceBook page I saw quite a bit of resent over the collab.

Granted, everybody has the right to their opinion and not everybody is going to love everything but I can't help think its because they chose a black rapper. If ID chose to collab with Macklemore, Mac Miller, Eminem or any other popular white rapper I would put money that the dissent wouldn't be as great.

2 comments:

  1. aah vicky! did not know u had a blog!... i read like 6 already...you right very well and very descriptive. i love! hi=)

    ReplyDelete