A few weeks ago, a friend showed me an article regarding the Frequency’s ban on hip-hop shows, and I was flabbergasted at the level of disrespect hip-hop was being shown by the city and The Frequency. But looking more into that specific case has made me realize who hip-hop fans allow the genre’s representatives to be affects how the public views hip-hop. These representatives are especially important after events like the shooting at The Frequency which prompted the bar’s hip-hop ban.
Whenever I go onto some of my favorite hip-hop blogs and I see a story about Wayne, I can’t help but roll my eyes because I already know that whatever this story is, it is going to be ignorant and just not good. The sad thing is that this was not the case just three years ago. Wayne used to be one of the titans of hip-hop. He could tell a vivid story with skillful and witty wordplay. Now when you think of Wayne, you automatically think of crazy antics like getting into rap “beefs” with NBA teams, skateboarding (not particularly well) and painfully corny song lyrics. I have defended him fervently as an artist who was just going through a phase and will get back to figuratively “murdering tracks” as he did during his remarkable peak years. But I realize now the ship has sailed and is already halfway around the world when it comes to whether Wayne will ever get his act together.
In his song “Karate Chop,” Wayne actually said the lyric “beat the pussy up, like Emmett Till.” When I discovered that he said this, I was speechless. I could not believe someone who I and many others admired could say something so ignorant. The worst part is, this line isn’t that bad. Over the years I have listened to his music, Wayne has recruited Vladamir Klitschko, Sonny Liston and about a thousand other non-boxing related things I can’t think of right now to help him explain exactly how he will beat you up. What’s so frustrating about the Emmett Till reference is Wayne took a huge moment in African-American history that fit into his rhymes (no matter how half-baked these rhymes might be) and turned it into an afterthought. I wrote a research paper on the Emmett Till saga and watched a documentary in 7th grade on it, as well as read the LIFE Magazine article with his killers admitting everything they did to the 14-year-old boy in Mississippi “for whistling at a white girl.” Believe me, I realized, and still realize, the fact that what was done to Till almost 60 years ago displayed the absolute worst in the spirit of America and the fact justice was never served in his brutal murder is what is most haunting about this case.
Basically, Till’s murder should be used as a reminder of how far our society has come and also about what we need to do to safegaurd against something as heinous and ugly as his murder ever happening again. Another unfortunate thing about Wayne’s name-dropping of Till is the fact that there will be only a minor blow-back from this; by week’s end he will be skating and probably comparing his sexual organ to the cops that beat up Rodney King (actually: he already did in the song “Mrs. Officer” five years ago).
The key thing to remember here is that Wayne is arguably the most popular rapper alive, effectively acting as a representative to the larger world for hip-hop, something I cannot think about living a day without. I can totally understand people writing off a genre of music that has Wayne and others like him at the helm, which is something The Frequency did just a few weeks ago when it decided not to host any local or national hip-hop acts anymore. What people do not realize is how expansive and diverse the genre and culture of hip-hop is. Just go on Dattpiff.com, where there are literally thousands of mixtapes being featured daily, with many different types of artists to choose from and enjoy.
Now, I don’t blame The Frequency’s owner, seeing as he took a chance on hosting hip-hop shows even after the owner of the building ordered him not to. The decision might seem short-sighted, but it makes perfect sense when you think about those who paint hip-hop with a large, dismissive brush. We have failed as a community to expose those who view all hip-hop artists as extensions of Wayne and others like him to the wonders that are real hip-hop in the 21st century. Yes, some of it is really awful, but if you look underneath that you will find gems in the form of lyrics that have life-altering capabilities. Us lovers of hip-hop have to shine a light upon the absolutely spellbinding and incredible hip-hop that’s being put on these days from such artists as Big K.R.I.T., J. Cole, Joey Bada$$, Logic, Kendrick Lamar/the Black Hippy movement and Dom Kennedy. I will surely try to do my part, if you even casually love hip-hop and want to see it reach the level of respect that it so rightfully deserves, you will be right there with me pestering your friends to listen with you.
Do you agree with Miles that less artists like Wayne could mean more widespread approval for hip-hop? Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
