Kanye West & Jay-Z….Image via Wikipedia
I am not a Jay-Z or Kanye West hater. As a matter of fact, I enjoy most of their art and respect their ascension to the top tier of the music industry. Both Jay-Z and Kanye are admired by their fans globally. Many African-Americans young men and women study these gentlemen for guidance on how to succeed in the music industry. They both are from humble beginnings. Why they would choose to be flippant with the N-Word in one of the songs, “Why I Love You,” from their new CD, “Watch The Throne,” is downright distasteful. They rapped back and forth throughout the song repeating the N-Word more than 12 times. C’mon guys, you are supposed to be better than that. Your music and lyrics without the N-Word are works of good art. Gentlemen, you must realize every time you use the N-Word in your music, you are not only insulting African-Americans, you are also insulting yourselves. I am not the vulgarity police, I am an ardent music lover who is tired of the trite use of the N-Word exhibited by some artists (Jay-Z and Kanye West included).
If African-Americans are ever going to be respected globally, we must refrain from calling ourselves the N-Word. How can we expect any other race to respect us when we denigrate ourselves? We must refrain from advocating and promoting all the negativity in our culture. I am not aware of any other race of people who address themselves negatively in their art. Our entertainers blessed with God-given talents must set a better example for the children to imitate. Let’s not hoax ourselves by remarking Jay-Z and Kanye West are not role models, because we all know that these gentlemen would not have been successful if their art were not being admired, respected and bought.
Jay-Z and Kanye West should chart a more enlightened course for the music industry by refraining from using the N-Word in their music. Gentlemen, your music is dope, def, butta, jiggy, bananas, off the charts without the use of the N-Word. Trust me, I am an ardent music lover who listens to both of your music.
