Shaun Fequiere, also known as Kangol Kid, speaks at City Hall. (Credit: William Alatriste)
New Yorkers planning to see hip hop artist Rick Ross this Friday in Long Island should save their cash, Council members advised today.
Bronx Councilman Andy King said at City Hall that he is “outraged” by the artist’s lyrics, which describe date rape.
“Put molly all in her champagne/ she ain’t even know it/ I took her home and I enjoyed that/ she ain’t even know it,” he sings in “U.O.E.N.O.”
“Save your money,” King said to New Yorkers who might be pondering tickets. “Keep your money in your pocket.”
Council members called on New Yorkers to boycott the concert, and some went even further – Brooklyn Councilwoman Letitia James said all Americans should boycott Reebok, his sponsor, until it drops him. And record labels should drop artists like Ross, she added.
“The crime of rape should not be viewed as a commodity,” James said.
King said hip hop has gotten away from roots in positive messaging and spurring social change, mentioning Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power.”
Instead, he said artists sprinkle songs with self-hatred and sexism.
“That is foul, that is disrespectful,” King said.
He also referenced Lil Wayne lyrics, saying, “I can’t even repeat the words,” as a class of schoolchildren sat on the City Hall steps nearby.
Artist Shaun Fequiere, also known as Kangol Kid, spoke about being pressured to include lyrics denigrating women.
“I was taught that was good business,” he said.
Brian Melford, a member of the Bronx Youth Empowerment Program, said youth need to listen to songs and ask themselves, “What would my mother think? What would my grandmother think?”
