By: Taren Vaughan
Lil’ Wayne just might find himself in the same boat as Rick Ross here shortly. Rick Ross caught much heat over the ‘date rape’ lyrics that he rapped in Rocko’s song “U.O.E.N.O.”. And it took no time for outrage to surface over the lyrics and for those who were most fired up to start up protests. Rick Ross went on the air during an interview and offered a half apology for offending people yet he said he felt that he was misunderstood, a half apology that Rapper Talib Kweli called him out on. Things got turned up a notch when women’s group UltraViolet threatened to protest Rick Ross’s endorser Reebok over the offensive lyrics and Ross’ music got snatched from rotation by a radio station. After all the uproar that Rick Ross’ ‘date rape’ lyrics caused, Reebok officially dropped Rick Ross, followed by the rapper offering an official apology that people felt came way too late. Those close to Rick Ross felt that Reebok did Rick Ross wrong while others found humor in what was going on with him.
Before the Rick Ross controversy began, Lil’ Wayne upset a lot of people when he referenced the brutal beating of Emmet Till on Future’s remix of ‘Karate Chop’. Emmet Till’s family was highly offended by the lyrics and went on to pen a letter to the rapper. Yet unlike Rick Ross, Lil’ Wayne hasn’t made any attempts at all to extend an apology to the family. And since Lil’ Wayne has made no moves to apologize for the offensive lyrics that he rapped thus far, Emmett Till’s family has decided to have a word with his sponsors.
Emmett’s family has exclusively informed AllHipHop.com that they intend to put pressure on the companies that sponsor Lil’ Wayne. And Mountain Dew is at the top of their list. Emmett Till’s family is expected to further address the rapper and Mountain Dew using an approach similar to that of the one the women’s group UtltraViolet used against Rick Ross and Reebok.
Lil Wayne sucks!
And in other news, the sky is blue.
He better say something because it looks like they are coming at his head!
I hope they make some progress too. That was rude for Wayne to refuse to apologize.
Good for them!
Why must rappers be so hard headed? Just apologize because it might cost you more in the long run. Have we learned nothing from the Rick Ross situation. SMH
Weezy don’t curr. He did this to help him sell his album.
I don’t think those using Lil Wayne to promote their products is gonna drop him over this.
He just needs to apologize. He was out of line period.
I don’t know what the lyrics said, but any reference was in poor taste. But: ON THE FLIP SIDE: as an artist he should be allowed to say what he wants, that’s part of being an American…. You can say the dumbest thing ever AND get paid for it. He’s not the first person to say some off-color remark, and won’t be the last. Furthermore he won’t be the first to refuse to apologize.
And to play devil’s advocate, controversy may have even made some younger kids Google who Emmitt Till even was, because they are certainly not talking about him in the schools anymore.
I´m sick of most of ther rappers thinking that they can say what they want and that they don’t have to deal with the consequences….Another thing I don’t like about is when they use words like hoe,b-tch, etc to instead of girl,woman…..