By: Taren Vaughan
Lil’ Wayne became the second rapper to lose a major endorsement deal over offensive lyrics that he spit on a track. Reebok cut ties with Rick Ross not too long ago for the lyrics that he rapped that referenced date rape, despite the unofficial apology that the rapper offered before he got dropped. Lil’ Wayne caught just as much heat for his lyric about Emmett Till that many people felt was extremely disrespectful, especially the family members of the brutally beaten and murdered Till. And even after the Till Family penned a letter to Wayne, the rapper made no quick moves to apologize. And that’s when the Till Family decided to take things a step further and go after Lil’ Wayne’s endorsements, Mountain Dew at the top of their list. Once the news broke about the Till Family’s plans, an apology was issued from the rapper. The Till Family made it known that they weren’t buying the apology and the end result of it all left Lil’ Wayne to get dropped by Mountain Dew. Though Lil Wayne’s endorsement deal with Mountain Dew is no more, Reverend Al Sharpton is going to honor the Till Family’s request for a meeting with PepsiCo as Reverend Sharpton confirmed in a statement that he plans to meet with the Till Family and PepsiCo:
“I have been in conversations over the last several days with leadership at PepsiCo and the family of Emmett Till we intend to meet next week. This has been a “teaching moment for Lil Wayne, corporate America and the family of Emmett Till yet more than a condemnation of any one artist, it is an affirmation of Emmett Till and a call for more sensitivity about what we say and do in our culture. National Action Network does not want it to end with artists losing contracts but rather with a sensitizing of corporate America so we can learn from these experiences and set a tone that will help everybody. It’s in that spirit that we go forward to meeting with PepsiCo next week.”
Rev. Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network and MSNBC host
I see they are still at it. Hopefully, this will force all companies to think long and hard before they pick a rapper to promote their products.
I love it. I hope this changes things.
Oh wow. I didn’t expect them to still meet since Lil Wayne was dropped. I see people are serious about changing some things in Hip Hop. I can’t even say I’m mad about it either.
Clap it up for Rollo Goodlove everybody!
Al Sharpton is such an opportunist. Smh.
This man is pathetic. Pepsi dropped Lil Wayne already.
This is funny!
I’m not trying to be insensitive but they already dropped lil Wayne. Why are they still talking to Pepsi but they are not the problem these rappers are. Why not not try to sit down with these rappers and explain to these rappers how powerful there words are. This is why we need a platform on tv so discussions can be addressed Pepsi did there job got rid of lil Wayne.
They got what they want move on already. The song verse is removed and he has been drop. It seems now that there trying to get famous behind this. That’s just like someone constantly calling your job to get you fired. Okay, you got what you want move on.
It’s obvious some of you didn’t read the statement. They are meeting to show these companies that they shouldn’t give endorsement deals to artists who speak poison into the black community. It’s deeper than Lil Wayne. They want all rappers to think about their lyrics and companies not to give them deals! And why the hell does this family need fame? Every person on the planet, especially black should know who Emmett Till was. I’m disgusted by a couple of these comments. The minute black people try to improve their communities, you tell them to have a seat. Ridiculous. I’m glad MLK and Rosa Parks didn’t listen to that nonsense! God bless your lost souls.
AMEN SISTA!! It really is a shame that some black people would see this as the Till family & Al Sharpton trying to get “fame!” That’s the craziest sounding mess..SICK! Black people ALL have to come together on issues like this & raise all kinds of hell & stay on their necks about it or things will never change! If we dont do it..who will? Our babies are being raised on that filth that rappers like Lil Wayne spit..that’s all they listen to!