At the 2014 BET Hip Hop Awards, entertainment website Bossip.com interviewed rapper Young Thug and asked him, in the midst of Mike Brown’s death, what should be changed in the way black men are policed in America?
“Leave that up with the critics and the laws,” he said. “We having fun, we iced out. We having money, that’s how we doing it.”
He then said it’s not an artist’s place to speak on social issues.
Young Thug’s response is all that is wrong with how many black youths are raised in America — blind to what’s happening in their own community.
Should we blame the 22-year-old rapper for not being as socially conscious as rappers like KRS-One or Yasiin Bey? No. He is a product of his environment.
Being socially aware of issues affecting your community is not something we are born with; it has to naturally pique our interest or be taught to us.
Many black homes lack the positive guidance needed during critical periods in a child’s life. It is important for adults in black communities to be positive mentors for youth who don’t have enough guidance or attention at home, because it takes a village to raise a child.
Being a mentor to black youth doesn’t just mean replacing the mother or father they don’t have. It means opening their eyes to social issues surrounding black America. It means teaching them ways to not become another negative black statistic. It means not only guiding them in a direction to become a productive member of society, but also teaching them how to lead the generation to come.
Members of the black community turn to rap and hip-hop as a way out of their rough everyday lives. Making music and writing lyrics are ways to express yourself when you feel like no one else can relate or no one else cares.
Because rap and hip-hop sit at the core of black culture, when it comes to issues in the black community, black celebrities should always have something to say about it. They are who the youth look up to.
Rap and hip-hop are versatile genres of music. They cater to a variety of different musical styles and lyrics. Of course there will always be the group of ratchet, turn-up songs, but rap and hip-hop have always lent themselves to songs about keeping your head up, waking up to what’s going on and fighting the power.
If you have time to rap about money, cars, clothes, women, sex and drugs, then you should have time to talk about even more pressing issues like racism or the harsh policing of blacks in America.
It is important for artists to realize that once they’re in the spotlight, everything they say will be analyzed. Whether they are your biggest fans or they are waiting for you to slip up, people are watching them like a hawk. It is important for celebrities to be prepared for any relevant question that may come their way.
People are so easily influenced by what they see celebrities doing. Having a nonchalant attitude and an iced out mentality is detrimental to the millions of people who actually try to imitate the lifestyle of rappers like Young Thug. Serious questions deserve serious answers.
When people see rappers they respect stepping up to the plate and establishing a stance on issues affecting their community, they will be more inclined to follow suit.
So, no, I do not blame Young Thug for his ignorant answer, but I do hope black celebrities will take note and learn from his mistake.
Taylor Simien is a 20-year-old mass communication junior from Lafayette, Louisiana. You can reach her on Twitter @TSimien_TDR.