TALIB KWELI on Wayne’s “Emitt Till”, Ross’ Rape Lyric, Beyonce’s B-Word

This is actually a roundtable discussion, sans the actual table, between five people, but I couldn’t fit all that into a headline. Talib Kweli engages with HUFF POST LIVE host Marc Lamont Hill. News & Lifestyle Editor of Ebony.com Jamilah Lemeiux, Washington Post Columist Rahiel Tesfamariam and 2008 Vice Presidential Candidate, Journalist and Activist Rosa Clemente, as they discuss the recent controversial statements made by Rick Ross, being called “rape lyrics”, Lil Wayne’s “Emmett Till” reference and even Beyonce’s lyrics in her new song “Bow Down”. This is not “Street Soldiers” on HOT97. This is a sophisticated conversation between a group of educated intellectuals. Kwelirepresents Hip Hop and himself very well as he presents his case for critique of Ross and any artists who are miguided from a place of love and wanting them to change, rather than demonizing them as monsters.

There is plenty of debate as the five ask and attempt to answer “when do words cross the line and should lyrics be policed?” I must say this is one of the most intelligent healthy debates on the subject I have ever heard. Watching this video is definitely a good place for this discussion to start in our own lives, with our own friends and family, especially among the youth population who are heavy consumers of all of these artists’ music and are trying to come to grips with the lyrics as they figure out what is right and wrong, themselves. I salute all involved in making this, including Huffington Post. Share this and get the conversations started in your own community.

Stay blessed. – GMS
 

@TalibKweli | @GMS_MCMI | @MCMIreport

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GMS

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