Alicia Keys is getting some burn for those Black Panther inspired words that she recently said. As I reported her she spoke to Blender Magazine, (which she covers HERE) about her philosophies about Gangsta Rap. Unfortunately for her, the Hip Hop community, including buck toothed 50, is livid about her comments.
50 says: "I don’t like Alicia Keys no more. If she thinks what they consider gangsta music is [made] to bring black people down then I think my sh*t falls into that category. I don’t like people who don’t like me. I don’t like her then because that’s what provides the life for me.
I think if you ask Ice Cube the same shit, he’ll tell you, “F*ck Alicia Keys” for even saying that. Because the success he’s had as an actor and a businessman, there was no opportunity for that sh*t without N.W.A. But I don’t think that [her] classical sh*t is cool. I don’t give a f*ck if you can classically play the piano."
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I will agree with 50 a little bit on this one. Alicia may have made it seem that all Gangsta rap was a ploy to tear down the Black Community. I mean, Gangsta Rap has been around since almost as long as the genre of Hip Hop blew up. It came about the same way too; as a means of expression and reflection of a struggling people. Granted some people may have taken it out of context and portrayed us as animals. But may I remind Ms. Keys that 2 pac was classified as a 'Gangsta Rapper' and he thoroughly explored the conscious consequences of our lifestyle. Gangsta rap can be uplifting. He clearly stated that his lyrics only mirrored the people he wrote about. Perhaps it isn't that simple. Perhaps it isn't the music, but the socioeconomic make-up of the performers who must really go through these struggles and only are taught this. Maybe it isn't even a white and black thing. I mean the majority of people that consume music are not Black. Seeing as the majority of the country isn't a minority and at the height of Gangsta rap, audiences were primarily white. I just feel that someone who actually has the opportunity to meet these people, that she should have did some real life research, rather than quoting books. Especially when the New Black Panthers; who've I spoken to as well, have stated clearly that feel all people should either be Black or White and revert back to a sort of Apartheid lifestyle. Seeing as Alicia Keys is half white and they say (trust me I argued about this with them) you must abandon your other roots how can she be so quick to associate herself with an organization who don't agree with her bi-racial roots.
