Snoop, Nelly, Rick Ross & Soulja Boy sold out. But why did you ever believe they bought in?
Politics always remind us how dumb rappers are
Move over Chrisette Michele, you’ve got company.
“It was the wrong thing to do,” the R&B singer admitted a few years ago, as her decision to perform at one of Trump’s original inauguration balls almost ended her career. Eight years later, history repeated itself as Black America watched the combination of Snoop Dogg, Nelly, Rick Ross, and Soulja Boy sell their souls for a check to perform for a man who stands in direct opposition to what they are…..or, does he?
Here’s a secret: most rappers don’t want equality and fairness. They desire white privilege.
People were rightfully upset about it and took to social media to express their anger. Their timelines were filled with photos of the foursome participating in and/or performing at events connected with Trump’s inauguration from the weekend.
Nelly tried to explain himself. Sometimes, less is more.
“I didn't know that you [fans] was riding with me because you thought I would ride for who you voted for. I didn't know that I had to agree with your political choices," he said. "If you follow what I do, this shouldn't even be an argument."
Soulja Boy was at least smart enough to admit that he did it for the money, while Rick Ross tried to deny his involvement — but was all in the videos and pictures. And Snoop turned into the very person he once called out. “So ain’t nobody gon’ perform for Donald Trump, huh? Which one of you jigaboo a** ni**as gon’ be the first one to do it?” he once asked.
I’m just shocked that Killer Mike didn’t offer his services, for free.
The problem isn’t that those men chose to “sell out.” The real issue is the assumption that those men were something they never were — as in educated or someone who’s not for sale. The ability to put words together and make them rhyme means you have a gift; it doesn’t guarantee intelligence.
“It’s also a dishonor to the Black community,” former Clinton White House Aide, Keith Boykin recently said on CNN about the rappers’ decisions.
“(Trump) He refused to rent to Black people in the 1970s. He tried to lead a lynch mob against five Black and Brown kids in the 1980s for the Central Park case. He refused to allow Black casino workers to have a prominent place in his casinos in Atlantic City in the 1990s. He spent five-and-a-half-years lying about Barack Obama’s birth certificate in the 2000s,” Boykin explained about Trump’s track record.
The situation is reminiscent of when Malcolm X once said, “Show me in the white community where a comedian is a white leader. Show me in the white community where a singer is a white leader.”
Somehow, people who are woefully unqualified to be viewed as the leaders of a community are far too often put in those positions by people from those communities. Being cool and rich doesn’t make you someone that people should look up to.
Because let's not act like we haven't been here before. From backpack rappers to gangsters, and to mumble rappers and true MCs, rappers have been showing us that they have no business being viewed as role models for a long time.
Waka Flocka Flame is MAGA. Ice Cube loves saying stupid stuff during election cycles. Kanye West used to rock the Confederate Flag. Jay-Z sold out Colin Kaepernick when he aligned with the NFL. And even Kendrick Lamar used to wear a diamond-encrusted crown of thorns.
Dude, you ain’t Jesus.
But yet, all of them still have their fame and fortunes, as those uncomfortable moments passed as quickly as they came. I wouldn’t be surprised if the same doesn’t occur for Snoop Dogg, Nelly, Rick Ross, and Soulja Boy, as they will all probably receive the forgiveness that Chrisette Michele is still waiting on.
And while the focal point of this weekend’s events should be about not allowing ourselves to be disappointed by people who don't have a clue what the three branches of government are, that probably won’t be the case. However, something did get confirmed — Drake isn’t the only “sucka” in the game.