S. Samuel
Cash Money Records head Birdman recently talked about the controversy and massive backlash his protégé Lil Wayne and close pal Rick Ross received over dicey rap lyrics.
According to the Cash Money boss, he nearly started a boycott against Mountain Dew and Reebok after they cut ties with Weezy and Ricky Rozay earlier this year.
“Really, we could’ve reversed that [termination of endorsement deals] because my whole take was, ‘Since they wanna clown, I can clown and group all my people up.’ But on the respect I have for Swizz [Beatz, a Reebok partner], that’s why I didn’t clown,” Birdman told Sway. “I could’ve put all my people together and say, ‘Now my culture and my community, we’re not supportin’ y’all.'” Birdman says he wouldn’t apologize for any of his lyrics and the next time one of his artists come under fire from a corporate entity, he’s ready to flex his muscle. “Next time, we’re gonna stand up and we’re gonna shut that sh– down,” he threatened. (MTV)
Earlier this month, footage of Weezy F. Baby apologizing for his “Karate Chop” remix lyrics surfaced online.
Lil Wayne has seen himself involved in lots of controversy over the last few months, and none gained him more infamy than his Emmett Till line on “Karate Chop.” Now Weezy has changed the lyrics, and apologized to the Till family. After coming under fire from fans, critics, and other members of the media, and eventually losing some major sponsorships due to the controversial lyric, Tunechi had shown remorse and regretted offending people by evoking the face of young Till’s brutal death. Now at a recent performance in Nashville, Tennesse, the YMCMB talent changed up his lyrics while performing “Karate Chop” and said, “I apologize to the family of Emmett Till.” (Hot New Hip Hop)
Buzz behind Mountain Dew’s parent company PepsiCo parting ways with the mega rap star heated up the Internet in early May.
PepsiCo is cutting its ties with Lil Wayne after the rapper made a crude reference to civil rights martyr Emmett Till in a song. Lil Wayne, one of the biggest stars in pop music, had a deal to promote the company’s Mountain Dew soda. Earlier this week, PepsiCo also pulled an online ad for the neon-colored soda that was criticized for portraying racial stereotypes and making light of violence toward women. The ad was developed by rapper Tyler, the Creator. (Billboard)
Maybach Music Group member Meek Mill recently went off on Reebok in light of cutting ties with Ross.
“F*ck Reebok, we wear Pumas,” Meek said in an interview. “That’s what we do. We wear Pumas. As far as Ross’ situation with Reebok, I just don’t approve of none of that. I don’t approve of no companies trying to dib and dab in our culture and then when you make a mistake they dip out on you. They’re still making money off our brand. I’m very against that. Ross is off Reebok and Reebok is still going to make money off of Ross. Before Rick Ross, Swizz [Beatz] and Tyga, it was no Reebok no more. These companies actually follow our culture and make money off of our culture and pay us like a pimp out. ‘This b*tch ain’t working today. Put her off the strip.’ If you fire me, we’re going to tear your sh*t back down. Nobody’s wearing Reebok no more. Reebok ain’t cool. Don’t wear that.” (Civil TV)
