Fred Hampton Jr. Fires Back At Jay-Z, Lashes At ‘Murder To Excellence’ Reference

Written By S. Samuel

The son of late African American activist Fred Hampton, Fred Hampton, Jr., has lashed back at rap mogul Jay-Z for making a reference to his slain father on the new Watch the Throne album.

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Asked about Jay rhyming, “I arrived the same day Fred Hampton died,” Hampton, Jr. shared his disgruntled stance.

During a film screening of “The Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975” and panel at University of Chicago on Saturday, Fred Hampton Jr. shared his feelings on the song lyric and Jay-Z. Speaking to a crowd at the University’s International House, Hampton voiced his displeasure with the lyric, saying that Jay-Z has twisted that truth. “Fred Hampton didn’t die,” Hampton Jr. said. “He was assassinated. Saying Fred Hampton died is like the school teacher telling students that Christopher Columbus discovered America.” He later went on to refer to Jay-Z as Slave-Z, questioning his motives on the record. (Ruby Hornet)

On Young Hov’s “Murder to Excellence,” Jay connects his birth to the date Hampton was killed.

“I arrived on the day Fred Hampton died/Uh, real n*ggas just multiply/And they say by 21 I was supposed to die/So I’m out here celebrating my post-demise/If you put crabs in a barrel to insure your survival/You’re gon’ end up pulling down n*ggas that look just like you/What up, Blood? What up, cuz? It’s all black, I love us” (“Murder to Excellence”)

Fred Hampton is most known for his Chicago activist achievements and leadership.

Hampton founded the Chicago chapter of the Black Panther Party in November 1968. He immediately established a community service program. This included the provision of free breakfasts for schoolchildren and a medical clinic that did not charge patients for treatment. Hampton also taught political education classes and instigated a community control of police project. One of Hampton’s greatest achievements was to persuade Chicago’s most powerful street gangs to stop fighting against each other. In May 1969 Hampton held a press conference where he announced a nonaggression pact between the gangs and the formation of what he called a “rainbow coalition” (a multiracial alliance of black, Puerto Rican, and poor youths). (Spartacus)

Despite the hype, Jay’s Watch the Throne album has gone on to sell over a million copies since its summer release.

Grammy-winning rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West‘s Watch the Throne received a one-slot boost to No. 30 with 34,100. After four months of availability, The Throne‘s joint effort stands at 1,103,900 sold pieces. (SOHH Sales Wrap)

Check out “Murder to Excellence” below:

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Written by S. Samuel

Steven Samuel is the co-founder of SOHH.com.

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