Cyrus Langhorne
Atlanta rapper Jeezy has come forward to dish on stepping up to show support in light of the tragic shooting of teenager Michael Brown earlier this month.
Jeezy noted celebrities like himself should feel a duty to spread the word and demand justice in light of the teen’s controversial death.
“I don’t really think it’s just about money, everybody wanna be successful but when you’re still successful–you look at Oprah, you look at Tyler Perry, and these people–we associate success with money. So when you’re successful it’s cool to be about your money, but when things happen you gotta step up and be a leader. You gotta step up and handle your business. If you got a million followers or two million followers, these are two million people that’s gon’ listen, that’s gon’ tell two million other people what’s going on.” (97.9 The Box)
Along with performing with a Mike Brown shirt, Jeezy had relied on social media to to speak out on the teen’s death last week.
“It’s a shame in today’s Society we have to protect our loved ones from those who are sworn to protect us. We have to stand strong together and let our voices be heard across the nation. We will not tolerate innocent children being slain. Michael Brown may you rest with the Angels!!! #saveourchildren #St.Louisstandup,” Jeezy captioned to a photo of Mike Brown.
“St.Louis was Luv!! #justiceformichaelbrown #saveourchildren”
“I had to see it for myself!! The answer is not tearing down our own neighborhoods and communities, the answer is goin to the source of the problem in numbers. So many numbers that they know they don’t have a chance. We want justice not chaos!! #ferguson #st.louis #saveourchildren #justiceformichaelbrown,” Jeezy captioned August 13. (Jeezy’s Instagram)
Despite ample celebrities discussing the teen’s tragic death on social media, Roc Nation’s J. Cole recently stressed the importance of actual heading to Missouri.
“We came down here to feel it, ’cause this is history, and we wanna be a part of this just like everybody else,” he said, adding that he felt like, “it coulda been you, it coulda been me, it coulda been our best friends. … At one point in time, me and [my friend] were sitting in the crib talking about this all the time. ‘This is f-ked up!’ And we was young. And we was 20. And we was passionate. It’s like, life goes on, and n–as start worrying about Instagram and reality TV, and ‘What’s popping,’ and ‘I got kids,’ and life happens. And a lot of distractions. Unfortunately, last week, it was the same old, ‘This is f-ked up,’ and this week, it’s like, ‘What can we do?'” (Complex)
A newly released preliminary private autopsy released Sunday (August 17) reveal he was shot at least six times.
One of the bullets entered the top of Mr. Brown’s skull, suggesting his head was bent forward when it struck him and caused a fatal injury, according to Dr. Michael M. Baden, the former chief medical examiner for the City of New York, who flew to Missouri on Sunday at the family’s request to conduct the separate autopsy. It was likely the last of bullets to hit him, he said. Mr. Brown, 18, was also shot four times in the right arm, he said, adding that all the bullets were fired into his front. (NY Times)
Check out Jeezy’s interview:
