I don't know how many people have caught wind of this new song, but that is actually the title of the new track from Dem Franchise Boyz featuring Lil Wayne. I am absolutely embarrassed for both the hip hop community and blacks as a whole. Why do we continue to do this to ourselves? We already have a target on our backs. Why do anything else to prove all the critics right (or at least have them believe that they are right)?

I actually tried to listen to the song, just so that I could get a real sense of it, and I could not go past the first verse. After the intro had them spinning the saying in the title over and over, as if wanting degrade themselves and everybody else, I was already fed up. I mustered up enough strength to get through the first verse and then just decided that it would be better if I just didn't even go on. I may still try to finish it up a little later, but I couldn't do it at the time. The title alone is is horrible, but to repeat it over and over at the very beginning just got to me even more worked up.

And I don't know if it actually makes it worse since it is already very bad, but the fact that they are talking about (of course) crack in the song does not help at all. All this does it portray us, young African Americans, as nothing more than drug dealers who are no longer even sensitive to the effects that slavery has had on us. Those same slaves that took whippings so that blacks would be able to voice their opinions in all medians are now being mocked by young blacks.

I was just watching a video earlier today from the meeting that David Banner, Master P, and Michael Eric Dyson were having on Capital Hill with Congress. We have people like them going to war for hip hop and defending the culture, but how can we expect anybody to try to justify it when we put out songs like this? Did they think that Nas' last album opened up some sort of new gate that made this acceptable? If so, they completely missed the context with which that was meant to represent.

My greatest fear is that this song will reach the radio and because it is catchy, people will nod their heads to it and dance to it in the club, not caring what it says because the beat is hot. We can't allow for this to happen because who knows what is to follow if this is accepted? Let's make sure that we protect what is ours and that we don't do anything to continue to hinder ourselves and do things that would have people believe the stereotypes they have formed toward us (this goes for both African Americans as a whole and the hip hop community).

This is not a personal attack against the Franchise Boyz, Wayne or anybody else, but it is a direct message to them and all of those who may think that this is acceptable. It is (to put it nicely) done in very, very bad taste. Once again, I don't know what their take is on the title of the song. It could be that they just thought it was a clever metaphor or maybe they just didn't think it was a big deal; who knows? The fact of the matter is that whether or not it becomes a big deal in the grand scheme of things (the media, etc.), it is a big deal to psyche of our people and who we are. There has already been much debate about whites and others outside of the African American race using the "n-word' due to the fact that it is used so openly and freely within the hip hop circle. To allow "Whip It Like A Slave" and, if it somehow becomes successful, any potential mimics could really set us back in terms of the discussion of what is and is not appropriate; not only amongst ourselves but any races and cultures.

Sorry if it seems I went off on the deep end, but as much as I talk about all other topics, I felt compelled to touch on this subject,m as well. Let me know how you guys feel about it. I'm not going to post the song on here, but if you want to listen to it you can search for it on youtube and then comment on it back here or email at straightouttahiphop@gmail.com.


Peace.