The #FutureHive Needs To Simmer Down

Since the release of Future & DJ Esco’s new collaboration, Project E.T. (Esco Terrestrial), on June 24th, 2016, there have been new legal documents filed by the rap star’s famous ex-fiancée, Ciara. In the court documents, Ciara’s lawyer, Tanya Mitchell Graham, notes that the following lyrics from the track “Juice” were interpreted by “hundreds of gossip blogs and media outlets” to be directed at Ciara’s current fiancée, Russell Wilson:

“It’s personal, free ‘em now
Murder trials, OJ Simpson
White on white, OJ Simpson
Double murder, OJ Simpson
Oh that’s your girl? You know I hit her
Pity n*ggas, she through with them
Tryna f*ck my baby mama, dog what’s up with you?
You gon’ make me get that heat, I’m pulling up on you”

The lawyer states that the plaintiff, Ciara, understands the defendant, Future’s, First Amendment rights, but questions Future’s judgement as a co-parent to their child.

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Ironically, this is what the “gossip blogs and media outlets” chose to run with this time around: re-sparking the never-ending spotlight on Future and Ciara’s strained relationship; an even slippeier slope as the wedding date looms. And after close inspection of the documents at hand: the “#FutureHive” needs to buzz on back down to reality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv5z6e6ZIdQ

It’s been long argued that rap lyrics have no place in the courtroom and that allowing such a devaluation of this artform was another form of policing black speech. In an op-ed co-written by Erik Neilson and Michael Render (rapper/activist Killer Mike to most of you), the use of rap lyrics to indict artists is noted to be an anomaly: “no other fictional [art]form…is used this way in courts.” So #FutureHive’s usual defense of their idol is, sort of, understandable. But it’s also right in line with Hip Hop’s usual dose of misogyny, as Ciara is once again painted in a negative light. Maybe it was difficult to have a level-head until now, considering that if you were a Future fan all you had to go by was Future’s accounts of being wronged by his seemingly possessive ex:

The “Chosen One” didn’t hold his tongue regarding his publicized custody battle back in January.

And, if you were a Future fan, you for sure quoted lyrics on past standouts such as 2014’s “Throw Away” or maybe even this year’s “Lie to Me” to perpetuate some narrative of Future being a victim to Ciara’s evil rebuke of his lifestyle. All just to help add further significance to his already impressive mixtape run over the past year and a half. However, if these court documents prove one thing, it’s that Future is anything but innocent. And, just as how his lyrics can’t be used to indict him, they shouldn’t be used to support your image of his character.

Appreciating someone’s art and remaining skeptical of their conduct otherwise doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive.

Although he claims it’s “all for Baby Future,” and paints Ciara as a casualty of his passion for his son, Future confesses to not having a single concern for his impact on the life of his baby’s mother during his recent deposition with Graham. And he’s lied about the extent of his child support payments. And about Ciara ever denying him the right to see his children.

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While the motivations for each party are obviously complicated, these documents clear one thing up: Future is, at least, as responsible for his own actions as Ciara is. So, if you can’t completely turn off your #FutureHive mindset for a day or two, at least try and attempt a detox as a complicated situation over something as delicate and important as the child custody hearings play out.

And give the court documents a read for yourself.