FN Meka has become a lightning rod for controversy, and the man behind the virtual rapper’s record deal has caused a stir himself after it emerged he used the n-word in his old lyrics.
Although he didn’t create the character, Anthony Martini (who is white) is responsible for signing FN Meka to his Factory New label, which he’s described as specializing in inking “virtual beings” to the roster.
Rolling Stone published a report earlier this week digging into Martini’s musical past, which includes co-founding and fronting a hardcore band called E.Town Concrete, who released four albums between 1997 and 2004.
On the band’s first two albums, Martini reportedly used the n-word several times in his lyrics. “It gave me chills the first time that I saw that n-gga since he shot LaGhram,” he rapped on the 1997 song.
The racial slur appeared on four other songs on the band’s first album, as well as another four on their 2000 sophomore LP. Martin and E.Town Concrete are credited as songwriters on all of these tracks.
The music executive still performs with the band to this day and was filmed using the racial slur during shows as recently as 2015, 2016 and 2018.
FN Meka’s music also contained the n-word, which became a point of contention as it was unclear who was writing the A.I. rapper’s lyrics.
However, as Martini said in a previous statement addressing the controversy, “FN Meka’s vocals have always been written and performed by humans, which in this case, have been Black voices.”
FN Meka signed to Capitol Records in August and was dropped from the label just days later following significant backlash over his music and appearance, which many deemed to be an insulting and insensitive caricature of Black culture.
Virtual Rapper FN Meka Blames ‘Racist Reporters’ For Being Dropped
“CMG has severed ties with the FN Meka project, effective immediately,” Capitol Music Group relayed in a statement. “We offer our deepest condolences to the Black community for our insensitivity in signing this project without asking enough questions about the equity and the creative process behind it.
“We thank those who have reached out to us with constructive feedback in the past couple of days — your input was invaluable as we came to the decision to end our association with the project.”
Oh no, a white person used the same word black people have been using in music for decades. A double standard perhaps ? I guess “equality” doesnt matter if it doesnt fit the narrative. The word went from being a slur to a blanket term for the male gender like “bro” or “dude”. You want the word to loose its power, then just stop using it, especially when referring to the male gender. Gender has no color. If white people demanded black people not use the word “dude”, im sure black people wouldnt give two shits. I bet they wouldnt censor themselves online and refer to it as the “D-Word”.
Who are you am OG to? Another white boy who wants to be a part of the culture so bad using terms that they know nothing about. Sorry, white people can’t tell us what we can and cannot say. It’s been like that and will always be like that.
It went where it went because black people made it that way. Most slang words were created by black people, white people don’t make up cool shit. Nothing y’all say, do, or dress like is cool, is all from us. Y’all see the way we dress and copy it, hear what we listen to and play it, hear how we talk and copy it. All y’all do is consume culture, no one is looking to white people for anything cool.
Y’all have no culture outside of the confederate and American flag. No one cares how you feel about us saying a word. It’s not fair? Well look at history for the last 500 years and tell us when had life ever been. Go listen to one of the few music genres y’all actually created if it makes you so mad.
He said this in the 90’s? Ahh easy peasy. He’s going to apologize, say he was just a kid and didn’t know any better, but he’s going to take this as a learning experience, and be a better person, and the internet will move on in about a week or so. It is pathetic how much work people put into finding all this dirt, putting that person in the spotlight, and then… Nothing.
Jesus who fuckin cares- victim mentality is out of hand
Omg… a white person used the n word?!? LETS DESTEOY OUR NEIGHBROHOOD AND SMALL MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES IN RETALIATION!!!! That word still has so much power its insane. Like, it’s the ONLY single word worldwide that can cause a whole room to go crazy in an instant.
K. I. L. L. ALL YT PEOPLE!
Comment was meant for just a guy telling the truth.You’re Stupid for using that word
You guys loves drama, fuck that shit, we are stronger than this weak ass provocation.