Earlier this week, Talib Kweli criticized Rick Ross and Lil Wayne. He referred to Ross as a “misguided 40 year-old person” for lyrics about slipping molly into a girl’s drink. Kweli also said Lil Wayne should apologize to Emmett Till’s family for a lyric referencing Till’s kidnapping, assault and murder. More recently, Kweli called in to Hot 97’s Cipha Sounds & Rosenberg Show to clarify his statements.
“The blogs have been getting on me saying I’ve got opinions about Ross or opinions about Lil Wayne. I’m like, ‘Yo, I’ve got opinions just like the next man.’ But I’m glad through social media you can get it straight from the horse’s mouth. You can go on my Twitter and find out what I really think as opposed to trusting what a blog might have to say about me. But I’ve got my opinions just like anybody else in Hip Hop. And I’m not no authority on Rick Ross or Lil Wayne or anybody else. I’m not no authority. I don’t make no demands. I don’t have no power over these men. But I state my opinion just like anybody else,” Kweli stated in a call-in interview.
“All these artists that have lyrics that offend people, especially Rick Ross and Lil Wayne, I’m a fan of both of these men. I know both of these men. I’m friendly with both of these men,” he shared. “I have no issues with these people as artists. I think we should embrace our artists. But if people say something that I don’t agree with, I have no problem saying that it’s wrong. I do think that Ross was wrong on those lyrics. I do think that…I do think that [Ross] was dead wrong with that particular lyric.”
He continued, saying that he is not about slandering or censoring other artists. Later, he added that fans have complained about Ross and Wayne but have not been as vocal about other artists like Notorious B.I.G. or Eminem.
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“I think when it comes to Rick Ross and Lil Wayne, a lot of so-called Hip Hop fans just don’t like them in general. So they’re looking for other reasons to not like them. Whereas they’ll accept rape lyrics from a Biggie Smalls, or an Eminem or an Odd Future. They look at that and they’ll condone that but they won’t condone it from rappers whose music they don’t like.”
Kweli’s statements regarding Ross originally came from an interview with Huffington Post. Kweli’s message for Lil Wayne came via AllHipHop. His comments on Hot 97 can be heard in full below.
RELATED:Talib Kweli Speaks Out Against Rick Ross’ Rape Lyrics
