Comedian Bill Cosby
joined Oprah in the latest rounds of hip-hop adversaries. Over the
last month, Winfrey herself has been the target of complaints from
rappers including, Ludacris, 50 Cent, Killer Mike (out of
nowhere) and Ice Cube. The comedian has spent years bashing
hip-hop culture and ignorance in an effort to unite the youth, especially black
youth, of today. In 2004, Cosby‘s wrath was aimed at the
African-American community for the rates of juvenile delinquency and the coarse
language of the youth today. Cosby toured to pass along his ideas
to parents and children alike. Cosby said, “Don’t let yourself
be victims, and especially don’t let the poorest in the community let
themselves be victims.”
Dr. Marc Lamont Hill of the hip-hop website www.playahata.com,
considers himself one of today’s new “hip-hop intellectuals”.
After posting a piece calling Dr. Cosby‘s efforts on his
“Call Out” tour out of place, he maintained that he respected Cosby
for what he was doing. Cosby being a famous alum of the school
himself, made a call to the Dean of the school to critique the young writer’s
opinionated stance on the website.
Over the next few days, Hill did a few radio shows to discuss his op-ed
and in each interview made sure to voice his respect for Dr. Cosby as
well as his critique. But, last Tuesday, on a show with an African-American
conservative host Hill was on the defensive. After the interview
was done, surprisingly Cosby himself was doing an interview on the
station, to air out his grievances with concern to Dr. Hill.
Cosby said that Hill’s efforts in regard to his ‘hip-hop website’
certainly can’t be trying to help black people with a ‘hip-hop website’. Cosby
and the host continually called the writer a ‘hip-hop hustler’, who as he
describes, write about and critique hip-hop at the same time. Cosby also
named writer, Michael Eric Dyson as a hustler.
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Hill attempted to get on the phone lines with Cosby and eventually
his friend allowed him to three-way in when it was his turn. The
conversation went a little something like this:
Hill: Hello. Dr. Cosby this isn’t [my friend]. This is
actually Marc Lamont Hill. You were talking about me so I figured I’d
call back so that we could talk.
Cosby [clearly shocked and uncomfortable]: Yes?
Hill: I don’t understand why you have to call me a liar and a hustler.
Why can’t my response be just as sincere and principled as yours?
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Cosby never answered the question to Hill‘s liking, instead, he
inquired as to Hill‘s occupation and affiliations and his “hip-hop
website. After the conversation had ended Cosby said to Hill, “Mr.
Hill. You’re a smart man. You’re a good writer. You’ve called hear
twice. You’ve had enough to say“
The tables seemed to have been turned on Hill who called merely to
defend himself, the host of the radio show stepped in and said ” One at
a time. After the break, we’ll let Professor Hill respond and then Dr.
Cosby can respond.“
Cosby retorted, “Mr. Hill has said enough. He’s got a
column. He’s called here twice. Let’s take some calls.” The shows
producer told Hill, “be patient. We’ll take 2 or 3 calls and get
back to you.” After a few more calls for Cosby, the host
and Cosby went to break and hung-up on Hill who was waiting
patiently. Hill called back only to be allowed minimal time to make any
points in his defense.
Either way, whether the words are from a famous comedian/actor, ‘hip-hop
website’, your blog, someone else’s blog, they carry the same value and meaning
behind them. Cosby, I’m sure hasn’t exhausted his continued attack
on the hip-hop realm.
