J. Cole‘s use of the n-word in his music has turned The Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner away, despite his love for the rapper’s lyricism.
The 53-year-old launched his new podcast Not All Hood on Monday (June 10), where he discussed his disdain for the liberal use of the word in current Hip Hop, among other things.
“I think why I’m more against it now is because it’s used so gratuitously,” he said. “It’s used without regard. At this point, for me, in Hip Hop, I think there should be a moratorium on ‘n-gga’ and ‘bitch.’ It’s low hanging fruit. It’s so easy. Everybody fucking does it to the point that it’s corny.
“There are MCs who I love, who I cannot listen to anymore. I love J. Cole but I had to stop listening to J. Cole because I got tired of hearing ‘n-gga’ and ‘bitch’ every two sentences. Because he’s proven himself to be such an incredible lyricist, [so I hate] the regularity that he does [use those words].”
While he may not have a fan in The Cosby Show star any more, J. Cole did recently receive praise from T.I. for apologizing to Kendrick Lamar after dissing him on “7 Minute Drill.”
During an interview on Big Boy’s Neighborhood last month, the Atlanta rapper weighed in on the brief battle between K. Dot and Cole, which the latter controversially bowed out of.
“I feel he chose peace and tranquility,” the Southern icon said with a laugh when asked about the divisive apology. “You gotta have thick skin and really be unfazed and unbothered. And we don’t know the temperament or the sensitivity of Cole’s dynamic. We’ve never seen Cole upset. We don’t know where that would take him.”
He added: “I think that was quite mature of him.”
T.I.’s comments echo those of Black Thought, who also recently praised J. Cole for apologizing to Kendrick live on stage at his Dreamville Festival.
Appearing on the This Week in White Supremacy podcast, The Roots MC said: “Though I hadn’t heard any of the music, I thought it was a beautiful thing. That was what was unprecedented.
“What we’ve seen, time and time again since the ’80s, are MCs going back and forth, like battling out. Sometimes they keep it to the record, sometimes it gets physical and it gets crazy.”
He continued: “What we’ve yet to see is somebody nip that in the bud, right? That’s what I felt like he was in effect doing. It just showed humility, nobility and a sense of elevation that you don’t see too often across the board.
“When the plane’s going down, you gotta situate your own oxygen mask first. He’s been on a trajectory of just that, self-revelation, and investing in himself.”
Wonder if Malcolm told Pill to stop raping those hoes who went back to his dressing room.
Agreed that many artists use it as a lazy crutch. Artists who don’t curse often are much more impressive with their vocabulary and abilities. Masta ace is a solid example of this. Much less cursing than the mainstream gangster rap styles like NWA. Masta Ace made legit gangster rap, where he told harsh realities without glorifying negativity, hatred, violence, etc.
Same can be said for Inspectah Deck. Wish more rappers would go that route tbh.
Rakim too.
Method man too now
I’d just be happy if the ridiculous excuses were retired. “We reclaimed the word so it can’t hurt us!”…. Really? Because if non-black people are singing along to rapper’s song and use the word you still lose your minds. Meanwhile it’s constantly used by blacks who gun each other down in the streets. Just say you like using the word rather than inventing easily dismantled semantics.
Yeah because if black people stop using the word, Asians and whites will stop calling us that too right? Nicca, grow up.
Literally not what he was saying. He was saying that it’s lazy. But maybe not being hypocrites and setting some standards for yourself would be a good start, seeing as it’s not whites and Asians trying to use the word in every other breath.
ok white guy advising black folk on how to have standards, and on a rap blog at that.
Most “black folk” don’t spend all day spouting racial slurs at each other. I hate to shatter what I’m sure is such a worldly viewpoint on your part…. But your little slum doesn’t represent the world at large. By the way I’m not white but keep pulling race cards when you’re incapable of defending your idiotic viewpoint. Trust me, “black folk” dislike ignorant idiots like yourself as much as anyone.
The number one killer of black folks is…… black folks!
Ever heard of a system?
He has a point. It’s boring as fuck and definitely no longer ‘cool’.
Agreed 100 percent. The word in question should never be used other than reference to what it’s intended purpose was. Disgusting!