On Monday (November 24), a grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri decided to not press charges against police officer Darren Wilson for shooting and killing 18-year old Michael Brown. The announcement was met with an outcry from several Hip Hop artists. Some expressed frustration while others weren’t surprised by the decision.
Billboard reports that Macklemore took to Twitter to speak out.
“The system that instills & protects white supremacy wins again. Humanity loses…No justice. I pray for Mike Brown & his family. So sad,” the Seattle rapper says.
He also joined a march in his hometown to protest the grand jury’s decision.
Billboard also reports that Will.I.Am responded with a series of posts via Twitter after hearing the announcement that no charges will be filed.
“My heart goes out to the family of #MikeBrown, the people of #Ferguson and #america as a whole…” he says.
9th Wonder took to Twitter to express his frustration.
“Nations around the world…are laughing at the United States and its idea of ‘Human Rights’ …as always,” the producer says.
Ty Dolla $ign used his new single to pay tribute to Mike Brown.
“#StandFor Mike Brown,” he says on Twitter.
Ace Hood took to various social media platforms to make his thoughts known.
“’The funny thing is.. it could’ve been me .. it Could’ve been u’! #FDW #RipMikeBrown,” he says via Twitter, quoting his song “Fuck Da World” off his most recent album, Trials and Tribulations.
And on Instagram, he posted a series of photos including one with the lyrics from “Seen It All” from Body Bag 3, which pays tribute to Mike Brown. Another post featured the lyrics from “Fuck Da World.” Both had captions about the teenager and Ferguson. A third post featured Officer Wilson with the saying, “We don’t fuck with you,” written across the image.
Kendrick Lamar referenced his single “i” in a post on Twitter that calls out the justice system.
“Didn’t we say LOVE yourself? They don’t LOVE u. The world don’t LOVE u. Worldly things don’t LOVE u. The master will serve justice,” he says.
Fellow Top Dawg rapper Jay Rock posted a screen shot of the broadcast of the announcement on Instagram and quoted Tupac in the caption.
“’Cops don’t give a damn about a negro, pull the trigger kill a nigga he’s a hero’ smh ‘I
wonder if Heaven gotta Ghetto,’” he says.
Lecrae joined a protest in Atlanta yesterday (November 25), WSBTV reports.
“This is about fighting against hurt, systemic oppression, but not about meeting violence with violence or criminal activities,” he says.
On the night of the announcement, he and affiliates of his Reach Records label posted a black and white image on Instagram that said, “Praying for Ferguson.” The “Nuthin” rapper posted his own series of Tweets and a lengthy Facebook message to express his opinion on the decision.
“If you are disappointed in me. Well you clearly can’t understand my pain. This Ferguson case was a mascot for something much bigger. Something people want to hope for,” part of the Facebook message reads.
Mick Jenkins also took to Twitter to respond to the announcement.
“This does not anger me. This is not surprising. And I don’t feel like it should be. But I do understand those who are angry/surprised,” he says.
Dee-1 gave play-by-play of the CNN coverage of the announcement.
“Wow. Sad, but not surprising non-indictment announcement. #Ferguson,” he says.
Pell called for people to be smart in their responses to the decision.
“The smartest plan of action, is the best plan of action. Don’t react off emotions, we’ve been here before,” the New Orleans rapper says.
King Mez took to Twitter with a series of posts.
“Prayers to the Brown family and prayers to calm the storms inside us are at the forefront of my mind,” he says.
The posts from Macklemore, will.i.am, 9th Wonder and others are as follows:
RELATED: Ty Dolla $ign & Iamsu! Respond To Ferguson Grand Jury Decision
The only good niggger is a dead niggger!!
Well said. Now bend over for my cock.
What cock????
Macklemore needs to shut his bitch ass up. If he really had a problem with white supremacy he wouldn’t have accepted that award he knows he didn’t deserve.
The fuck are you talking about? Shut up. I don’t even like Macklemore, but that was a dumb ass comment.
^^^ No it wasn’t, he’s right. And you’re not black you lying faggot.
man you can’t compare this to a fucking grammy – nobody gives a fuck about that shit
I think that there are certainly issues out there when there is injustice and discrimination, but I think this case is not a great example of this. People should look into the forensics and the evidence. The guy wrestled a cop, fought over his gun, and charged him after shoplifting a store. I think you can argue that the cop shouldn’t have fired as many shots, but try to put yourself in the officer’s shoes here. Big Mike- 6″4 and about 250 pounds punches you twice, tries to get your gun, and is now charging at you. I think fight or flight/ adrenilne takes over- anyone who’s ever been in a fight would understand. He was shot in the hand and the torso, not the back. Are there cases of injustice, certainly. Are there racist cops. Yes. I don’t know about this one though. I think the media misreported this and people don’t want to believe the actual facts of the case. Too much looking “race baiting” and propaganda out here. People who used to be leaders for civil rights now just look for any opportunity to pull the race card. I’m just being real. Hate me if you want.
thank you. exactly what i’ve been saying. also, i’m really annoyed with the selective outrage from people who always get mad at blacks who get killed by a cop or white person, but not when a nigga does it. whenever a black life is taken by other blacks, most of the time it doesn’t make the major news outlets. theres no protest/marches, theres no al sharptons, no jesse jacksons, no naacp, no riots, no outrage, no riots in the street. on the other hand, a black life is taken by a cop or a white man, here comes the countless mainstream news media reports and nationwide sensationalism. here comes folks crying racism, here comes the marches/protests. alsharpton and jesse jackson coming out the woodworks. the naacp, the NOI and other black “leaders” come out the woodworks. the riots happens when the protesters don’t get the results they want. black people get killed all the time by other blacks, why does mike brown get all the attention? who thats right, because his killer is white and a police officer. funny how a black life only has value when it’s taken by someone white or wearing a badge, but if you were killed by another, no one gives a shit. if all these rappers and other mike brown supporters care so much about black people and black life, don’t just get mad and protest for victims of the white man or a cop, get equally as mad and protest for blacks who get killed by other blacks. thats all im saying. like you said, people can also hate me if they want to as well.
kill yourselves you white freakish devils
Look at it like this: Regardless of all the details and hearsay, a white man killed a black man. This fact alone makes you think twice. It makes you think twice because blacks killing blacks all the time gets no attention. But, on the other hand, when a white man or police officer kills a black man all hell breaks loose. The reason for this is that blacks killing blacks is not news worthy or major in the eyes of the general public. Sorry but not sorry. Those are the facts.
If you don’t understand the outrage then you don’t understand St Louis. I moved here about two years ago and one of the first things that I noticed was that St Louis is one of the most racist and segregated cities in America. I’ve lived in Virginia, Florida, and Georgia and without a doubt St Louis is 100 years behind any of those states in race relations. Over the past 4 months I’ve talked to a lot of people around here about the case and there has not been a single white person out of the 50-100 I’ve talked to that thinks Wilson should go to trial. Not one. The opposite is true for the black people I’ve talked to. Now this is only important because the Grand Jury was comprised out 9 white people and at the same time 9 of the jury members would have had to see cause for a charge. That means at the very least 6 of the 9 white jury members would have had to vote to indict and that was never going to happen. Throw in a biased, pro police prosecutor and the outcome was decided before they met for the first time. Obviously black people around here would not be satisfied unless Wilson goes to jail, but at the same time to decide that he doesn’t even have to go to trial despite eye witnesses saying Brown was trying to turn himself in is absurd. It’s insult on top of injury. If he is truly innocent then he would be acquitted in trial but the sense of injustice surrounding the entire grand jury process is the reason why people are so angry.
REKS – the “eye witnesses” have already backtracked on their stories & all forensic evidence
backs up the cop
50-100 with a brain
I’m not convinced he is guilty, that’s what a trial is supposed to decide. I also don’t think we’ve heard the truth out of him. The idea that he feared his life yet pursued Brown suggests that he chased him knowing that the only way he could stop him was by killing him. This isn’t the Wild West. A suspected unarmed robbery suspect is not wanted dead or alive. Wilson should have let him go and waited for back up if he did not feel he was a physical match for someone that was unarmed but not willing to cooperate. Wilson is not Judge Dredd. He is not supposed to be judge, jury, and executioner when he clearly has the option to not pursue someone he cannot possibly arrest. I posted because I have insight most people don’t have, I live in the corporate St Louis County environment that most of the Grand Jury members also live in. They were not quarantined so they heard the same opinions that I did ever since this happened. This was not an unbiased process and there could not possibly be an unbiased process or trial held in St Louis. The local protestors knew this all along but they are still outraged and I don’t really blame them, outside of the idiots that are looting.
He’s a cop, cops aren’t supposed to pursue and try to arrest people?
dont walk in the middle of the road – still alive
when asked by an officer to walk on the sidewalk, comply – still alive
dont’ be disrespectful to said officer – still alive
dont assault said officer – still alive
Yeah, I agree with kenny that nobody really “luv themselves” or they people when black buisnesses were burned downed and looted. What a weak single, with no impact.
Jaywalking= Ticket & Fine
Evading Arrest= Jail time
Petty Theft= Jail time
Assaulting a police officer= Jail time
These are not offenses punishable by death. You are correct, it is their job to arrest people, and if they cannot do so alone they should wait for assistance unless the suspect is clearly armed and an imminent threat to public safety. Mike Brown had no problem with anyone in the area besides the person he tried to run away from.
^^^^ dont forget the problem ur lil angel had when he robbed and pushed the store clerk around ^^^^^^
@ rh & random commenter,nobody’s hating on you for your opinion but you should understand this incident and the subsequent media coverage & protests are really not just about Mike Brown but a much bigger picture called INJUSTICE. Yes Blacks get killed by other Blacks everyday or Blacks have murdered Whites and these tragedies are hardly mentioned in the news. However it makes a difference when the killing is done by a police officer,the same official who has sworn to serve and protect you. Doesn’t matter if the killer cop is White or Black. Yes the media and activists & a myriad of others have made this Mike Brown case a racial one because of 2 things,Wilson is a White cop & Brown was Black.The 2nd reason being the overwhelming history of discrimination and power abuse exhibited by law enforcement for decades and you can’t deny or erase BAD HISTORY…and tell people not to bother. About the forensics & evidence in this Mike Brown case,there are a lot of discrepancies and you would know this by now if you’ve been following this case closely like I have. U saying Big Mike was 6’5″ 250 pounds and punched Wilson is obviously you just buying ONE SIDE of the story: Darren Wilson’s and he has a million reasons to cover his own ass. There are actually 3 sides to EVERY STORY and in this case,one side’s dead and the TRUTH’s side is yet to be uncovered if ever. You and I weren’t witnesses and there was no video. I respect the police and how they put their lives on the line everyday but remember also that cops are NOT ANGELS neither.Once again,this is about INJUSTICE and BAD HISTORY with law enforcement. You would sing a different tune if that had been your brother or son callously shot(could’ve tased Mike) by a so-called official that’s trained to handle intense situations. Lastly,also keep in mind,Wilson was not a little cop himself.
forensic evidence backs up the cops story, the whole incident could have been avoided by walking
on the fucking sidewalk, there are plenty of cases of BAD HISTORY & I know cops are NOT ANGELS, this is not a case there should be riots and protests about though
Macklemore wants black people to like him so badly
why? they don’t buy records
looking at the weekly sales figures neither do whites, but let’s test your bigoted theory…..since it’s only whites that buy music we can safely say whites are the reason why Young Thug, Iggy, all the trash rappers and music are selling, right?
you can leave now.
Young Tug’s selling units? Yes, the white audience is buying Iggy albums. Yes, white audience
buys Macklemore albums. What’s bigoted?
Maybe they should all head over there so they can steal from the cell phone store and liquor store also. listen to the police chief of milwaukee. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7MAO7McNKE
my co-worker’s half-sister makes $70 an hour on the laptop . She has been without work for 7 months but last month her income was $18080 just working on the laptop for a few hours.
navigate to this web-site >>>>>. http://korta.nu/nu2
http://newsone.com/3074124/black-boycott-black-friday/
Stop giving out free turkeys and start spreading real knowledge that will allow people to help themselves. Boycott Black Friday!!!
@ uae Forensics don’t back Wilson up,you are obviously buying into the bullshit too. Another thing…you are going by the forensic evidence presented by the Ferguson police dept. not by an independent Forensic pathologist. Of course they are gonna cover their own. And how many people have we not seen and heard about that got sent to prison for crimes they didn’t commit based on foul or inconclusive forensic evidence? Only to get let go several years later…and all the prosecutors and law enforcement say about it is “oops,our bad.”
“and how many people have we not seen and heard about that got sent to prison for crimes they didn’t commit based on foul or inconclusive forensic evidence” – not many, most are in there for a reason, and in this instance, I’m not the one buying into bullshit
There are a lot of racist and white supremacist that post on this site.
a lot of racist colored folk too
Read a book- Thanks for your perspective. To me, there are just too much testimonial and evidence in this case going against what Mike Brown’s team is saying. If I’m the media, Al Sharpton, or the other people who are waiting to find a clear cut case of injustice, this case is not the one I pick as a hill to die on. The media uproar and rioting is hurting black/white relations. If they want a better case- what about the unarmed, mentally challenged guy in Milwaukee that was shot? I think there are some questions to be answered there. The cop had no injuries, unlike, in the Brown case, where the cop clearly got punched a couple times.
The media, Al Sharpton, and these other “race baiters” aren’t helping their cause. What is needed is more African American cops in these communities, leaders encouraging education, strong families, and a culture change in which aspiring to be anything other than a rapper or a drug dealer is “selling out”. People should take all this energy and use it in their own communities to try to make them safer.