Days after she shook up Hip Hop with the release of “Song 33,” Noname is pulling back from the song, blaming her ego for continuing the melee.
On Sunday (June 21), the Chicago poet and activist took to Twitter to explain that although the song resonates with many people, it’s ultimately a distraction in regards to the bigger fight towards unity as well as taking down systems of oppression.
“i’ve been thinking a lot about it and i am not proud of myself for responding with song 33,” Noname wrote. “I tried to use it as a moment to draw attention back to the issues i care about but i didn’t have to respond. my ego got the best of me. i apologize for any further distraction this caused.”
She added in a follow-up tweet, “madlib killed the beat and i see there’s a lot of people that resonate with the words so I’m leaving it up but I’ll be donating my portion of the songs earnings to various mutual aid funds. black radical unity.”
Her tweets come on the heels of J. Cole’s “Snow On Tha Bluff” single released on Tuesday (June 16) and the backlash the song received in regards to timing, its policing of tone and the assumption that the woman in question on the song has been groomed in an environment to make her more aware of structural racism and how to deal with it.
Cole responded to the backlash on Wednesday (June 17), asking fans to follow Noname but not without a few Hip Hop peers checking him over “Snow On Tha Bluff.” Chance The Rapper considered it an “L” for Cole, saying that the song “undermines all the work Noname has done.” Others such as Chika condemned Cole saying, “if a man was saying half the shit our good sis was saying, nobody would be concerned with her tone. imagine telling someone to treat the ignorant like children while critiquing their tone… like a child?”
J. Cole, Noname & 'Snow On Tha Bluff' Controversy: Everything You Need To Know
Ultimately, Noname’s response echoes sentiments that Bun B shared on Instagram on Friday (June 19).
“I don’t want us to divert our attentions from what’s at the core of our cultural conversation right now,” the UGK rapper wrote. “If we have issues with someone or need clarity on something, let’s try to have that conversation behind closed doors. We don’t need our people feeling like they need to choose sides right now. Because we are all in this together.”
Petty …just petty. These people ain’t role models. How about these clowns get off social media and actually do something positive in the community. All they seem to do is bitch and catch feelings. Each one teach one as they say.
Isn’t that what you’re doing?
Nope. Black people are being used to cause chaos before an major election. That’s what this is about. You all get pandered to every four years. Thought you would see that BY NOW.
This all started ironically because Cole wasnt active enough on social media for certain people’s liking. Black folks gotta stop expecting black celebrities to do the work we need to do for ourselves
I started out skeptical of her but now I like noname. At least she is woman enough to apologize. I feel ya. Keep ya head up, and keep writing. We all make mistakes, and I’ve made several. But few of us can own those mistakes. Check me out, let’s collab. Not for money or views, but for the love of the art of MCing. Peace.
Yeah. How about teaching the black community how to avoid prison, not be criminals and provide for the kids they made. Statistically that’s the issue. Social media and protests doesn’t change facts and human nature. Cops suck, so don’t let them cuff you, punch a couple of them, grab a taser and run off, then turn and point the taser at the cops. What on that situation would leave anyone to believe or say the cops WOULDN’T shoot you? SMH
Someone, please report this commenter for making a rational argument using facts and statistics.
Or just be in your own home and wait on the the coward ass police to gun you down
Chi37, or you can have your loser criminal “boyfriend” put your life in danger by garnering a no-knock warrant and get shot for being an idiot and dating garbage. We all have choices in life to make, be careful who you hang around with.
The warrant wasn’t for her boyfriend, but someone who didnt live there and was already incarcerated. Knowledge is key why get some and why are u here culture vulture
You mean when they have a warrant and your man shoots at them? Not quite waiting, but… I see you. Hypocrite coward.
so she issued and apology that will take up headline space and further become a distraction…
how humble…
Woke advertising is wack as fuck B. f.o.h.
Well that was a typical fake woke apology. How’s about you apologise for the whole situation seeing as you called out someone that was talking about black issues well before this nonsense and was actually at a protest when you dropped your ignorant little strawman song? Pretending to be humble just comes off as even more arrogant. I mean you actually think a weak little diss track is going to derail an entire movement? Are you high? If that was possible then it’s a piss weak movement.
Credit to her for checking herself, funny the track produced by madlib a dope producer but mad quiet on every Black political issue
I dunno, this whole expectation of public statements is corny. We see people out there in the streets and yet here we are hiding behind our computers. That’s even cornier to me. Make a statement or don’t. But how bout if YOU/WE aren’t doing anything, lets keep our mouth shut about what other people aren’t doing.
Credit to her for checking herself, funny the track produced by madlib a dope producer but mad silent on every black political issue…
She’s a hypocrite then
Always over emotional and thinking before acting. One of our issues
Who’s “our”? You talking about women or black people or both ?
FCK TWITTER
Social media makes a big what-to-do about NUTHIN! So glad I’m not on social media. J. Cole is still dat dude and noname is an artist people are growing to love more. Let’s try not to be divided at this time and help each other.
Nah, fuck that unity shit. LET’S FIGHT !!!!!
i’ll be honest….never heard of noname until this fiasco came about.
J Cole should leave this alone. You don’t back and forth with women. That’s why men play in the NBA and women play in the WNBA.