So, it looks like my record isn’t even released yet but I am already offending people! Check it out…
E-mail sent to bUK FiDy on Facebook sent by Anonymous:
Hey Kris,
I did check out your alter ego. I have some reservations about white rappers parodying black rappers due to the work I do as a member of the African People’s Solidarity Committee under the African People’s Socialist Party. My belief is that systems of white domination create the materialistic music of African American rappers and corrupts the intent and origins of hip hop; there are serious and revolutionary artists who speak to this (Dead Prez, Immortal Technique. etc.). You can see from my facebook page some of the work I do. uhuru sandiego
I do not want to offend you; I just want you to understand where I am coming from and that some of this would not be well-received by students of color, which is the primary population of EOP students.
I hope this doesn’t mean our collaboration will end; I just would like to do it in a way that doesn’t demean African people.
I am sure we can find a project to collaborate on, even hip hop, done correctly. Let me know what you think and I hope again, that I haven’t offended you.
Here is my reply:
So, basically what you are saying is, because I am white and I am making music that is African American influenced or derived that I am automatically “parodying black rappers”? I also perform and compose Jazz music, another genre which is heavily influenced by African Americans. Would you also consider my work as a jazz musician a “parody” based on my race?
I do agree that systems of white domination create the materialistic music of SOME black rappers but European derived domination and oppression has manifested itself as a materialistic means of control in more ways than just rap music. Pop and mainstream music in general is blatantly riddled with symbols of misogyny, homophobia, materialism and racism. Artists like Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears and Justin Biebier are only a few byproducts of this same system of white domination. In fact, as an artist in mainstream music, your primary importance is your ability to sell. An artist’s “success” in pop music is exclusively based on their record sales. I am sure you could have seen an example of this last week on the Grammy’s.
As for “hip hop done correctly” I am actually a very big fan of both Dead Prez and Immortal Technique. In fact, my rhyme style and delivery is directly influenced by Tech. Though he may speak of many problems in society his message about wealth and prosperity is very blunt. Does it, as you put it, “corrupt the intent and the origins of hip hop” when Immortal Technique says things like “I don’t care how I get richer, like American companies doing business with Hitler” or “I am the music and the money and you ain’t got neither”? I would not say that Immortal Technique is materialistic but the content of his lyrics DO deal with wealth as do mine. As Immortal Technique points out, poverty is not directly associated with minority people. So, why is any positive assumption or assertion of wealth automatically seen as “materialistic” just because it is said in the context of rap music? While I do promote making money, nothing directly alludes to any sort of materialism or racism in my tracks. In fact, I would even venture to say that Immortal Technique’s lyrics are far more raw and explicit especially in terms of misogyny and materialism.
Frankly, I live rap music. I am not a parody or a joke. This isn’t Saturday Night Live, it’s real life. As another one of my underground influences, Brother Ali, says “I was taught life and manhood by black men. So I’m a product of that understanding and a small part of me feels like I am them. Does that make me a liar? Maybe…” Regardless of race, I was raised as a product of urban and hip hop culture. While I may not be as revolutionary in my approach as most in the underground, does hip hop have to directly be revolutionary to be considered “real” or is this just a double standard you have created for white rappers?
I feel as if you read my song titles and saw my press picture and quickly wrote me off without even giving my lyrics a chance. I am a very modest artist, especially when it comes to rap but I know that I have rhyme flow ability and that NOTHING that I said was out of parody or disrespect for African Americans rappers. In fact, my producer, dj and good friend who works with me in this project is actually black. Would you also consider him a sell out or parody of Africans? I stand by all my raps and I am confident that anyone who listens to hip hop music would agree that, regardless of my race or the hooks that I sing, my tracks are solid and ” done correctly”. Are my tracks provocative, over the top and even slapstick at times? Yes but it wouldn’t be rap, to me, if it wasn’t. I understand your view point and if bUK FiDy isn’t what you are looking for, so be it. You have not offended me but I wanted to make these points clear. Take care.
-bUK aka Kris
Dear, anyone who wants to bring up my raps and compare me to Immortal Technique. Listen to what HES ACTUALLY SAYING and stop trying to front on me, you “fucking little sensitive herb.”
“Now they trying to tell me what to rhyme about over the beat, bitch niggas that never spent a day in the street… This is America, I thought we had freedom of speech and now you want to control the way that I speak.”
-Immortal Technique
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e55ml9MKjvQ
