Letter to Common About the N WordI have been a Common fan since Can I Borrow A Dollar. I have picked up every album and waited in lines at record signings. I have talked to him a couple times and always stated how much I have respected him as an artist and as a positive movement. I have argued down countless hip-hop heads on why Common is the greatest MC ever. Yes above Rakim, Biggy, Jay-Z and Pac.
I truly believe Common is the complete package. He is lyrically unmatchable, has a flow he can switch up and his delivery has always been flawless. Then on top of that he actually makes albums that are masterpieces. There are some nice MC's but they can't go into a studio and knock it out of the park every single time like Common does.
And if that wasn't enough his live stage show is bananas. It’s hard to be up on a stage and hold the crowd’s attention with out 4 hype man and some booty shakers. I have seen him at least 5 times and each time was incredible.
I say all this to say I respect and appreciate all that Common has done for my life and the hip-hop community at large. But I just can't cosign somebody so creative to continue using the N word. Its 2008 and for somebody who looks like they are growing every cd he has stubbornly continued to disrespect his ancestors and those that knocked down doors for him. Those that allowed him to be able to rap " I got my sag card baby I am an actor” Common why are you arrogant enough to think you should be able to decide when and how we use a word that are ancestors died over. People who made it possible for you to be in movies on stage selling cds. That’s not our decision. Every time I hear us use disrespect and degrade each other with the N word a flash of Emmett Till goes through my mind.
Common you have always had the lyrical ability to outshine every one of your colleagues. So you are telling me someone so intelligent and verbally gifted can't find another word to rhyme with besides the N word. Here goes a list- brother, dude, Black man, Black guy, homeboy, cat... These would all work and are not washed in the blood of those who came before us. Because I will not forgot the price they paid and the disrespect we are doing to their sacrifices in order to have something to say in a song.
I am just waiting for someone with your talent and ability to say "you know what I am going to be different and stand up against the self hate we are shoveling out to each other." Can that please be you, Common? You only have to gain by that not lose. I listen to Black Maybe where you talk about how we do each other. Well maybe you will stand up against that and start teaching self-love and not self-hate.
2008 is our turning point. We have a Black man running for president. And we got a race war happening in LA where Black people are being killed for being Black by Hispanics. We are moving ahead and staying behind at the same time. Common I have stuck with you even when some songs stung my ears with that word. But I have a son now and I can't do it. I LOVE the new cd but will have to fast forward through songs that use that word. In the memory of the 4 Little Memphis Black girls I will not let my son practice the self-disrespect that word teaches.
You want to know what is different about White folks besides caring about "dogs and yoga" like you said, they don't walk around spooning each other self hate.
So Common I offer you this challenge. Can you make the next cd one of self and community love and pride? Do you have the lyrical ability to make a cd without the N word? Come on I dare you. For your daughter and my sons sake.
Its time to wash our hands.
Peace and love.
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