Another rapper is canceled for stretching the boundaries of creativity.
After Joyner Lucas dropped his new single “Dreams Unfold” featuring Lil TJay, a whole controversy around what’s inappropriate for kids started to spew up.
The ramblings became so loud that YouTube eventually took the video down, even though the it keeps popping up on other channels.
One of the reasons people pressed pause on the visual was because it incorporated adult themes into popular children’s programs. An example was taking Blues Clues and flipping it to Booze Clues.
Another example was taking the popular anti-narcotic slogan, “Say No to Drugs” and flipping it to “Say Yes to Drugs.” The video also showed a jolly ole’ St. Nick and his elf getting drunk and puppets watching strippers dance on a pole.
But Lucas’ video was not removed only because of the content, but because it seemed to be marketed to children.
It violates YouTube’s Child Safety policy. The policy is clear that content with “misleading family content” and includes “sexual themes, violence, and obscenity or other mature themes not suitable for young audiences” will not be accepted.
It further states in its directions for content creators the following:
“Family-friendly cartoons that target young minors and contain adult or age-inappropriate themes such as violence, sex, death, drugs, and more. Make sure your titles, descriptions, and tags match the audience
you’re targeting. In addition, ensure your audience selection accurately represents the audience your content is suitable for. You can also age restrict your content upon upload if it’s intended for mature audiences.”
The Massachusetts-born rapper took to social media in a since-deleted post, to tell fans that he has been censored.
“Been on calls going back and forth for the last 24 hours. Smh I’m all set. You got that. ‘My escape’ dropping 9/3..”
In the image, he was more direct and said, “Smh wow. They tryna sensor me now. Smh It’s all good tho I’m not going back and forth Nomore about it… I got more videos in the can anyways. ‘My escape ‘dropping 9/3 .. … …”
Wondering if the next single will be a little tamer.
Drake has landed four nominations for this year’s Urban Music Awards.
The 34-year-old rapper is up for the Most Creative Artist 2021 award at the UMAs, which celebrates its 18th anniversary next month on September 20 in London, but he will face strong competition from Kanye West, Vade, Jason Derulo, Soulja Boy, T-Pain, Shae Universe, and ENNY.
Drake will also take on Soulja Boy and several others – including Megan Thee Stallion and Doja Cat – in the Artist of the Year (USA) category, and he has a nod for Best Collaboration after “Seeing Green,” which he worked on with Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne, was nominated.
Doja and SZA’s “Kiss Me More” is also up for the accolade, as is Beyonce, Shatta Wale, and Major Lazer’s tune “Already,” which also has a nod in the Best Single category.
Drake has his eye on that prize, too, after his song “Wants and Needs” received a nomination, alongside the likes of former Love Island star Wes Nelson’s “See Nobody,” which also features Hardy Caprio.
As well as her two battles with Drake and others, Beyonce is up for the Best Female Act gong against the likes of Dua Lipa, Lianne La Havas, and Koffee.
Dua Lipa will also be hoping to taste success in the Artist of the Year (U.K.) category, where she faces competition from acts such as Jorja Smith, Aitch, and Ed Sheeran.
What’s more, AJ Tracey has nods in both the Best Male Act and Best Album categories, and he is up against Dave and Headie One for both prizes.
Launched 18 years ago, the Urban Music Awards now has annual versions in North America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Public voting is now live via the official UMA website.
The Weeknd doesn’t know “what winding down means” and prefers staycations to exotic holidays.
The chart-topping star loves being creative and admits that he struggles to stay away from his work for too long.
Asked if he’s ever able to wind down and rest, he told The Hollywood Reporter: “I don’t even know what winding down really means, I just love work, you know. I love to work. I love my job. I love to create. And if I do take a vacation, it can’t be for too long because I feel like I’m missing out on everything that I could be doing.
“So, yeah. I try my best, but no, I haven’t in a while. I do staycations if that counts.”
The singer – whose real name is Abel Tesfaye – is currently in the process of finishing his new album, The Dawn Is Coming.
However, at the moment, he’s not yet got a release date for the record.
“I’m finishing the new album right now. It should be done by the end of this month and we’re just kind of figuring out when to put it out,” he said.
The Weeknd has been forced to put some of his plans on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
And the singer admits he’s just been “living in the moment” amid the ongoing crisis.
“We’re just kind of like everyone else,” he explained. “We’re curious to see how the year unfolds, and it’s kind of a question mark. I’m kind of just living in the moment right now.”
“There’s just something about going on tour, and even going on festival runs, and just experiencing new music with the crowd,” he grinned. “Hopefully we get to do that.”
Spending the course of the last couple of years working on his crafting and perfecting his sound Dubwork is a rising artist out of New Jersey looking to make his mark on the music industry. He delivers cool, bounce-with-it types of beats with melodic flowing lyrics. He has the ability to create over any beat and is ready to take his talents to the big leagues. He recently released a new project titled “Up by 20” and it is straight heat.
“Up by 20” is Dubwork’s latest project and it showcases his pure talent and ability to create beautiful songs. He pours his emotions into every track and pulls at the heartstrings of his listeners as he glides over the beats laying down a lyrical masterpiece. It has become clear to see that Dubwork has been taking his craft seriously and it is only a matter of time before he gets his big opportunity.
Look for Dubwork’s name to start popping up more as his album continues to gain traction. He is destined to be one of the best in the game if he continues to go down the path that he has set for himself. Be sure to stay tuned in to Dubwork so you don’t miss any future updates on this rising star.
The city of angels, Los Angeles, is home to the up-and-coming artist who goes by the name hunnaRIP. The creative’s ability to showcase such raw emotion and energy throughout each track is unlike any in the game today. hunnaRIP has been seriously pursuing music since he was 17 years old and has learned how to make a song from start to finish. Mastering writing lyrics, making beats, recording, and even engineering and producing. Not many can say they make an entire song without any help.
hunnaRIP is a name that comes from his great-grandma who he was really close to and passed around the same time he started music. His career can be a tribute to her, and the artist will stop at nothing to reach his goals. Next up for hunnaRIP is the release of two tracks, “Love Drunk!” and “We Belong.” hunnaRIP hinted that “they’re both laid back chill songs with my signature high energy vocals applied to it and mentioned, “both speak on what love is about.”
The two tracks each picture two different scenarios with a significant other. “Love Drunk!” is about having a good time and intimacy with the liquor of the highest quality and “We Belong” is about a woman wanting to love me, but she still has a foot in the streets. Both tracks are sure to offer something different for each listener and will be some of hunnaRIP’s best songs to date.
Be sure to follow hunnaRIP over on Instagram to follow his musical journey to the top. Also, be sure to give a listen to hunnaRIP’s new tracks “Love Drunk!” and “We Belong” when they come out!
Lil Trunk is a phenomenal rap artist who is bringing a new breath to the music industry. This young champion originates from New Jersey. Success with this influential figure is sacrifice. Lil believes that success comes from hard work. According to him, nothing comes on a silver plate. However, one has to work relentlessly to achieve success.
Lil uses his personal experience to describe success. When he entered the music industry, success was in the back of his mind. This young artist started from a small beginning. But guess what! He is slowly impacting his life and the public in general. Incredibly, he can look back and feel blessed for who he is and what he has achieved so far.
Superstar Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z had no idea that she was wearing a blood diamond in the launch campaign to promote their new collaboration with the luxury brand Tiffany and Co.
Sources are saying that she was “disappointed and angry,” about the brand not disclosing that information before they signed their deal.
Sources did not say, the deal was off.
Last week, The Carters were featured in a historic ad promotion featuring the two Hip-Hop stars in front of a “Tiffany Blue” Basquiat and with Bey wearing a 128.54-carat yellow diamond as a dripping accent to her beautiful gown and updo.
The media was buzzing as it was proudly proclaimed that she would be the fourth woman (and first African American) to ever wear this diamond in history.
However, quickly, the cut, clarity, and color of the exquisite gem lost its allure, as it was identified as a blood diamond.
A blood diamond is identified by the United Nations (UN) as any diamond that is mined in areas controlled by forces opposed to the legitimate, internationally recognized government of a country and that is sold to fund military action against that government.
It can also be associated with African diamonds unearthed in a mine by Black people on the continent who had been forced to work in the most horrendous conditions … often losing their limbs or life.
This particular diamond was 287.42 carats when discovered and unearthed in 1877, a colonial mine in Kimberley, South Africa.
According to the Daily Mail, Beyoncé did not know that the yellow diamond had such iniquitous history.
However, other people aren’t buying it.
“Stay Shinning Like The SuperStar ,You Are”
Beyonce 'disappointed and angry' after wearing $30M 'blood diamond' Stay Shinning Like The SuperStar ⭐️💎👑,You Are 🏆 https://t.co/EmNE1K4ZGW
“Imagine the ignorance of these AA! For years Naomi Campbell was dragged for blood Diamond but Beyoncé was unaware of this?? She uses Africa but doesn’t educate herself about how we are affected by the West. Rihanna and Nicki remain the only celebrities that are about black ppl!
Imagine the ignorance of these AA! For years Naomi Campbell was dragged for blood Diamond but Beyoncé was unaware of this?? She uses Africa but doesn’t educate herself about how we are affected by the West. Rihanna and Nicki remain the only celebrities that are about black ppl!
“@Beyonce <_ twitter.com=”twitter.com” beyonce=”beyonce”> Well what an advocate for black power a woman wearing a blood diamond how righteous just a cash cow who masquerades in her fame.”
@Beyonce Well what an advocate for black power a woman wearing a blood diamond how righteous just a cash cow who masquerades in her fame.
But Beyoncé’s mom Tina Knowles came to her defense.
Saying, “How many of your socially conscious activist own diamonds? I thought so! Well guess what did you go to try to check to see where the diamond came from? Probably not! So when you guys get engaged you won’t have a diamond you gonna put on a sterling silver band And you better check out where it came from and the origin of where came from and why you add it check out the calls for the Leather that you weird because they made it came from another country to to ban and not buy diamonds right because your righteous!!
Well there you have it from, Ms. Lawson.
The report does not say that she and her husband will be getting out of their deal with Tiffany and Co.
Drake has shared with his fans that the date for the highly anticipated Certified Lover Boy album.
He did it in a very clever way.
Champagne Papi “hacked” in to a SportsCenter newscast, to share that on September 3rd, the project will be on a streaming platform in all of his fans’ phones.
Fans suspect that this might be the day that Kanye West will drop.
It seems that Drake has been playing cat and mouse with Ye, taunting him about being scared to drop his Donda project close to him because of his track record of dominating the charts whenever he drops.
Kanye didn’t seem to like that.
As reported by AllHipHop.com, Kanye started dropping private text messages taking aim at Drake and hinting to their longstanding beef.
Certified Lover Boy was initially supposed to be released in 2020. It was delayed after Drake damaged his ACL. The first single, “Laugh Now Cry Later” featuring Lil Durk in last summer.
RR is here to put on for his hometown of Brooklyn, arriving on the scene with straight bars and storytelling in his lyrics. Doing everything completely independent, the rising rapper is here to inspire the masses to go after their dreams, simultaneously doing whatever it takes to get to the bag.
Now, Rome returns with his newest EP titled Rose Gold Pre Pack, a short teaser for the release of his forthcoming album titled Rose Gold. Clocking in at 4 tracks, the body of work is described as a “a healthy appetizer for streets!” This is the type of music you play in the midst of summertime in NYC, a place where hip-hop was born.
RRose RRome states, “4 tracks, 7 Minutes. You won’t regret a second if you’re into hip-hop in its rawest element, and that’s on God n em’! THIS THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS, AND N*GGAS NEED TO STUDY. I’m giving my supporters (as well as myself ) their Roses now!”
In addition to his forthcoming album arriving in the fall, fans can expect new Rose Gold merch and his own clothing line in the near future.
Rrose adds, “I literally had people thank me for the music that they’ve been streaming, saying it motivates them to get up and get a bag. To not feel indifferent for talking their s###. I do it for those moments, that’s my inspiration.”
On his standout single “Paranoid,” the rising star opens the track spitting “The f### is you talking ‘bout? While you run your mouth, I’ma steady keep stacking up. I’m high as the clouds now, we ain’t sparing nothing n*gga knuck if you buck.”
Hailing from Panama City, Benji Kush got his name from a female, with Kush also reminding folks of his love for cannabis. The Benji portion stems from Benji Wilson, the basketball player from Chicago who was shot and killed at 17-years-old. Greatness comes in all shapes, forms, and sizes, and Benji is here to take his throne.
When it comes to his music and personal life, Benji refuses to be put in a box. With the ability to switch from singing to rapping to everything in between, Benji prides himself in his sound being everywhere and everything. At the end of the day, he hopes to inspire the masses: if he can make it out the trenches and turn his life around, then so can you.
AllHipHop: What was the household like growing up in Florida?
Benji Kush: Family s###. Everybody knows everybody in the trenches. Just horrible really, but s### we made it out of it. Everything’s good now.
AllHipHop: Elaborate a little more on where you grew up.
Benji Kush: Panama Country. Other side the city, one side the hood. Nggas is snakes, nggas is fools. All types of s### out there, but it’s good people out there too. Good honest people, hard-working people.
AllHipHop: What do your parents think of the music?
Benji Kush: Oh they love it. They feel like any song I drop goes hard.
AllHipHop: Biggest influences growing up?
Benji Kush: Trick Daddy, Wayne. Who else? I’ma keep it 100. Jeezy, Gucci, and Ross, that’s it. No Florida rappers.
AllHipHop: Really? People from Florida swear by Florida rappers.
Benji Kush: They hard, but I be different. I try to be different. I can’t be put in a box. You can’t let a n*gga stop you. You can’t let s### stop your boundaries, you gotta keep going. You have no boundaries.
AllHipHop: At what point did you realize you could do music for a living?
Benji Kush: To be real, a couple months ago. When I started seeing people comment on my s###, telling me “Keep going, I listen to your s### everyday!” Damn, this s### real now.
AllHipHop: Do you remember making your first song?
Benji Kush: Yeah, my first song was at the crib on a laptop. F###### off forreal, I produced that b#### and engineered it myself.
AllHipHop: You taught yourself how to produce and all that?
Benji Kush: Mmhmm, it took time. I did the s### off YouTube. It took a minute but we got right.
AllHipHop: What were you on when you recorded “Paranoid”?
Benji Kush: “Paranoid” was recorded in my hometown, with Woodrow engineering in Panama shout out to Woodrow. I stay in Panama City Beach.
AllHipHop: What were you paranoid about?
Benji Kush: S###, life s###. Family s###, ties, just a lot of s###. Music takes my mind off other s###.
AllHipHop: Best memory from the “Paranoid” video shoot?
Benji Kush: Right before it, I almost died off some weed. A n*gga gave me some bad weed bro. That s### happened right before the video shoot. I remember that s###, that s### crazy. I don’t take s### from nobody now.
AllHipHop: What do you want fans to get from your video?
Benji Kush: I want them to take it seriously. I want them to see that you can do anything you want in this b####, just put your mind to it and keep going. Don’t let nobody stop you.
AllHipHop: Can you touch on the Young Lyric collabs?
Benji Kush: Young Lyric, she’s a GOAT. She did 2, 3, 4, 5 songs with a n*gga and s###, her fanbase merged over to me. She got a lil base out here, she got a lil base everywhere.
AllHipHop: How’s the independent grind?
Benji Kush: S###, I’m not going to say hard. That s###’s fun. I’m meeting a lot of people. I’m here with you!
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio?
Benji Kush: Ooh, 100% fed (fed is a nickname for weed, also a acronym F.or E.very D.ollar). I need my alone time in that b####, everybody gotta get out. That’s it, just two. Fed and everybody out my face. Give me some time.
AllHipHop: What can we expect from your new single, “Interstate”?
Benji Kush: Vibes, some s### you never seen before. Some s### that you’re gonna feel, you gon’ bop to. It’s a banger.
AllHipHop: What can we expect from the video?
Benji Kush: Energy. Good ass uptempo energy. Scenery, we shot that b#### in Atlanta.
AllHipHop: What would you be doing if you weren’t doing music?
Benji Kush: I’d still be finessing nggas. I don’t know where I’d be if it wasn’t for music. I’d literally still be finessing their ass, going down on them. Don’t do that shirl. [laughs] I would be finessing nggas, but I’m staying focused with it.
AllHipHop: Why should people f### with you?
Benji Kush: Because man, they’re gonna have to. It’s some s###. Once you see it and catch the vibe, when it’s real love, you gonna f### with it. They’re gon’ see.
AllHipHop: What’s the vibe?
Benji Kush: The vibe is genuine. Love. Respect. Positivity. Teamwork. Uplifting your ass.
AllHipHop: Where do you see yourself going as an artist?
AllHipHop: How was it opening for the likes of Lil Durk and Boosie?
Benji Kush: Man, I ain’t even gonna cap. Right before Boosie came on, I guess some ngga tried to take his chain or do something. Boosie wasn’t f###### with it so they got on his ass. [snaps] Thinking they finna shoot that b#### up, s### Boosie went right back on stage and turnt that b#### up. That ngga be T’d. But Durk, that s### was hard too. That s### had me lit.
AllHipHop: Where did you open for them?
Benji Kush: We were in Atlanta. I forgot the club name, but I remember it was in Atlanta.
AllHipHop: Were you nervous at all?
Benji Kush: Yeah, but that’s everybody though. That’s everybody. Right before, we went back to the car. Somebody broke in the car and took the blick, all that. That was a crazy night.
AllHipHop: What can we expect next from you?
Benji Kush: Next year, I’m performing at Rolling Loud. I want everybody to know that. I tell everybody that. In Miami, somewhere down South.
AllHipHop: What about music-wise?
Benji Kush: I got a song dropping with Young Lyric coming. In about a week or two, we’re gonna drop it.
AllHipHop: What about your drip, do you like fashion?
Benji Kush: Hell yeah, I have a clothing line coming. ThetaSportClothing,. My brother put that s### together, that’s gonna be hard. The special thing about it is that it’s all my type of way. I have control over all that s###. I have control of everything. Most people don’t get control over s### like that, I have full control over it.
AllHipHop: Who would you like to work with in the future?
Benji Kush: Youngboy 100%, that’s real. DaBaby. Soulja. I’d work with Polo G, I f### with Polo.
AllHipHop: Were you working anywhere before the music?
Benji Kush: Hell nah, I was trapping and finessing. I stopped for the music. I don’t do nothing, I’m not on no gangsta s###.
AllHipHop: What else should we know?
Benji Kush: I’m on the grind, I’m not stopping man. Yall gonna see a lot more of me. We out this b####. Follow me on IG too @BenjiKushh.
While criminal charges for disorderly conduct related to the hoax report allegations were dropped, six new felony counts were filed in February 2020, after special prosecutor Dan Webb was appointed to re-investigate the case.
In his investigation, Webb found that Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx and those working with her created false statements at the time the charges were dropped, which didn’t hinge on new evidence and “surprised” or “shocked” lawyers who worked in the state’s attorney’s office.
It also alleged that Foxx’s office “breached its obligations of honesty and transparency” by making false and/or misleading statements to the public regarding Foxx’s recusal from the case, and the extent of Foxx’s communications with Smollett’s sister, actress Jurnee.
Jussie Smollett’s legal team had hoped to call Foxx as a witness in their case, but a judge ruled on Thursday that they would not be allowed to do so. Cook County Judge James Linn also ruled that the lawyers cannot refer to the other lawsuits linked to the actor’s case.
However, they will be allowed to tell jurors about the AR-15 rifle and other guns that were discovered in the house of two brothers who prosecutors alleged Smollett hired to carry out the attack on him.
Who remembers the movie, “ATL”? That was my favorites movie for the longest time!
Remember this?
Not too long ago it was made public that an ATL sequel was being made. However, T.I., Chris Robinson, and others have not exactly gotten it done – yet. According to press reports, it has been in “development hell.” The original movie dropped in the year 2006 and made over 20 million at the box office on a budget of $7 million. As you already know, those margins make a lot of sense for a sequel. Also, it made history by garnering numerous awards. It has been 15 years since the original hit theaters, and now there seems to be a sequel. This website or Twitter site seems to have a trailer, but is it real?
Well, what did we do? We went straight to the source and hit up T.I.’s representative, who knew nothing about this. In fact, there is no other outlet reporting anything about this trailer. A lot of sites have begun to permeate with their own reports as if this is a real trailer, but I do not think it is. I believe it is a full-fledged fake.
So you can take this to the bank and thank the Internet for getting everyone gussied up for the ATL to reboot, or remake, or resuscitation! But I don’t think this is what is reality. I am sure Tip will be commenting soon.
Mariah Carey is batting liquor company bosses over the brand name “Black Irish” after launching her line of cream liqueur.
Back in 2019, Mariah applied to trademark the name for use on alcoholic beverages, spirits, and liqueurs, according to Food & Wine magazine.
Earlier this week, Mariah announced her new beverage on Instagram, posting a photo of herself on a beach with a bottle of the liqueur, and captioning it: “Two years in the making. Truly a cause for celebration!!!”
However, the name Black Irish is already in use by chiefs at Darker Still Spirits Co Ltd, who sell the product in Ireland.
The Irish drink makers took over the trademark from a different company in 2015 and launched their product, an Irish whiskey blended with stout, chocolate malt, and roasted barley, in 2020.
According to The Currency, company officials already have plans to launch their Black Irish whiskey in Europe and still hold the trademark for the name in the European Union (EU).
Now the bosses claim Mariah’s legal team is trying to prevent them from using the trademark – with the Daily Mail reporting a representative for the singer tried to buy the trademark in the EU but failed to secure a deal.
Carey’s drink is also produced in Ireland, a nod to her mother’s Irish heritage.
Lawyers for the Glitter star allege the trademark has “not been put to genuine use within a continuous period of five years,” arguing it should now be revoked.
“Following a successful acquisition of the brand name that was filed with the relevant IPO office in 2015 we launched the original Black Irish Whiskey brand in June 2020,” Darker Still Spirits Co. director David Phelan said in a statement.
“Myself and my partners in Darker Still are collective veterans of the Irish drinks industry, and it is unprecedented that we are defending our position against a U.S. company, within an Irish industry that we have helped support for over 30 years.”
Phelan also called for Mariah’s agents to “stop claiming trademark rights to other products owned by our directors, presumed as a tactic to undermine our wider businesses.”
Hurry up and press play on this new Meek Mill joint featuring Lil Baby and Lil Durk! The guys are iced out beyond belief for this new Meek Mill track “Sharing Locations” and they got tons of cash. From the private jet to the designer gear these guys are flossing like few rappers ever get the chance to do.
Rihanna has teased her third Savage X Fenty fashion show in a sexy new clip shared to social media on Thursday.
Her latest fashion special, which will air exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on September 24, will showcase the “Umbrella” singer’s latest lingerie collection.
The billionaire mogul served as the executive producer and creative director of the show.
“Oh you think you ready?!” she wrote on her social media channels, along with a 30-second video of herself strutting in a skimpy blue sequined halter dress and a barely-there thong.
The new Savage x Fenty collection, with fully inclusive sizing, will be available for purchase online through Amazon’s Fashion store and on the Savage X Fenty site the day the show airs.
Helluva, the producer responsible for soundtracking Detroit’s rap renaissance as well as hits for Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Yachty, and Kodak Black, is stepping out with a new single, “No Membership.” The trunk-rattling song features two of the Motor City’s brightest voices, Veeze and GMO Stax
A native of Southwest Detroit, Helluva has produced the city’s breakout stars, including Tee Grizzley, 42 Dugg, Sada Baby, and Peezy. Five years ago, he supplied a relatively unknown Grizzley with “First Day Out.” Complete with a Meek Mill-assisted remix, the song marched to quadruple platinum and brought attention back to The D.
Shady Records announced the signing of Atlanta rapper GRIP just last month and now we get the full album called I Died For This!?. Spearheaded by the song “Walkthrough!” ft Eminem, we get a full understanding of why Eminem signed this enigmatic rapper. With a sound not typically expected from the Atlanta scene GRIP boasts features from Em, Royce da 5’9″ and a host of rising acts like Tate228, AHYES, WARA and Wiley to name a few.
It’s a family affair with Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar as the two cousins team up for one of the first major releases from Kendrick’s new pgLang label. Under exclusive license to Columbia Records Baby Keem and Kendrick jump from beat to beat delivering pure flames. It’s been a long time since we got an official Kendrick track and the wait was well worth it! Press play on the video below:
DDG releases the music video for his song “If I Go Broke.” Shot by @DirectorCarrington and produced by: @ProdTMajor, this visual features some amazing visual effects from the jump showing that not only is DDG here to croon the ladies but he’s here to entertain !
*Don’t let your talent to take you where your character can’t keep you.” *
This saying shared by thought leaders like Kenneth Hartman, John Wooden, or even motivational speaker Eric Thomas can be easily applied to the young Texan track star, Sha’Carri Richardson, that has captured the hearts of the world.
Thrust into the national limelight, the 21-year-old has had to navigate her brand, her manners, and also the loss of a parent, while suffering two very embarrassing public moments.
The first incident was when she tested positive for smoking weed and was not allowed to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
After the verdict came down she went on television and held her head — explaining how devasted she was to learn that her mother had died by a reporter at one of her meets.
People empathized with her story, her misfortune, and what seemed to be a young person who made a mistake and is now trying to atone for that.
The second moment was the devasting loss in the Prefontaine Classic. Not only did she lose the race, but she also came in dead last in 9th place.
Her first interviews seemed to show good sportsmanship (except for one) and she appropriately promised her country that she will come back better than ever.
People were cheering for her.
In fact, people were scolded for saying anything that wasn’t tenderhearted about her performance, critiquing her social media and interviews that suggested that maybe her head was not in the game.
Now …
That was before she liked a derogatory tweet that belittled the winners of the race that she lost. The tweet used disgustingly bigoted stereotypes to characterize her colleagues and her “liking” of it suggested that she may need someone to check her.
The tweet said, “Not y’all Jamaicans still talking s### when y’all gotta walk barefoot to your coconut stand everyday for a living.”
Not y’all Jamaicans still talking s### when y’all gotta walk barefoot to your coconut stand everyday for a living 😩
This came a few days after she liked a tweet that said that one of the winning Jamaican sprinters, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce looked like New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne.
Sha'Carri Richardson liked this tweet saying Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce looked like Lil Wayne… Now this is misogynoir. I expect everybody who has been making excuses for Sha'Carri in the name of "protecting Black women" to come to Shelly-Ann's defense. pic.twitter.com/sWj0zZvQEH
Those winners showed how to throw shade in a way that didn’t feed into racist and nationalist troupes.
From the teams account, someone tweeted nine female runners in emoji form. Each emoji was representing their native countries (with the flags listed above them). The emojis were listed in the order of their performance at the Prefontaine Classic, with the top three representing Jamaica.
The last one was the American.
It was captioned, “#ThrowbackThursday,” wrote Team Jamaica, adding a sly emoji. “Too soon?” they added.
Maybe not … maybe Ms. Richardson needs this wake-up call. We know her not because she is clever and cute (which she is both). We know her because she runs fast.
We want to know more … but what she is sharing with us is not going to endear us or make us proud.
