What do you guys think about this? http://cdnow.com/allstararticle/fid=277845 Jennifer Lopez is taking a lot of heat for her use of the word "*****" in her latest single, "I'm Real," featuring rapper Ja Rule. Civil rights activist Najee Ali, director of Project Islamic Hope, has called for Epic Records to pull the single from shelves based on the utterance. "Epic should pull the record, in the same manner as they pulled Michael Jackson's recordings when he was accused of anti-Semitic lyrics that offended the Jews," said Ali in a statement. "The N-word should not be used by any artist no matter what ethnic group you are a member of. But to have a non-black artist as popular as Jennifer Lopez is internationally, can only inflame racial intolerance, bigotry, and hatred." In addition to Ali, New York radio hosts Star and Buc Wild of WQHT-FM are planning a protest during Lopez's scheduled performance on NBC's The Today Show on Friday (July 13). The song is currently No. 26 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. (Kevin Raub) ------------------ "I guess that's YOUR theory"
I don't understand this at all. I don't condone the use of the word, and it should not be thrown around like its nothing. However, rappers do it all the time. Why doesn't Najee Ali and her group get upset at that? ------------------ New Order, Get Ready
Since, I'm a so called "Halfrican", I can understand what Ali is doing. From my family backround and understanding, no other race can call African-Americans the "N word" except African-Americans themselves. It's almost like taking something bad and making it good. When two blacks see eachother on the street, saying " What's up N***a ? " is a friendly way of saying hello. But it is completely different if another race says that to someone who is black. However, Ali is being ridiculous when saying that the single should be taken off store shelves. It seems like a violation of free speech. That word is angelic compared to the lyrics on Eminems LP. That's just how I feel, but I'll probably get stomped on lol. Although I am half black, I have never used the "n word". Cod ------------------ The Number One Cuttino Mobley Fan! Don't hate..Congratulate!
I saw J-Lo on the Today Show this morning. She is a hottie...minus the face ------------------ New Order, Get Ready
My thoughts exactly. ------------------ When you make an assumption, you make an ass out of Uma Thurman.
I think he has a point. Making that reference as a Hispanic woman is similar to Michael Jackson using anti-semitic references and I can understand his lack of comfort with it. Mostly, I think that stuff should be left out altogether, but using references to racial slurs outside of your own race is questionable. What I'd like to know is in what context the word appeared. That would, IMO, have a lot of bering on what reaction, if any, people should have. ------------------ How the hell should I know why God would allow the Holocaust. I don't even know how the electric can opener works. - from Hannah and Her Sisters
I haven't listened to the song, but I heard it was a reference to Sean P. Diddy Combs. ------------------ New Order, Get Ready
Hell, why is she making movies? OK, let me correct myself... Why is she making non-pornographic movies??? ------------------ "Blues is a Healer" --John Lee Hooker
BUT WHAT?!?!? What difference does it make!? What a complete ignorant, racist and hipocritical thing to say. Either its offensive or it isn't, no matter what freakin' color you are! Anyhow, J-Lo has got a little black in her ------------------ This space left intentionally blank...
You misunderstand me rmTex. I don't think 'J lHo' is good for anything, films, music, etc. She's riding her booty to the bank... but her booty certainly didn't help U-Turn, or any of those other booty movies she starred in. Her booty's music sucks. Her entire mystique is whether or not the camera will stay focused on her booty for longer than half a second. I've seen her booty. Her booty is no JFK. Or something like that. Don't get me even started on her life in the booty underworld.
The problem I have is that nobody "outside of the culture" knows or understands this. The average person thinks "they say it, so it's okay for me to". What about kids? Do you think a young kid who hasn't formed an opinion on race is going to understand this? All that's going to happen is he's going to hear people saying the word, and think it's acceptable (and possibly get his butt kicked for it). Try explaining this to a child..I imagine it's not easy. Using the word 'affectionately' is counter-productive, IMO. ------------------ "I guess that's YOUR theory"
Noone will ever agree on anything anywhere. This is just another one of those disagreements. Got to write an article on it because there is nothing better to write an article on. This is hardly anything to get your britches all bent out shape over b****es. I would rather read another article written every 10 minutes which gives us a one sentence update on the shark attack victim in Florida while rehashing everything from the previous articles. Is it really such a big deal that a woman who hangs with and dates black men uses this word in one of her songs? No...it isn't....not even close. What are you gonna do...tell her she can't say that? Take away her freedom of speech by pulling her record. Fat chance in hell of that happening. FAT F#*KING CHANCE! ------------------ If the Rockets lose, then we all lose.
That doesn't make this any less ignorant. I play ball all the time and trust me, black players do get offended when they hear it from other black players, it is all a matter of the context in which it was used. Now I have not heard the song, but if J-Lo uses it in a negative context, then by all means, complain. Bear in mind though, she is obviously not a racist, and this may be a term she is comfortable using in her ethnic circles.There are plenty of rap artists who are black who use the term in very insulting ways (check out the Shyne disc). [This message has been edited by stringthing (edited July 13, 2001).]
Yo Kagy, i spent many years living in a predominently black neighborhood and got called *****/****** alot, even though I'm not black, but i didn't care. Yeah, a lot has to do with context, but also personal private relationships are dealt with totally different from making public remarks. If people were more reasonable, then this like surfguy says, should never be an issue, but it's touchy, so whatever. Jeff, as to mike jackson's song. He says "Jew me" in it, but damn have you heard the song? It's a very powerful song with a good message. I like it a lot, and have no idea why some one would be offended by it IF THEY TOOK THE TIME TO LISTEN TO THE SONG. It's titled "They don't really care about us".
It's kind of like the old "I can talk bad about my own mother, but if you talk sh*t about my mom, I'm gonna kick your ass." ------------------ "Oh No..." -Bill Walton in 97 just before Stockton's buzzer beater
If you can't understand why anyone would be offended by the song, you obviously are not Jewish. ------------------ "Blues is a Healer" --John Lee Hooker
Her music offends me. But that's just because it sucks. ------------------ It was the time of the preacher, in the year of '01 Now the preachin' is over, and the lessons begun . . .
This is just another pathetic attempt of a loser trying to get some pub. I'm willing to wager my life that Najee Ali has no problems with black artists or comedians ragging on other races, but the minute another race uses the word "*****" or makes any reference to the black race that could be percieved as negative, that hypocritcal punk is on the phone calling the closest media outlet. ------------------ Anger is a weed. Hate is a tree.
I enjoy hearing everybodys opinion about this issue. When it comes down to it though, nobody is wrong or right. The way you refer or talk to someone of another race, greatly depends on your family, how you might have been brought up, and where you have lived. But all in all, this was a great topic to discuss. Thanks TheFreak! Cod ------------------ The Number One Cuttino Mobley Fan! Don't hate..Congratulate!
