When Is Enough Enough?

Questions around moral compasses in the arts is a pervasive part of the artistic community. Think of some of your favorite artists and creators who have committed or allegedly committed terribly immoral acts that you give a pass to: R. Kelly, Woody Allen, Dr. Dre, Max B, Nelly, just to name a small hand full. We so easily compartmentalize the actions of the artists that we like and affect us on a deeper emotional level, often forgetting that their actions affect the lives of real people.

 

Recently, I have had an attack of conscious while bumping a few artists who’s music I think has real value on some high level. Kodak Black and XXXTENTACION are prime examples of artists who have allegedly committed violence against women bad enough for me to consider deleting them from my music libraries. The issue isn’t that I believe that they are innocent in any way, but it’s that weird timing where I heard their music and committed myself as a fan before I knew what they had done. This is risky and guilty territory to find yourself traversing. Is it possible to listen to these artists without supporting their careers?

 

XXX has been easy for me to let go. His pattern of abuse against an ex-girlfriend is hideous no matter how hard ‘Look At Me’ and some of his earliest experiments were. Kodak Black has been harder to let go of. When recently he dropped ‘Snot Thot’ I was suprised at the openness of its message. Throughout his fledgling musical career, he has given crucial insights to growing up black in an extremely impoverished southern state. On a socioeconomic level, these insights cannot be discredited. But again: fuck how I feel, because there was a woman who was hurt and has suffered in her real life because of actions he’s done, and I have to keep reminding myself this no matter how much I want to compartmentalize and ignore the man behind the music.

 

This is all part of bigger issues of misogyny in Hip Hop. Rapping about pimping has been around from the beginning, for example. Who is to blame? Do we blame Empire Distribution or Atlantic Records for putting millions of dollars into the respective careers of XXXTENTACION and Kodak Black, because they knew it would make them money dispute the real hurt of real people? Do we blame ourselves as listeners for giving artists the power and attention they might not deserve? Is there even any value in assigning blame after acts of violence against women have been committed?

 

I think that as a culture we need to start holding artists accountable for their actions. Record labels should cancel deals upon the confirmation of violent crimes committed against women. Other rap artists should have the courage to end working relationships with peers who allegedly rape and beat women. We as listeners should consider not listening to these artists. I feel less guilty listening to a rappers like Tay-K who has been implicated in murder and armed robbery charges, but is in police custody and probably will be locked up for a long time. It’s almost funny in an ironic way that now Tay-K is watching himself become richer as he sits behind bars, forcing himself to ruminate on his actions (hopefully).

 

The separation of an artist from their actions will always be difficult for many listeners to confront. It is hard work and it may feel like you’d be depriving yourself of something you enjoy, but until we hold artists accountable for their actions, especially their actions against women, people will continue to get hurt, and we’ll keep projecting that we don’t give a fuck about their hurt, because this track goes so hard.

 

 

Credit: Marcus Scott Williams