“Freedom of speech?”
One wonders if these artists have ever checked the parameters of freedom of speech. If they recognize that audiences have as much freedom of speech as artists do.
Freedom of speech, in the United States and many countries around the world, have always come with limitations. In the U.S., those limitations include speech that might intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly inflict severe emotional distress or speech that is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action.
It could be argued that advocating date rape could fall into either of those categories.
But this Rick Ross/Reebok episode isn’t about legality, really. Ross hasn’t been arrested or banned by the government. He hasn’t been ex-communicated or fined. He’s merely lost a lucrative endorsement deal because the corporation that endorsed him was afraid it may lose a significant chunk of its consumer base.
The people enacted their freedom of speech—and they said “enough is enough.”
Hip-hop is, like any artform, a tool of expression. Rappers, like singers or painters or instrumentalists or screenwriters, can create how they see fit. That is their right. But they also have to understand and accept the fact that the audience has the right to voice criticism and if enough people voice criticism they have the right to decide what they won’t tolerate.
You can make the music that you want to make and say “controversy-be-damned” if you so choose. But if you find yourself going from rapping for a packed arena of thousands to performing at a 200-seat dance hall, don’t act surprised.
Just know that the people have spoken.
