Lil Wayne attempted to give an apology to Emmett Till’s family regarding his disparaging lyrics about the Civil Rights icon. However, Till’s family will not accept his apology and could still seek to get PepsiCo to drop Lil Wayne as a spokesperson.
“While it’s commendable that he has vowed to respect the legacy of Emmett Till and his memory to ‘not use or reference Emmett Till or the Till family in his music,’ this statement falls short of an apology, as none is mentioned,” said Airickca Gordon-Taylor, Till family representative.
On Future’s song “Karate Chop” Lil Wayne rapped, “Beat the p—y up like it’s Emmett Till.”
Fueled by Reebok’s decision to drop Rick Ross over his “rape lyrics” on the song “U.O.E.N.O.,” Till’s family will go after PepsiCo (the home of Mountain Dew) with the hopes of a similar outcome.
Read Lil Wayne’s statement to the Till family below:
Dear Till Family:
As a recording artist, I have always been interested in word play. My lyrics often reference people, places and events in my music, as well as the music that I create for or alongside other artists.
It has come to my attention that lyrics from my contribution to a fellow artist’s song has deeply offended your family. As a father myself, I cannot imagine the pain that your family has had to endure. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge your hurt, as well as the letter you sent to me via your attorneys.
Moving forward, I will not use or reference Emmett Till or the Till family in my music, especially in an inappropriate manner. I fully support Epic Record’s decision to take down the unauthorized version of the song and to not include the reference in the version that went to retail. I will not be performing the lyrics that contain that reference live and have removed them from my catalogue.
I have tremendous respect for those who paved the way for the liberty and opportunities that African-Americans currently enjoy. As a business owner who employs several African-American employees and gives philanthropically to organizations that help youth to pursue their dreams my ultimate intention is to uplift rather than degrade our community.
Best,
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.
Lil Wayne
Share your thoughts. Do you think Lil Wayne’s apology was sufficient, or should the Till family continue to protest PepsiCo. so that they will drop him as an endorser?
