The world of hip-hop had long been plagued by a problem: disrespectful interviewers who thought they could get away with asking whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted. But times were changing, and the rappers were taking a stand. They were no longer willing to sit idly by as they were belittled, disrespected, and asked inane questions.
One of the first to take a stand was Kendrick Lamar, the Compton-born rapper who had built a reputation for speaking truth to power. When he was asked about his lyrics on a recent interview, he was fed up with the interviewer’s condescending tone. “You’re not asking me questions, you’re telling me what you think I’m saying,” he said, his voice rising in anger. “I’m not here to be lectured, I’m here to share my music.”
The interviewer was taken aback, but it was too late. The damage was done. The clip went viral, and suddenly, rappers from all over the country were rallying behind Kendrick. They were tired of being disrespected, tired of being asked the same tired questions, and tired of being treated like they were less than human.
Next up was J. Cole, who had always been known for his sharp wit and quick tongue. When an interviewer asked him about his views on race, he was taken aback by the question’s tone. “You’re not asking me about my music, you’re asking me about my skin color,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. “I’m a rapper, not a representative of my race.”
The interviewer looked taken aback, but Cole didn’t care. He had made his point. The clip went viral once again, and suddenly, it seemed like every rapper in the game was standing up for themselves.
But perhaps the most dramatic showdown came when Drake took on an interviewer who had dared to ask him about his beefs with other rappers. “You’re not a journalist, you’re a gossip columnist,” he said, his voice low and deadly. “I’m not here to talk about other people’s drama. I’m here to talk about my music.”
The interviewer looked like he’d been slapped in the face. The clip went viral once again, and suddenly, it seemed like every rapper in the game was standing up for themselves.
The message was clear: disrespect would no longer be tolerated. Rappers would no longer be treated like second-class citizens. They would no longer be asked questions that were designed to belittle them.
As the days went by, the rappers continued to take a stand. They refused to give interviews that were designed to make them look bad or make them feel small. They refused to be disrespected or belittled.
And slowly but surely, the industry began to change. Interviewers began to approach rappers with respect and humility. They began to ask questions that were thoughtful and insightful.
And the rappers? They continued to make music that inspired and uplifted their fans. They continued to use their platforms to speak truth to power and to stand up for themselves.
It was a new era in hip-hop, one where rappers were no longer willing to be silenced or disrespected. It was an era where rappers stood up for themselves and refused to be treated like anything less than human beings.
