Sunday, February 25, 2007

Common Hypocrisy

A discerning reader notes that Common’s own repertoire appears to contradict his denunciation of the lacrosse players. The video for “Testify” is available at Common’s official site. The song is about a woman who accuses her husband of committing a crime that she actually committed—charges that fool the media, the prosecutor, and ultimately the jury.

The final stanza goes as follows:

The court awaited as the foreman got the verdict from the bailiff
Emotional outbursts tears and smeared makeup
He stated, he was guilty on all charges
She's shaking like she took it the hardest
A spin artist, she brought her face up laughing
That’s when the prosecutor realized what happened
All that speaking her mind, testifying, and crying
When this bitch did the crime—the queenpin...

The double standards evident in the lacrosse case never cease to amaze.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Interesting.

A lot of his "music" is misogynistic "suck me, ho" sort of music. I doubt he would have thought the accuser was such a "black Princess" in any other situation. Then she just would have been another ghetto b*tch to him.

But this authentic black voice won't be denounced by the 88 for his misogyny, because it's all about race for them.

Anonymous said...

There was a time in this country when character had meaning and value. Now many celebrate lies. I think we should revert to pistols at 20 paces in the morning dews and damps.

For those who consider this a bit extreme, how about roaming Wash Your Mouth Out With Harsh Soap, Paddle You Soundly And Send You To Bed Without Supper squads for offending "adults"?

craigcw said...

I would say his stage name pretty much spells it out for the world to see. He is, after all, pretty common. Certainly nothing more...

Anonymous said...

Thanks KC

I see common enemies draw crowds even in the rap business.

Anonymous said...

It does appear that races matters more than mysogyny, to the "feminists" on campus. Or anyone else, for that matter. That's a shame.

Anonymous said...

JLS says....

Musicians are for the most part just reflecting what they hear on the top of the hour five minute news on music stations. And Dixie Chicks aside who apparently did not know they were a country music act, pretty much reflect what the least informed part of the public think/know but tend to agree with their fan base.

I would not be surprised if this concert came off that Common would come out in a Duke lacrosse jersey. That is the way the winds have blown and it would be good PR to a guy who mainly sells to rich middle class teens.

Anonymous said...

This is no different conceptually than the party line of any racist organization. It is pure, unmitigated racial bigotry and hypocrisy.

Anonymous said...

I agree that much of rap is misogynistic, in general Common is one of the less misogynistic rappers out there is fact some of his songs (e.g. the light) specifically state he won't use such language about women.

All that being said, I find it inexcusable that Duke would invite him to sing on campus. Soon (if not already) pot bangers/88 types will say those that find it troubling that a person who called students rapist on multiple occassions is not fit to be paid to perform, arguing free speech etc.

Don't you think they would find a way out of a contract or even consider a rap or rock group had been saying H. Baker is a rapist or something to that effect about current faculty/students?

MTU'76 said...

The Chronicle Poll (can be viewed there)

What do you think of Common's freestyle rap at Emory?

I am annoyed and will not attend the show 7%

Duke should cancel Common's performance 24%

I am slightly perturbed, but will still go to the concert 11%

The comment against Duke lacrosse players was harmless 58%

* * * * * *

Never trust anyone under 30.

Len D'Amico said...

Here's Common's Wikipedia entry:

"Following the release of Be in 2005, several mixed-race artists from the UK hip-hop scene took exception to Common's controversial comments about interracial relationships. The situation started out with an article from UK's Touch magazine, in which he stated "When you see dreadlocked dudes with white girls that’s like they going against what the dreadlock’s purpose was."[8] Seeing a personal insult in the remarks, Yungun, Doc Brown and Rising Son recorded a track over an instrumental version of "The Corner" named "Dear Common (The Corner Dub)". Common states that he has heard of the track but never actually taken the time to listen to it, and has not retaliated in song.[9] Common was accused of making bigoted statements during a concert at Emory University in 2006, when he rapped about his certainty that "damn niggers from Duke lacrosse" had raped a "black princess," a reference to an African American stripper with a long criminal record who had accused three white Duke lacrosse players of rape. The case appeared to be a hoax and the rape charges against the lacrosse players were later dropped. Common did not issue an apology."

Anonymous said...

I've never heard of this guy 'Common'.

Is he one of these 'ThugNiggaIntellectual' types?

kcjohnson9 said...

The Chron poll is of little value--their polls are the only bad thing from their website.

Since people can vote as many times as they want, they regularly are flooded by pro-Nifong trolls.

Anonymous said...

JLS says....

Musicians are for the most part just reflecting what they hear on the top of the hour five minute news on music stations. And Dixie Chicks aside who apparently did not know they were a country music act, pretty much reflect what the least informed part of the public think/know but tend to agree with their fan base.

JLS sounds to me like one of those individuals that accuses the other side of being ignorant when they don't see the way JLS does. I take offense at the use of the term liberal as an insult. I am liberal and I am a democrat. I am also an individual trained to look at facts. Common sense is not just for the conservatave republican PC amoung us. JLS should learn to stick to the facts and not comment on the veracity and education of others.

KC,

I'm sorry to jump off the subject on this as I believe firmly in what you are doing and enjoy your blog and the comments it draws out. Yet I feel the need to say once again that common sense is not just for the conservatave republican PC amoung us.Thank you in advance for letting me vent this.

Gregory Kamras

Anonymous said...

I hope KC is right...the alternative is that the Duke faculty has already done their damage. How pathetic..I would not let my worst enemy be exposed to this idiocy ... masquerading as education.

Trinity60

Anonymous said...

I've said this before, but it is pretty apparent that RACE usually trumps GENDER among these leftist radicals. I think the reason lies in the fact that there are fewer black people in the world than there are females. Thus, it is easier to "protect" blacks, which is more of a "minority" vs. females.

As evidence, we can cite:

1. Behavior of G88 and potbangers during the first Duke lacrosse case and the second rape of a Duke female student by a black male. (Clear hypocrisy in my opinion--the G88 have not said a word about the second case, primarily because it is a black on white alleged crime)

2. Actions of the black rap music group and the G88. It is OK for them to be misogynistic to females so long as there is no clear black vs. white element there.

Anonymous said...

KC
I agree completely with you about the Chronicle poll. For a few days, the poll numbers were completely different. The poll indicated that at least 60% thought the concert should be cancelled. On Friday, I noticed within hours the poll dropped dramatically in favor that Common's "remarks were harmless". The Chronicle needs to limit the vote to one/IP address.
In the last few months, each poll will drastically change over a very short time span. Obviously, someone is stuffing the ballot. If you believed the poll, the student body is fine with Nifong's handling of the case!

Anonymous said...

JLS says.....

re: gregk1

JLS sounds to me like one of those individuals that accuses the other side of being ignorant when they don't see the way JLS does.

How does one sound this way to you when one does not mention ones personal views at all in a post? Where exactly in my post do you JUMP to this conclusion?

I take offense at the use of the term liberal as an insult.

Good thing I did NOT use the term LIBERAL in my post isn't it or you might have set a worlds record in conclussion jumping?

I am liberal and I am a democrat. I am also an individual trained to look at facts.

I wonder if you see the irony of claiming to be outraged by a word use when said word was not in my posts and claiming a few sentences later to be "an individual trained to look at the facts."

Common sense is not just for the conservatave republican PC amoung us.

We certainly can not tell that from your post. BTW, what do you imagine "the conservative republican [I guess you mean Republican] PC amoung us means?"

JLS should learn to stick to the facts and not comment on the veracity and education of others.

You mean like being insulted as a liberal by the following post:

JLS says....

Musicians are for the most part just reflecting what they hear on the top of the hour five minute news on music stations. And Dixie Chicks aside who apparently did not know they were a country music act, pretty much reflect what the least informed part of the public think/know but tend to agree with their fan base.

I would not be surprised if this concert came off that Common would come out in a Duke lacrosse jersey. That is the way the winds have blown and it would be good PR to a guy who mainly sells to rich middle class teens.


What is not factual in this post?

1. Are you, gregk1, an upset musician mad that someone implicitly pointed out that musicians spend a lot of their time learning to play and practicing their instrument and maybe are not the fountain of knowledge when it comes to politics? This is not a universal truth, but I am pretty comfortable NOT taking my political information from people who spent much of their time perfecting their musical craft.

2. Are you claiming the Dixie Chicks were not a country group or that offering up their political opinions was a good business strategy as country music performers?

3. It is a conjecture that Common might if PR savy come out at his Duke concert in a Duke lacrosse jersey. So that is not fact based since it is a conjecture.

So I end at a loss as to what set you off.

BTW, Professor Johnson I think you made the right move moderating this site. I am also quite puzzled why you moderated this foolish unfounded attack on me onto your site?