Alicia Keys covers the May/June issue of Blender magazine (on sale Tuesday) and some of her quotes are already causing some controversy online. Many people are labeling her a “conspiracy theorist” for her views on “gangsta rap.” Peep the article snippet:
‘Gangsta rap’ was a ploy to convince black people to kill each other. ‘Gangsta rap’ didn’t exist.”
Keys, 27, said she’s read several Black Panther autobiographies and wears a gold AK-47 pendant around her neck “to symbolize strength, power and killing ‘em dead,” according to an interview in the magazine’s May issue, on newsstands Tuesday.
Another of her theories: The bicoastal feud between slain rappers Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. was fueled “by the government and the media, to stop another great black leader from existing.”
Keys’ AK-47 jewelry came as a surprise to her mother, who is quoted as telling Blender: “She wears what? That doesn’t sound like Alicia.” Keys’ publicist, Theola Borden, said Keys was on vacation and unavailable for comment.
Though she’s known for her romantic tunes, she told Blender that she wants to write more political songs. If black leaders such as the late Black Panther Huey Newton “had the outlets our musicians have today, it’d be global. I have to figure out a way to do it myself,” she said. [SOURCE]
See full sized photos at blender.com..
I have to say that I love Alicia and I think that she’s a true talent and a
powerful inspiration for our community, but I am going to have to agree
with Blackluv and Genie. I do feel that “gangsta rap” has been
manipulated, molding, shaped, contorted, contrived and completely twisted
into something only reminiscent of what it orginally was, an artistic
expression/depiction of life in the raw. These rappers were speaking on their
reality, of course with plenty of liberty to captivate an audience and plenty of
bravado to garner respect. Then the mainstream media did what it does
best and sensationlized it, made it marketable… with just enough edge to
make it both scary and intriguing to the youth and just plain scary to their
parents (which made it even MORE intriguing to the youth) and rappers
either a) continued with their movement to be heard b) cashed in on a trend
or c) tried to balance a and b. But do i think the seed had already been
planted before mainstream/gov’t came to the hood to shine the spot light on
the next “great” threat, pile some sh*t on top to fertilize it and stood back
and watched it grow into a mess of weeds for our people to get entangled
in?…..well, you can probably guess I do. I don’t think it was a conspiracy…
it was exploitation at best. I do think Alicia is just searching for answers
and has become emboldened by her passion… but Blackluv is right…she’ll
realize “The Revolution will not be televised” .
I agree about reading the whole article before we really know what Alicia said. However, I also believe that blacks should take more responsibility in the future of our culture and how we raise our kids. The government might have “fueled the fire”, but we have a choice whether we continue to support music that is violent, materialistic, and degrading. I’m not claiming to be holier than thou, but I’m getting older now (26), so these are things I’m beginning to think about.
Tell Alicia to stop smokin’ that ish her voice would get better and it would stop her from making crazy statements. Crack and the guns flooding the urban street led to the violence in our communities. Gangsta rap wasn’t even populary in many of the place plagued by drugs especially in the Northeast.
Is she revolutionary enough to have her politics match her music? Probably not, she traded in her braids and eccentric clothes for a long weave and glamorous dresses. Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill she is not
Pac and Biggie? Great black leaders? Ummm, no.
So many other hard working, upstanding, black men out there? And those two could have been our leaders? No thanks. They wouldn’t be leading me anywhere.
I think Alicia just needs to keep making music and keep her opinions to herself. Or share that crack she’s so obviously smoking.
What is Alicia Keys talking about?
If it’s the truth, then, its the truth. Let Alicia say what she wants. She waited until the right time to start this, anyhow. She built her brand up first, let people know she was here to stay, and then started spewing her political thoughts. A lot of people on here are talking about the backlash. That’s how the media and government, etc, keep us in check. Most of us are too scared to speak to the truth. Even in a eloquent manner, because we FEAR backlash. That is how significant issues spiral out of control, until there seems there is no hope. Ameriaca is gonna get it, because everyone around here is to SCARED to stand up, until they are literally forced to fight. By then too much damage is done.
LOL @ #43 for the “when keeping it real goes wrong”! That’s what’s up!
Look, I can see where Alicia is coming from when it comes to Gangsta Rap music, but at the same time how are you gonna lift Biggie and Tupac up? Like Chris Rock said in a stand-up show, “Biggie and Tupac weren’t assassinated; them niggaz got shot!” They were two of the greatest MC’s, but not everything they spoke about in their rhymes were uplifting to the Black community. They did their fair share of calling women out there names, killing and drug-dealing. Gangsta Rap served a purpose when it first came out because some of it was talking about the injustices going on in the ghettos of L.A. and police brutalities. Not just about gang life.
So I expect some interviewers to ask her about Gangsta Rap during an interview just to see if they can get more out of her.
@ 63, Lauryn Hill and Erykah both rock STRAIGHT WIGS from time to time, they’ve rocked glamorous clothes, matter of fact Erykah wears prada in the issue of ESSENCE where she graces the cover. Jill Scott straightens her hair too. Alicia’s hair doesn’t define who she is and doesn’t make her any less black/for the cause. James Brown straightened his hair, he was a proud black man.
She sounds brainwashed
@68 no one is saying straight hair and designer clothes make one less black, her whole style went from edgy to mainstream musically and style wise. Lauyn, Erykah and Jill rock designer duds while still maintaining their own unique style, she on the other hand look like a clone of every other female artist out there now
#70, Alicia can’t help if she’s light skinned or she dress more womanly, if she dressed the same as she did years ago y’all would still be calling her gay…Make up your mind
It’s interesting that she has said something like this. Especially as a young black woman that this society i.e. white America, has chosen to embrace. It’s interesting that she still has the clarity to think these type of thoughts and the nerve to evoke them with what she has to lose. It will be interesting to see if the white man gives this story legs or if he chooses to let it slide because she can still be used. Add onto that, the absolute fact that the majority of average black people that have not attained anywhere near as much as she has in this society are complete idiots and believe that we’re steps away from unity with their gods, white people. There’s evidence for her claims, especially the fact that Eazy E was invited to the White House and spoke to Ronald Reagan. Many of these so-called “gangsta” rappers are federal agents sent out to make this dumb-ass music and put spirits on the people. All these music labels have witches on their payroll that come and bless the master tracks on these records with different spells to insure that the music will enrapture the people. Music has always been used as a means to control the people and it is no different today. As a matter of fact it’s at it’s worst. I don’t understand why what she says is deemed conspiracy theory. Why can it not just be her opinion based off of the research that she has done? I disagree about her belief in Tupac or Biggie, especially Biggie, being any potential leaders. I think that she’s going into idolatry with that, but once again, it’s her opinion. Honestly, it’s refreshing to hear a black person with a real independent thought. Hopefully it’s sincere.
To Post #9…she was talking about TUPAC not Biggie…
Black follks need to get over this blame shit, and come up with some solutions. Raymond Washington started the Crips (Tookie came later), Eazy-E started gangser rap with NWA. We are 37% of the prison population. Black women are getting AIDS faster than any other segment of society. Here in L.A., black gangs members are shooting each other (and others) like this is the wild wild west, and it’s happening nationwide.
Quit the blame game and come up with solutions. Heart disease, high blood pressure, alcohol, drugs, you name it, we are on the verge of becoming extinct. We’ve got enough anger already (have you seen the way many blacks folks walk around with scowls on their faces). Acknowledge negative issues, but don’t let them dominate you, cause if you do, you lose, and we are losing.
She is deep, she looks like Alliyah “rip”
this just makes me love Alicia even more. my baby readin’ them Black Panther books! : )
Daaaamn I never would have thought, Alicia. I totally agree about the whole “gangsta rap” thing. I’ve always respected her as a person just because of the way she carries herself as an artist let alone a woman; but for having an ORIGINAL opinion on something besides shoes and clothes makes me respect her much more. Kudos Alicia!
Why is my comment awaiting moderation? That’s what it says on my screen.
Wow I really didnt expect that from her. Oh yeah and that cover is totally wack.
I love Alicia and I see her point in certain areas. She is beautiful and she has a mind of her own unlike a lot of these media drones with the depth of a grape and the IQ to match.
Know your history look up Fred Hampton and Mark Clark… Go Alicia.
She is entitled to her own free speech and the way she wants to express herself… I respect her…. GO ALICIA!!!!!!!!!
love miss Alicia.
This is very surprising coming from someone of her stature. I’d expect this from Badu or Lauren, not Alicia. I wonder how it’s going to affect her next record sales? While I don’t agree with all she said, I do admire her courage. Watch Bill O’Reilly demand her sponsorships be ceased! He will be on it shortly…
I see people talking about gangsta rap was manupulated and is looked upon as something it is not. My question is why was gangsta rap created? What made gangsta rap have its own genre outside of just being rap? I’m just waiting to see the difference really.
Ms. Keys has always been socially conscience if you would go back and listen to some of her acceptance speeches at the award shows and take notice of her involvement with some of the the social ills in Africa.
I too agree, that it is refreshing to see a young talented, and successful artist with some depth that is not afraid to speak her mind. Go Alicia!!!
Lmao @ Militant Mulattoes
It always amazes me how it escapes whites that chose to procreate with blacks that their children will not be shielded from the historical travesty and current injustices that may well trigger a disdain for that part of them.
This is why I personally find idealistic/chipper/sheltered/novelty-seeking white females highly annoying.
That said, I agree with: “The bicoastal feud between slain rappers Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. was fueled “by the government and the media…”
That’s what im talkin bout, responsibility comes with all the attention and fame.. most individuals forget that.. think about it.. who has the mic 99% of the time, not your preacher, not your politician, the artists do.. its time somebody “else” stood up and said something about the way we are manipulated [f*cked] as a people by the media AND we pay for it! Gimme More Please mentality..
To Alicia,be strong my sistah, you have reached the point of your fame where you can do whats in your heart to do.. and EVERYBODY will listen, make it happen!
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i dont want to be mean but it is kind of true; behind the belief; look around the world; i met alot of different types of black; black europeans, afro-latinos, black africans; and black- asian descents; by far african americans are the worst; something is very wrong; its a conspiracy; it is a fact; you wont never see the black africans behave like this; and they came from worse conditions than the americans; the whole rap industry before was about the people; its so obvious its part of the government propaganda; if you actually believe what the rappers say; its just a fantasy; its made-up; i blame this totally on the leaders of this community; i mean the al sharpton; jesse jackson, kanye west, jay-z, nas, all these so call “rappers”; The whole BET industry; its so much stereotype; and very sad to see the community here in chaos; they will never be equality because equality doesnt exist; dont rely on OBAMA TO CHANGE; change for yourselfs; or you will never achieve true equality; love for yourselves; racism is made up by the government to control masses to fight within society so you will be distracted and realize the true ememies; the leaders of each nation;