Following on from Nas’ open letter and Killer Mike’s recent, stirring blog post regarding the senseless murder of Derrion Albert, the always outspoken David Banner steps up to address Albert’s death in song. Banner uses the tragedy as a launching pad to rap about many modern problems—violence, racism, sexism and abuse—and in turn, at least somewhat, responds to the criticism that hip hop is not taking a large enough roll in confronting the issues that led to Albert’s death. To Mike’s point though, last year over 30 students were murdered in Chicago alone and this was not an anomaly, either geographically or statistically. It is not something new to many who have grown up in area’s like the south side of Chicago. So that Derrion’s death and the boys responsible for it were caught on tape, that he was an honor student and they were not, that he did not deserve to die and they now apparently do, are all things that have motivated these three artists to speak is powerful. Whether it motivates anyone else remains to be seen.
Download: David Banner & 9th Wonder ft. Lisa Ivey, “Something Is Wrong”
I’m down with the first two verses of this song, and DB addressing issues affecting and harming our community. Plus, David Banner’s flow over Lisa Ivey’s singing is the perfect groove to draw you into the message. But the third verse? It’s one thing to address terrible child abuse, but to be homophobic at the same time? The lines, “If it’s man on man how the hell we reproduce”? and “women play men but why do men play women”? seem to only reveal DB’s lack of understanding about the LGBT community. WACK.
Yeah, I took it as Banner exposing his wrong-headedness on purpose. Maybe I’m wrong but that seems to the purpose of making the third verse a dialogue between Banner and a fictional character who tells him what’s what, though it does sound like in the end he’s saying that the character’s sexual orientation was forced by abuse. I don’t know, either way I think it’s at least an honest approach to a topic that is hardly ever treated with anything but ignorance otherwise.
PEOPLE BETTER REALLY WAKE UP AND LISTEN TO GOD’S VOICE. THE PROBLEM IN THE WORLD IS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE STUCK IN THIS “MATRIX” ON EARTH. THEY LIVE SO WORLDLY , CARING ONLY FOR THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH. PEOPLE ALWAYS THINK IT’S ABOUT THEM. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON OR WHAT LIFE REALLY IS OR THEIR PURPOSE. WHERE WILL YOU GO WHEN YOU DIE? IF YOU DON’T KNOW, YOUR IN TROUBLE. GET YOUR SPIRIT IN ORDER.
Why are you guys above me (Peter Macia and KB) focusing on the gay issue, Damn!!! Listen the the damn song! Make those comments somewhere else. The point is, black kids are dying, and people need to take action! If you are not black, you won’t understand!
BLACK KIDS ARE KILLING BLACK KIDS, THAT’S THE ISSUE!!!
KILLING EACH OTHER BY THE GUN!
GIVING EACH OTHER AIDS!
@Peter Macia: Agreed that the track is very honest and speaks candidly about subjects otherwise ignored. I, however still feel like he’s promoting an ignorant way of thinking about sexuality.
@MB: I agree we need to take action on issues of Black youth killing each other. Nas’ open letter is one example of how hip hop artists can do that constructively. This song’s last verse does it incorrectly in my opinion, but the other verses are on point. I think it’s interesting though that you think that the “gay issue” and issues in the Black community have no overlap – i know for a fact that they most definitely do. And I’m Black – all day, everyday.
@MB Hopefully you can see by the post I wrote for the song that I’m not just focusing on the third verse, but the third verse does exist and should be given as much scrutiny as the rest.
Yall are not seeing the real picture! DB is adressing this man and asking him why (not bashing him). To find out that wasn’t the man’s choice but his stepdad left him with no other choice! This song touched my soul!
I agree this song actually touched my heart and soul as well. I feel you DB! Keep doing what you do to bring it all to the light.