In light of outrage in Ferguson and New York City over the failure to indict white police officers for the killings of unarmed black men, black rappers’ criticism of white artists has taken on new light. In one instance, J. Cole called out Eminem, Iggy Azealia and Justin Timberlake on a leaked version of his upcoming album "2014 Forest Hills Drive."
His bars include missives like:
"History repeats itself and that’s just how it goes / same way that these rappers always bite each other’s flows/ same thing that my n***a Elvis did with rock ‘n’ roll / Justin Timberlake, Eminem, and then Macklemore."
and
"While silly n****s argue over who gon’ snatch the crown, / look around my n***a, white people have snatched the sound. / This year I’ll probably go to the awards dappered down / Watch Iggy win a Grammy as I try to crack a smile."
Meanwhile, Azealia Banks–never one to shy away from Twitter beef–called out Iggy Azalea (whom she dubbed "Igloo Australia") in a series of tweets. Banks accused the pop star of appropriating black music but failing to stand up for black folks’ civil rights. Banks wrote:
its funny to see people Like Igloo Australia silent when these things happen… Black Culture is cool, but black issues sure aren’t huh?
— AZEALIA ?? BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) December 4, 2014
"EVERYBODY WANNA BE BLACK, BUT DON’T NOBODY WANNA BE BLACK" – PAUL MOONEY
— AZEALIA ?? BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) December 4, 2014