So. It's a wildly long story, but I found myself reading XXLMag.com (Hip-Hop on a Higher Level) and, well, apparently the presidential campaign has not gone on too long at all! There are people who still have no idea who's running for president. Such is the case with our friend Mr. DMX. Here's the exact moment of his epiphany (be warned: the whole article contains some colorful language.)
Are you following the presidential race?
Not at all.
You’re not? You know there’s a Black guy running, Barack Obama and then there’s Hillary Clinton.
His name is Barack?!
Barack Obama, yeah.
Barack?!
Barack.
What the f*** is a Barack?! Barack Obama. Where he from, Africa?
Yeah, his dad is from Kenya.
Barack Obama?
After his initial shock wore off, Mr. DMX actually had a cogent point to make about the the prospect of electing an African-American president. To check it out, read more.
But it would be pretty big if we had a first Black president. That would be huge.
I mean, I guess. . . . What, they gon’ give a dog a bone? There you go. Ooh, we have a Black president now. They should’ve done that s**t a long time ago, we wouldn’t be in the f****n’ position we in now. With world war coming up right now. They done f****d this shit up then give it to the Black people, “Here you take it. Take my mess.”
See?! He has an opinion! And a serious one, at that! Maybe now that he knows he can put it to good use.
Ooh, but no one tell him about Ron Paul's blimp. That will completely blow his mind.
Are you surprised? Is it silly that I find this story shocking? Is it OK not to pay attention to what's going on in the world?
Ra-Re
Armani Jeans
Ralph Lauren
Ummmmm....I think I just lost half my brain cells.
1Well he does have his own troubles, must be hard to be back and forth in court for thinking you the FBI. LMAO
2Shocking.
3Don't do drugs kids. This is the result.
4It's hilarious, sad and interesting all at once! =D
5I'm more interested in hearing the story behind why you were reading XXLmag.com...
Were you searching for a new set of spinnerz for your ride?
6Seriously?!
7cabaker, I literally laughed out loud at your comment.
8
Cabaker!
9Well, the fact that he is obviously so very informed makes his closing commentary/opinion that much more valuable...
10He's an idiot, but I knew that before this article.
Haha I don't know whether to laugh or to cry. How it is possible to be this absorbed in your own little universe?? No, really - what sort of rock has he been living under? (An illegal one, presumably...)
11Honestly, I don't care who said these comments. It would be equally as shocking to me if they were made by an everyday American. How!??? I just don't get it.
12Anytime I can make you laugh Citizen, that is a good day!
13I can't imagine not knowing who the candidates are at this point!
14There are so many celebrities who know about the election and are actively involved. Why did you have to chose this one to report about? Why broadcast ignorance? You couldn't report on how actively involved Hill Harper has been in the election, or Neyo, Usher, Will I Am. DMX is the best you can do. This story is interesting to me, but not in the way you may think Citizen.
15What makes me very, very sad is that this man is a popular musician and he influences young people, especially African Americans, who enjoy his music.
I'm NOT saying that he's ignorant because he's African American, or saying that he's only influencing African American kids, but they are his primary audience.
Frankly, I think gathering up the African American youth in this election and letting them see this monumental moment in American history would be absolutely wonderful. Show them what is happening in the world. Show them that through hard work and common interests, we can bring our country together, regardless of race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc. Show them that no matter where you come from, if you really work hard enough and keep an open mind, you can make it to the top.
I loved the fact that Eminem worked so hard to get people to vote in the 2004 election, and I really wish other musicians, ESPECIALLY hip hop & rap musicians who are SO influential for America's youth because they are "real" and talk about "real situations", would get in on this and help encourage our youth to be a part of our ever changing world.
And on that note, DMX should be ashamed. And should not do so many drugs.
16Gotta disagree with you there, mat. I think if you need a celebrity to light a flame under your ass about the election, maybe you just aren't informed/passionate enough to vote. The last thing we need is a bunch of 20 somethings only voting because it's cool.
17Matre he was a popular musician in like the 90s now he's filed under "jesus take the wheel" along with Britney, Wacko Jacko and other fool musicians. Crack is whack!!! And he doesn't influence young African Americans in any sense of the word, if anyone does that it's Jay-Z and Diddy the moguls. It's like saying michael jackson still influences the youth or OJ simpson, nuh uh.
18Matdredalia, what are you talking about? First of all, more young whites buy rap music than blacks, so who is DMX really influencing. Second, have you not been watching the news. Just because DMX doesn't know who is running for President doesn't mean black youth don't know. Go to any Historical Black College or University and you will see heavy involvement and student knowledgeable about the election. If you read my first comments early or do some freakin' research, you would know plenty of black actors and hip hop stars are involved and are causing black youth to be as well. Do you even know any black youth? Do you even deal with any on a day to day base?
19DMX obviously doesn't pay attention to politics. To bad for him.
He's never been a political rapper anyway so this doesn't surprise me. He just makes Hip-hop dance music.
Now if this were Mos Def I'd be worried.
20I actually agree with him to a very, very slight degree. Republicans completely screw up and the Democrats will take the mess and the blame if they can't fix it. Lol.
21I just cannot wrap my mind around the irony of the "Where is he from, Africa?" statement.
22Actually, Meike, he was talking about white people vs. black people, but thanks for the lovely sentiment.
23As a graduate of an HBCU, I have to agree with chic - young WHITE MEN are the primary consumers and audience of hip hop/rap musicians (especially crappy ones like DMX, whom no black person who legitimately loves hip hop would buy into), and young BLACK people are well are of our country - well enough aware that voting for Obama isn't going to fix the inherent racism this country was funded upon and functioned upon, and well enough aware nothing can detract from historian Eric Lott's very well-cited theory of inherent racism in white America, regardless of consideration of liberalism.
DMX is just ignorant - why is he representative of the hip hop or black community here? Cabaker's comments are just some of the racist perceptions of the genre that we expect as minorities - yeah yeah, so you define hip hop as something of DMX's caliber. Well, XXL and we devoted hip hop fans consider Lupe Fiasco or Immortal Technique as hip hop representatives - not someone who pimps out capitalist upper-class morals to us. Too bad THAT doesn't make MTV for white people to consider.
24"Now if this were Mos Def I'd be worried."
Mos is awesome. If it was Common, I'd be worried also. Then again, wasn't he in the Will.i.am
video?
25Who cares about DMX? I sure don't. I never cared for that guy, he IS ignorant and has done many vile things in the past few years. He only feeds into the stereotypes about black America. Sadly, only(or mostly, if you want to give the benefit of the doubt)these kinds of stories are the ones that are brought to light by the media. Mos or Common, for example, would give a much more enlightened and intellectual interview than DMX ever could but, those interviews would never be a topic of conversation.
26Mina sorry if you think my comment was racist, it was very obviously a joke. Clearly I was poking fun at that side of hip hop, not all hip hop and very OBVIOUSLY not all black people.
27Foxie, yeah, I knew that even before I made my statement. I was merely making separate observation on a different degree that instead of white people giving black people their problems it's the Republicans tossing theirs onto the Democrats but thanks for pointing out the obvious.
28Ok DMX had his own reality show for a while, and it was obvious that he was crazy. I don't know if he was/is on drugs or what, but this doesn't surprise me at all--this guy is not all the way there. He's still barking and talking about giving dogs bones. But I have to admit, I did enjoy most of his popular songs in the 90s.
By the way, not everyone has the luxury of keeping up with the news and with politics. That doesn't excuse him of course, but it is something to keep in mind. Some people simply worry about making it day to day.
29Cabaker,
I actually thought what you said was funny. I don't the backlash for your comment at all. No need to apology really.
30Okay, I can't seem to form sentences this week, I meant:
I actually thought what you said was funny. I don't get the backlash at all. No need to apologize really.
You know what else? You'd think that a guy how named his crew the "Ruff Ryders" would be more concerned with who's president.
31But Barack Obama has been around for years!!! How has he NOT at least heard about the man?! CRAZY!
32Wow, after reading these comments I thank citizen for choosing such a thought provoking issue because that is what this forum is for. As for the thoughts provoked it is clear that some scars still run deep.
As for whether more whites buy rap cd’s off the shelf is neither here nor there. The point is identification. The young urban black youth identifies and looks up to a persons like DMX in a way that a white youth who happens to like rap can not understand.
As for not discussing blacks who are involved with the election in their communities and nationally I think the simple answer to that is that is not the topic here. The topic is an article that someone felt was thought provoking and would make for great intense conversation as your comments have revealed here. Now if discussing the blacks who are involved and are pillars to our community is so important as I agree they are. Than post the topic, I still have yet to see it after all of that ranting and raving.
33Hypnotic,
I'm so glad that you thought the comments made were "thought provoking". Now, to respond to some of your comments. When I commented about more whites buy more rap music it was because some were making comment that DMX influence black youth, and that's not the case. He isn't even relevant anymore. If you look at the news or go to a campaign rally you would see that black youth are involved in this election. DMX ignorance doesn't reflect anybody but himself. I still hate this story because it broadcast someone’s low class ignorance, and I stand by my feelings. I would love to add articles to this site, but I thought Citizen was in charge of this part of the site and add stories. Thanks for your opinions on the subject.
34I read it as any American who doesn't pay attention, and thought it was interesting to find someone in that vacuum and hear an opinion on his reaction to a black man running for president... I have so much fun reading these types of blogs and following the race, but am always fascinated with what the people who AREN'T us are thinking. It is like my wondering what moves jurors, because they aren't gaming the angles and used to the stuff we do on a daily basis as attorneys. I think average voters get the distilled bits and pieces through information shortcuts and vote based on their ultimate feelings from the intangibles they've gotten.
35wow. that is shocking. and ridiculous that he would have no idea who's running for president. i'm not sure i actually believe he didn't know who was running for president.
36I'm not sure if his opinion should really "count" since he is obviously is not paying much attention to not just the Presidential campaign, but probably everything else going on in our country as well.
37the young people voting and listening to these stupid celebrities don't even know what they are voting for. it's all ignorance............
38WHAT ARE YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT?????
:)
:)
:)
39Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.