While speaking with Vlad TV about the upcoming season of AMC's "Hell On Wheels," Common took a moment to address issues of race in hip-hop culture, going as far to directly address Jamar's comments that white rappers are "guests" in the genre.
“I don’t agree with that…Obviously it’s a culture that started with black and Latinos,” Com said. “We know where it came from. And we know the heart and soul of it is really about the struggle and like you don’t have to be from the ghetto or from a poor place to express Hip Hop. I always looked at Hip Hop as like ‘Man, this is how we express ourselves.’ In fact, I actually think it’s a bridge for people from different walks of life or different nationalities to come together…And Hip Hop has been a bridge for me to like connect with and really learn people from a different culture. White, some of my Latino friends. When I first went to New York I was hanging out with The Beatnuts. I’m like—‘I didn’t know that you could be Latino and look like me.’ You know what I’m saying? So, it’s like I got educated because of Hip Hop. And it’s been like a connecting force more than anything. I wouldn’t oust white culture or any other nationality saying that they not a part of Hip Hop or they guests in it.”
To recap, read Jamar's comments below.
“Okay, white rappers, you’re coming to this almost as a guest,” he claimed last September. “Okay, matter of fact you are guests in the house of Hip Hop. Just because you have a hit record doesn’t give you the right as I feel to voice your opinion. White rappers, those of y’all who really studied the culture, that truly love Hip Hop and all that, keep it real with yourself, you know this is a black man’s thing. We started this. This is our shit. We’ve allowed you, those of you who’ve proved your skill and all that, we’ve allowed you to come in and kick your shit, make yourself known. You know what I mean? And if you have enough respect for the culture we fuck with you. But don’t push it too far.”
Are you siding with Common or Jamar on this one?