Far too often we find ourselves in the situation of having to write about rappers who have been taken from their lives by gang violence. Every day of topic research is therefore accompanied by the uneasy gut feeling that it could have met your own favorite rapper today. No name seems too big today to make such a headline. While we may understand the patterns and dynamics behind the murders better than others, we are never unmoved. On the contrary, the more one immerses oneself in this topic, the stronger the need to do something about it arises. Our contribution to breaking the cycle of violence is our collaboration with the TikToker "Starboi Kane", who shows in an entertaining way that there are no winners in this musically acclaimed murder ping pong. Seemingly much like Starboi and we, Joey Badass is using his appearance at this year's BET Awards to bring the issue to the fore with an impressive performance.
Joey Badass honors dead rappers with performance
Joey Badass made a strong statement against violence in rap with his BET performance. Introduced by an appeal to all rappers to stop conveying deadly violence messages in their music, the New Yorker impressed with a stage performance that got under your skin. Accompanied by twelve background dancers wearing hoodies with the names of dead rappers printed on them, he performed his hit song "Head High".
In chronological order of their deaths, Joey Scott honored La Rock, Tupac Shakur, The Notorious BIG, Big L, Soulja Slim, XXXTENTACION, Nipsey Hussle, Pop Smoke, King Von, Young Dolph, Trouble and PnB Rock - all who died between 1987 and the present had been victims of gun violence.
Delete provocative terms
Joey also suggested that the term "opp" (enemy) be deleted, since this unnecessary violence promotes and often even leads to conflicts in the rapper's own circles. Joey Badass isn't the only one of his rap generation to denounce rap's homicide rate — just a few weeks ago, Rich Homie Quan told TMZ that "shoot 'em up, bang-bang music" is becoming a problem for anyone who does it hear Even in Germany, the gang culture radiates through the music more and more. It's true that we're not yet at the point where gangs are forming and actively fighting on every block of flats. Most here probably don't even understand the meaning of the "signs" they make in music videos. Bandanas are also more of a fashion accessory here than a sign of belonging. With a view to the development in the USA and England, it does not seem too early to raise awareness of this topic in order to prevent a similar course.
Source: KBE, www.tmz.com, instagram.com/uncoveringrap