“I don’t like Alicia Keys no more. If she thinks what they consider gangsta music is [made] to bring black people down then I think my sh*t falls into that category. I don’t like people who don’t like me. I don’t like her then because that’s what provides the life for me.
I think if you ask Ice Cube the same shit, he’ll tell you, “F*ck Alicia Keys” for even saying that. Because the success he’s had as an actor and a businessman, there was no opportunity for that sh*t without N.W.A. But I don’t think that [her] classical sh*t is cool. I don’t give a f*ck if you can classically play the piano. I haven’t been classically trained, because my upbringing, nobody put me in front of a piano at that time. If they did, I would know how to do it as well as she does. I could learn how to play the piano if I was passionate about it right now.
That’s obviously my perspective evaluating what she does, and I could f*cking care less about the sh*t. So she don’t like the music that embodies the harsh realities because they’re not her realities. She hasn’t been subjected to the same things”. {Source}
While 50 does present some valid points, his argument ultimately sinks when considering the wider picture. Yes, he’s had tough experiences, however it’s hard to see what he, himself, is doing musically (or otherwise) to bring about a change in how these ‘realities’ are depicted by the media and rappers themselves. Instead, 50, and others – having long risen above their ‘hood’ beginnings – oft use their platform to release music that a) glorifies a lifestyle they are no longer lead and b) allow it to be used to, as Alicia put it, ‘government forces’ to continue to oppress young black men who aimlessly get caught up in it.
Lol, this is all getting a little wordy and essay-like, however it’s all in the name of healthy debate – something 50 should have considered when articulating his point, as this just seems like another case of 50 running his mouth.
Your thoughts?
That Grape Juice have teamed up with Wal-Mart Soundcheck to celebrate the recent Gold certification of Danity Kane’s awesome new album ‘Welcome To The Dollhouse’. The ladies performed an exclusive in-studio set for the original online concert series earlier this month (click here to watch). 
