Here we go again. Yet another prolific emcee profiled by right wing critics and portrayed by the media as being too controversial and a threat to society because of his provocative lyrics. Here’s the skinny: Chicago-actor/rapper/poet/humanitarian Common, was invited to the White House by Michelle Obama to take part in the First Lady’s ‘Poetry Night’, which is a semi-annual event many of the President’s wives have hosted over the years. The media is now stepping in to criticize Michelle for picking Com Sense as a performer due to his “harsh lyrics” directed towards George Bush, police officers and the system in general. Okay. Sure.
Says The Daily Caller:
First Lady Michelle Obama has scheduled a poetry evening for Wednesday, and she’s invited several poets, including a successful Chicago poet and rapper, Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr., AKA “Common.” However, Lynn is quite controversial, in part because his poetry includes threats to shoot police and at least one passage calling for the “burn[ing]” of then-President George W. Bush.
Says RadarOnline:
The move has raised some eyebrows in light of his controversial lyrics against authority figures such as police — and presidents. For example, in this this 2007 passage, the rapper (who dated Serena Williams last year) urges his fan base to “Burn a Bush.”
“With that happening, why they messing with Saddam? Burn a Bush cos’ for peace he no push no button, killing over oil and grease, no weapons of destruction, how can we follow a leader, when this a corrupt one?
This isn’t Common’s first collaboration with the Obama’s either, as he took part in the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in 2010, and recently performed at an Obama-hosted Democratic Party fundraiser in Chicago. So why are they stepping in to complain now? And will Michelle and her handlers cave and remove Common from their list of performers?
But seriously, when it comes to controversial rappers, does Common even come to mind? I mean, it’s not like Michelle flew out Tyler, the Creator on Air Force One to do poetry and build balloon animals for the children. This is Common, an artist known for being “conscious”, and one that seeks to uplift and enlighten his audience – not having “blood on his dick from fucking a corpse”. As rappers grow into new roles and become more mainstream, more and more of their past will come back to haunt them, deservingly or not. Even Rhymefest was portrayed by the media as a “gangsta rapper” during his bid for Alderman a few months ago. It just goes to show that no matter how far hip-hop has come in 30 years, the powers that be still do not accept – or understand – the culture. Politics as usual.
gotta love how they take excepts from whatever song and do no cite fully what was being said.
How dope is it that Common is so close with the President and his family. Seriously…Chicago runs this game on a whole nother level.
A conscious rapper goes to the WHITE HOUSE and basically says “fuck you” to everybody in there…
…it don’t get mo’ gangsta than that!
While I do love Common and feel that he is a great addition to any Poetry Night.. thought he may be too controversial for the white house based on his homophobic statements he has made in the past? iono just a thought…
So he wants to burn bush and hate homo’s….Is he too controversial for poetry night? Politics as usual? I guess common had nothing to do with it…..It’s poetry night at the white house and poetic license to burn a president and kill cops and gays is not just political…it’s common sense not to have him invited to the White House. For a President who is very careful about his image this is truly is out of character.