Tyler, The Creator, Slammer Meme Rapper Mocking Hip-Hop, But Has Respect for Art Forms with Real Talent
Renowned musician Tyler, the Creator has weighed in on the controversy surrounding meme rappers, stating that his love for hip-hop won’t let him stay silent when he sees the genre being disrespected. He believes a specific “white kid” rapper has crossed a line by mimicking artists like Future and Gucci Mane in a way that is hurtful to the culture.
In a conversation with Maverick Carter on his Springhill platform “Mavericks with Mav Carter”, the Grammy-winning artist condemned the unidentified rapper’s actions. He shared his concerns during an online chat, stating, “This white kid, regular Caucasian man, is like mocking Future and Gucci Mane… people are like, ‘This is hard!’ It’s not even like satire; it’s like, ‘I’m just joking, I’m just mocking it.'”
The ‘IGOR’ hitmaker emphasized that his frustration doesn’t stem from the rapper being white, highlighting that other white rappers, like Mac Miller and Eminem, have showed respect and genuine talent when approaching hip-hop. Tyler passionately stressed the importance of the genre in his life, confessing, “this sht changed my life and everyone’s life around me, and I’m a nerd about this sht.”
Tyler didn’t directly name the rapper in question, but Bu Thiam, the representative of the suspected rapper Ian, took to social media, sharing a post that seems to deflect responsibility. Thiam suggested the alleged imitator draws influence from their signature styles, but defended Ian by pointing out that many rappers borrow from their contemporaries.
The ‘Gold Record’ artist’s remarks also earned praise for his apology to Eminem regarding the rapper’s album ‘Recovery’ and for calling out “meme” rappers who prioritize material success over artistry.
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