Chris Rock had a brilliant routine about how the government hates rap because when a rapper gets shot, no one ever gets arrested. The same can be said for Fox News. The news conglomerate has had a well- documented history when it comes to rappers. And all of it has been vile, hate-filled commentary.
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Most recently, the gloves came off when rapper Common was invited to the White House by First Lady Michelle Obama and President Obama, as they host a celebration of American poetry. When Fox News and the right wing media got a hold of this news, a media fire storm erupted. The criticism of the First Lady and the President were headline stories for Sean Hannity and Fox, as they proclaimed that Obama was returning to his radical roots by inviting “vile rapper” Common to the White House.
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Why are they so upset about this invitation? In 2007, Common recited a poem called “A Letter to the Law.” The poem criticized President George W. Bush and pointed out all the wrong he was doing.
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When it comes to hip-hop, Fox News has its crosshairs set on the culture that changed the world. Fox News big wigs like Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity have long been critics of artists because of their subversive lyrical content. From Ludacris to Nas, Fox News has made it evident that they do not like rappers, even when they are doing something positive, like going to the White House to recite poetry for children.
It seems like Fox News continues to treat rappers like they are the worst people in the world based on their lyrical content, practically as if they’re Osama bin Laden!
But here is where Fox News becomes Fixed News. Back in October of 2010, a Foxnews.com reporter named Jason Robinson interviewed Common and told him, “Your music is very positive. And you’re known as the conscious rapper. How important is that to you, and how important do you think that is to our kids?”
Common replied that it’s a “significant role. I just try to show who we are as well-rounded people and I’m happy to be known as the conscious artist.”
So which is it Fox News, is Common a “vile rapper,” or a positive, conscious rapper?
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It’s not only Fox News who’s jumping out the window over Common’s invitation, former Alaska Governor and Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin weighed in tweeting, “Oh lovely, White House…” referring to an article calling Common a “Gangster rapper.”
Wasn’t Sarah Palin the same person that photo shopped crosshairs on a map of the United States targeting elected officials including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords?
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Bill O’Reilly vs. Cam’ron & Dame Dash:
Bill O’Reilly invited then Rocafella Records C.E.O. Dame Dash and artist Cam’ron on his show to dicuss lyrical content as it is listened to by children. Then the conversation took an awkard turn. Take a look.
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Nas vs. Fox News:
In 2008 ,Queensbridge MC Nas was sick and tired of how Fox News distorted the truth and called them out on their lies, going so far as to stage a protest in front of the network’s headquarters. Nas took it a step further by recording a song called “Sly Fox.”
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The Feud That Started It All:
Back in 2002, Bill O’Reilly called for everyone to boycott Pepsi products, stating that the soft drink’s spokesperson, Ludacris’, lyrics glamorize a “life of guns, violence and drugs.” The next day, O’Reilly reported that Pepsi had fired Ludacris.
The two men have since patched up their squabble, but this was one of the first attacks Fox News had on a hip-hop artist. Nine years later they are still at it.
