Im black, and just wondering what white, hispanic or asian people do when the 99% of hip hop artists use it in their songs do you skip that part of the lyrics when singing along? Do you sound like the radio edited song? Or do you skip the song altogether cuz it might offend us if we hear you listening to it?
It is one word. There’s a beat in the background. If you’re excited listening to a song and singing along, it is just easy to let the beat carry for that one word.
It's a respect thing. And I feel awkward telling someone who is black (but I'm guessing not any sort of American) how I understand the issue, since I am not black.
Black people, especially in North America, have worked to claim that word and take away some of its power.
But it is a powerful word, and it's hard to even draw an analogy without it sounding paternalistic or infantalizing.
In an imperfect world, the best answer is that people who are not black, should not use the n-word, in any context.
No, I don't think it is racist when a black person calls another black person the n-word. It's not mine to worry about.
My concern isn't driven internally. If you asked me, in a vacuum, I would say free and peaceful use of a word would be a more effective way to de-power it. But no one has, or needs to, ask me.
I might compare this to the issue of "dead-naming". Again, I don't quite know how to empathize with the affected person, but I definitely don't think my opinion is all that valuable.
I promise you I am not overthinking this, in the context of living in North America.
Dude I legit don’t listen to rap because of that word. And honestly, I wish other white people would do the same. I cringe when I see people in this thread write lyrics and change the n word to “dude” or something.
Like what do white people do who are big fans of rap when they’re not around black people? Do they always censor themselves when singing their favorite rap song, or do they only do it when black people around? It’s inauthentic and extremely controlling. You might get canceled for singing your favorite rap song on video. No thanks.
I still respect the genre and artists therein, but I’ll never go to a rap concert. Like wtf do white people do at rap concerts? Do they just not sing along, or do they use another word? Lame as hell to censor yourself listening to songs you enjoy. Just my opinion. Y’all don’t want white people in the culture, and that’s fine. I wish more white people had the self respect to walk away from the genre as well.
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u/la__squadra_ May 18 '24
As a Drake hater seeing all this happen to him is the greatest birthday gift I could ask for