culture vulture

Meek Mill Claims Record Labels Are Benefitting From “Black Murder And Poverty”

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Meek Mill recently took to social media to weigh in on “culture vulture” record labels. The artist called out labels for taking without giving back in return, claiming that they’re taking advantage of Black artists. He also went on to talk about lawyers who prey on young people that don’t have a solid understanding of business. He says that he’s willing to give his all to stand up for the cause, up until his very “last breath.”

“It’s almost to a point where we going to aim artist and their entourage towards the ones taking out money and leading us to bad business decisions,” he began. “F*ck these labels they operating without consequences in the biggest scheme to date.” The rapper goes on, “IF YOU LETTING LABELS TAKE YOUR MONEY HOW YOU BEEFING WITH N***AS IN THE HOOD OVER NOTHING.” He then explains, “Yes I own 100% of my masters and pub as we speak! We catch y’all stealing we in the streets with it.” Meek Mill continues, telling people that they need to stop contributing to the cycle.

Read More: Meek Mill Says Rappers Are Paid More To Sound Ignorant

Meek Mill Says “F*ck These Labels”

“I been had my life on the line in the street,” he explains. “If we gone make life about something let’s stand on something worth it.” He then adds, “IF YOU BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE BY PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD REALLY MAKE CRY TAP IN THIS GOTTA STOP… I’ll die for this or go to jail but take from me shidddddd.” He finishes the post by confirming that he’s willing to give up everything for the cause. “This is for all culture vultures eating off black murder and poverty with out giving back and taking advantage! Til my last [breath]!”

This is far from the first time Meek Mill voiced his thoughts on issues in the industry. Earlier this month, the artist spoke at an NAACP event, discussing his career as a rapper. He claimed that artists actually get paid more to rap about “violence,” “guns,” and “ignorant stuff.” He notes that it’s not really his style, however, saying “The things that fund us, don’t power me forward.”

Read More: Drake Reflects On Beef With Meek Mill At Philadelphia Concert: “He Got Us Up Out Of Philly Real Quick”

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The post Meek Mill Claims Record Labels Are Benefitting From “Black Murder And Poverty” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Macklemore Says “Culture Vulture” Narrative “Wasn’t My Truth”

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His contributions to Hip Hop were already controversial, but when Macklemore won a Grammy over Kendrick Lamar, he faced criticism unlike any other. It was in 2014 when The Recording Academy awarded Macklemore’s The Heist the trophy for Best Rap Album over Lamar’s acclaimed good kid m.A.A.d. city. It was a devastating loss for the then-Top Dawg Entertainment stand-out, and his fans haven’t let up about it ever since. Although Macklemore emerged in the Pacific Northwest as an aspiring rapper, Hip Hop culture didn’t fully welcome the Pop star with open arms.

In a new interview with HipHopDX, Macklemore talks about his latest album, BEN, as well as those ‘culture vulture’ accusations. “I think that it did hurt my feelings at the very beginning,” he told the outlet. “When ‘Thrift Shop’ was at its peak and the biggest song in the world, that’s when the think pieces started coming out around cultural appropriation, and one hit wonder, and all of this assessment and analysis.” Many years ago, Mack acknowledged that Hip Hop wasn’t his culture. He was dedicated to obtaining a greater understanding, as many other white rappers have shared in the past.

Macklemore Sees The Shift

There was a time when white rappers seemed to be a novelty. Eminem’s success imprinted him as a Rap GOAT, and several others have entered the arena as hitmakers. It’s common for non-Black artists to crank out Hip Hop hits, but Macklemore recognizes this wasn’t always accepted. “We were at a different place with whiteness in Hip Hop a decade ago,” he explained. “It was a very different time.” He added, “One thing that the criticism did, [it made me] dig deep into myself, and [I had] the realization that I don’t control who resonates with my art.”

The rapper also shared that he isn’t concerned with things he can’t control. His “deep dive” was prompted by being “scrutinized by the world,” and even though he apologized to Lamar about the Grammy moment, people didn’t let up. “I’m like, ‘Oh my God.’ There’s only two ways out of this: stopping or accepting it.’ Because whatever everyone else was saying about me wasn’t my truth. If I know myself, if I’m coming from a place of faith rather than fear, if I’m coming from radical love versus hatred, if I’m coming from a place of, ‘This is authentically me, take it or leave it,’ it’s not my business what the final decision is. That’s it. I don’t control other people’s perspective.”

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