Rolling Loud

DaBaby Is Still Trying To Defend Himself From Accusations Of Homophobia While Missing The Point Entirely

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DaBaby continues to miss the point of the backlash against his Rolling Loud comments, issuing another statement on Instagram trying to defend himself from accusations of homophobia. Posting a snippet of his new video, “Giving What It’s Supposed To Give” (an example of appropriated LGBTQ slang), he noted the hard work that he put into the video, insisted that he already apologized (he didn’t), and boasted that he would overcome, all while bemoaning the fact that he has had to face consequences for his insensitive remarks such as losing his Boohooman deal. Read it below.

You ever wrote a video, you and 3 others produce it, you direct it while starring AND rapping in it, film the video for 16 HOURS straight wrap up at 4am, take a shower & jump on a jet to @rollingloud and with only 2 hours of rest give one of the BEST performances of the entire festival yet the most controversial and emotion provoking performance as well; due to things deemed “insensitive” said during your performance even though you’re an ENTERTAINER, try to apologize and explain that you meant no harm & that you were only entertaining as you are paid to do, & have no problem with anyone’s sexual preference that is outside of yours, only to have a substantial amount of people refuse to understand your logic, tag along with a trending topic & play with your character and do everything they can to take money out of your pockets and food out your kids mouth, and have everybody around you panicking only for you to apologize anyway stand on the fact that you were entertaining and truly didn’t mean to offend anybody or start no commotion, although they’re currently offending you, & COINCIDENTALLY the video you were shooting till 4am the DAY OF @rollingloud touches on EVERY controversial topic trending in the headlines, so you then go against the grain in the opposite direction of every scared person around you & stay true to yourself & DROP DAT BITCH in the height of the commotion & show the world once again that you CANT BE F*CKED WIT?
I have. I just did. God’s Work.

Okay. So. Let’s address this. There’s a reason that people are still mad and it isn’t because it’s a “trending topic.” Regardless of his intent, the impact of his words is very real. Right now, there are queer people facing levels of violence and persecution that literally put their lives in danger, and cracks like “if you ain’t suck a n**** dick in the parking lot…” only serve to reinforce the way of thinking that justifies it in the minds of bigots. Secondly, DaBaby didn’t really apologize. “I’m sorry you feel that way” isn’t an apology because it isn’t acknowledging the harm — intentional or not — and resolving to do better.

Doubling down by releasing this video only serves to mock the people who want to see him take responsibility and downplay how egregious his words were. When Elton John tweets you to tell you how your comments cause real-world harm and you still laugh it off, you’re not being an entertainer, you’re acting like an asshole. Admitting you were wrong doesn’t mean you’re admitting you are a bad person. But you still have to admit when you mess up and try not to do it again.

Finally, trying to draw attention to the other controversy within the set is probably not the move here. Because, again, that was an asshole move. Get your money or whatever, but if you have to step on people’s toes to do so, maybe that check isn’t worth it.

Anyway, here’s hoping that someone close to DaBaby can explain these things to him and that they’ll catch him at a time when he’s feeling more receptive, less combative, and ready to grow up instead of living down to his name.

Elton John Was ‘Shocked’ By DaBaby’s HIV Comments, Saying Misinformation Fuels Stigma

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DaBaby’s comments during his controversial Rolling Loud set in Miami this weekend continue to draw reactions from every corner of the entertainment industry. After Dua Lipa, his collaborator on the hit song “Levitating,” said she was “surprised and horrified” by his words, queer rights icon and living legend Elton John has chimed in to address the harm DaBaby’s statements could cause, whether intentional or not.

John’s official Twitter account, which doubles as the account for his Elton John AIDS Foundation, pointed out how statements like DaBaby’s can “fuel stigma and discrimination,” calling them “the opposite of what our world needs to fight the AIDS epidemic.” You can read the full statement below.

We’ve been shocked to read about the HIV misinformation and homophobic statements made at a recent DaBaby show. This fuels stigma and discrimination and is the opposite of what our world needs to fight the AIDS epidemic.

The facts are:

HIV has affected over 70 million people globally: men, women, children, and the most vulnerable people in our communities.

In America, a gay black man has a 50% lifetime chance of contracting HIV. Stigma and shame around HIV and homosexuality is a huge driver of this vulnerability. We need to break down the myths and judgments and not fuel these.

You can live a long and healthy life with HIV. Treatment is so advanced that with one pill a day, HIV can become undetectable in your body so you can’t pass it onto other people.

Homophobic and HIV mistruths have no place in our society and industry and as musicians, we must spread compassion and love for the most marginalized people in our communities.

A musician’s job is to bring people together.

DaBaby responded to the backlash a few times, noting that it wasn’t his intent to insult anyone, but unfortunately, he seems to have missed the possible unintended harm that resulted from his comments. In addition, online retailer Boohooman ended its partnership with him, while him bringing Tory Lanez onstage could have legal repercussions for the Canadian rapper. All in all, not DaBaby’s best week — although he seems to be taking it all in stride.

DaBaby References His Shoe-Dodging Moment In Response To Losing His BoohooMan Deal

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It looks like DaBaby isn’t sweating losing his deal with BoohooMan in the wake of his controversial Roling Loud set — or at least, that’s what he wants his followers to think. He seemingly played off the news by referencing another odd moment from his set, when a fan in the crowd tried to bean him with — in his words — a “busted ass Adidas” shoe.

“NO WEAPON FORMED,” he wrote in the post. “This how I bob n weave anything sent to destroy me. Check my resume and sit back.” The post included a video of the moment he ducked the sneaker, which some fans compared to George W. Bush pulling a similar maneuver during an Iraqi press conference in December 2008.

BoohooMan, which has gained popularity through its capsule collections with popular rappers like Lil Skies, Quavo, and Swae Lee, cut ties with DaBaby after a viral clip of his Rolling Loud set depicted the Charlotte rapper making homophobic comments and insulting comments about HIV/AIDS. While he insisted that it was not his intent to insult anyone, intent and impact are two different things, and his combative tone made it clear he wasn’t interested in addressing the latter.

As a result, the fashion brand issued a statement on Instagram reading, “BoohooMAN condemn the use of homophobic language and confirm we will no longer be working with DaBaby.” While DaBaby doesn’t seem too put out by the loss, he’s also the same guy who insisted on performing during a pandemic because he was losing money, so … grain of salt, I’m just saying.

Lil Nas X’s Dad Slams DaBaby’s Homophobic Rolling Loud Comments: ‘Bruh Sit Down’

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As more fans, supporters, and peers of DaBaby weigh in on the homophobic comments he made during his Rolling Loud set, a new voice has joined the conversation to admonish the North Carolina rapper for his words: that of Lil Nas X‘s father Robert Stafford, who posted his response on Instagram. As Lil Nas X is one of the more prominent queer artists in entertainment today, it seems Mr. Stafford won’t remain silent on an issue that so closely pertains to his son.

Posting a photo of DaBaby posing with Lil Nas X at an awards show, he captioned the photo, “Bruh sit down you had your time.” Indeed, DaBaby has been one of the most popular and bestselling rappers of the last two and a half years, so his platform is massive — and that’s why the way he chose to use it was so irresponsible.

While DaBaby later defended himself on Instagram, saying, “What me and my fans do at the live show don’t concern you n****s on the internet,” the problem is that you can’t just say, “What I do for the live show is for the audience at the live show.” For one thing, the show was live-streamed across the internet for the world to see, and for another, DaBaby clearly doesn’t seem to be considering the effect that his words can have, whether intended and unintended.

When he says “Fellas, if you ain’t sucking dick in the parking lot,” that’s anti-gay rhetoric that has been used to justify committing horrible acts of violence against queer people. When he says “If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, or any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases, that’ll make you die in two to three weeks,” that further stigmatizes people who are living with STDs while also spreading misinformation that can put people at risk.

And when he tries to defend himself by saying “the fans at the show were okay with it,” he betrays a critical lack of understanding of cause and effect, makes unwarranted assumptions about who is in the crowd and how they feel about what he said, and discounts the feelings of anyone who tuned into the live-stream only to hear themselves denigrated by his attempt to hype the crowd.

Maybe someone close to him can pull him aside and explain all this, but from what we’ve seen that won’t happen. That’s a shame because it shouldn’t be on “n****s on the internet” with famous gay sons to teach a grown man how to behave with some basic human decency.

DaBaby Responds To The Criticism Of His Homophobic Comments At Rolling Loud

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After being criticized online for making homophobic comments during his Rolling Loud set this weekend, DaBaby has responded to fans’ disapproval. Unfortunately, anyone looking for contrition, empathy, or understanding from the North Carolina rapper had better look elsewhere, as instead of acknowledging the harm, he went on a defensive tirade, telling observers “it’s not y’all business” on his Instagram Story.

In his “explanation,” he insists that his words were taken out of context and “twisted up.” More important to him is that “the show is for the n****s that paid the money and took the time out they life to come enjoy the show.” He reiterates his original words and asserts that “all the lights went up… ’cause even my gay fans don’t got AIDS” and that they “ain’t nasty n****s” or “junkies.”

DaBaby came under fire for delivering a call-and-response during his set in which he said, ““If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, any of them deadly sexual transmitted diseases that make you die in two or three weeks, then put your cell phone light in the air.” He implored, “If you ain’t suck a n****’s dick in the parking lot, put your cell phone light in the air.”

Many pointed out the misinformation contained in his statement — neither HIV nor any other STDs can kill you “in two or three weeks” — and how repeating harmful stereotypes reinforces them, but it appears their concerns fell on deaf ears. Meanwhile, DaBaby has yet to address the criticism he also received as a result of bringing out Tory Lanez to perform with him after he performed his collaborations with Megan Thee Stallion, who Tory is accused of shooting in her feet.

You can see DaBaby’s response above.

DaBaby’s Rolling Loud Set Included A Bizarre, Homophobic Rant About HIV/AIDs

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DaBaby’s set at Rolling Loud Miami was an eventful one, prompting no less than three viral moments. In one, a mascot costume turned out to be occupied by Tory Lanez, incensing Megan Thee Stallion fans who thought DaBaby was showing disloyalty to the rapper who delivered him several hit collaborations in favor of her alleged abuser. That instance may or may not have led to the next, in which DaBaby dodged a dirty shoe flung his way by a fan in attendance.

But the last one might be the most bizarre. In between two songs, DaBaby tried for a call-and-response hype moment but apparently caught up in trying to encourage fans to count their blessings, he inadvertently shamed an entire community of people who already have to live under a stigma. “If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDs, any of them deadly sexual transmitted diseases that make you die in two or three weeks, then put your cell phone light in the air,” he said.

But then he made it worse, doubling down with a homophobic statement. “Fellas, if you ain’t suck a n****’s dick in the parking lot, put your cell phone light in the air.” There’s no generous way to put that one… it’s just outright homophobic, and fans are calling him out on Twitter. Check out their responses below.

DaBaby Brought Out Tory Lanez At Rolling Loud And Megan Thee Stallion Fans Are Livid

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It looks like the return of live shows has deepened the rift between former friends and collaborators DaBaby and Megan Thee Stallion rather than bringing them closer to reconciliation. Despite being booked just one set after Meg at this past weekend’s Rolling Loud festivities, DaBaby used the opportunity to reinforce his position, aligning himself closer to disgraced Canadian rapper Tory Lanez by bringing him out to perform their collaboration, “SKAT.”

This is, of course, after Megan Thee Stallion accused Tory of shooting her last summer after a Hollywood party. Since then, Tory has maintained his innocence — although he’s yet to offer a satisfactory alternative explanation in many fans’ eyes — and the two had settled into a chilly silence, which Lanez occasionally broke to offer more suggestions that he was “framed” and Megan is lying. However, the simmering feud threatened to boil over when Tory shared a snippet of his and DaBaby’s “SKAT” video in January.

That led to Megan’s fans condemning DaBaby for working with someone they see as her abuser, although Megan stepped in at the time to clarify that the song was recorded prior to her getting shot and that DaBaby had withdrawn his support for the song. But then, the video was finally released in June, prompting a very public falling out between the two former friends as DaBaby tried to claim neutrality and Megan expressed her feelings of betrayal.

DaBaby, ever the contrarian, appears to have doubled down by bringing out Tory to perform with him at Rolling Loud, which included a theatrical reveal from within a DaBaby mascot costume. Video of the reveal on social media sparked a similar response to the one in January, but it doesn’t seem likely that Megan will come to DaBaby’s defense this time.

See fans’ responses below.

Young Thug Said He’s ‘About’ To Put Out His New Album, ‘Punk,’ And Teases A New Song From It

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Young Thug last released a solo album back in 2019. So Much Fun, the rapper’s debut album, became his most successful project, selling over 100,000 album units in the first week. At the time of its release, it seemed like he’d be back soon. He even said its follow-up would arrive a mere two months later. That never happened. But two years later, it seems like it may belatedly arrive.

During his performance at Miami’s Rolling Loud festival on Saturday, Young Thug an update on the long-awaited album. “Yo so listen,” Thug said onstage. “I’m about to put this album out, right? It’s called Punk. If I can perform something off of the album say hell yeah!” After taking in loud cheers from the crowd, the rapper went right into the new song, which he said is titled “Tik Tok.”

During a 2019 profile with Fader, during which Punk was first announced, Thug shared details about it. “It’s most definitely touching music,” he said. “It’s music that the world is going to embrace. […] [Punk] means brave, not self-centered, conscious. Very, very neglected, very misunderstood. Very patient, very authentic.” He also described the album as “real rap,” saying, “[Real rap is] letting people in, letting people know what you go through. Let them know that you the same. […] I just want to open up, Let people know that I’m not just a rapper, I’m a human being.”
Young Thug is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Travis Scott Challenges Fans To Learn The Lyrics To An Unreleased Song Before His Rolling Loud Set

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After a long time without music festivals and concerts, live shows are back. This weekend thousands of music fans have made their way to Miami for Rolling Loud’s first festival of the year, which is headlined by ASAP Rocky, Travis Scott, and Post Malone. Ahead of the festival’s second day of performances, Travis, who headlines the Saturday edition, took to Twitter to offer a new challenge to his audience hours before he takes stage.

In the post, Scott shared a one-minute snippet of a music video that previews an unreleased song. “HMM SOME ONE ASK ME HOW IM STARTING I SAID THIS IS HOW,” he wrote in the caption the video. “WHO CAN REMEMBER THIS BY TONIGHT.” If the track gets premiered in full during his Rolling Loud set, it could prove to be one of the biggest moments of the night, as fans have been expecting new music for a while now.

Miami’s Rolling Loud is far from the only festival Scott will appear at this year. He’s also slated to headline Day N Vegas, Rolling Loud’s New York showcase, as well as his own Astroword festival, which returns to Houston this fall.

You can listen to a snippet of the unreleased track above.

Bobby Shmurda Returns To The Stage At Rolling Loud For One Of His First Post-Prison Performances

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Looks like Bobby Shmurda just took the stage for his first official show back now that he’s officially out of prison. Though Shmurda was slated to appear at the All Star Weekend this spring to perform alongside 50 Cent, that show was unexpectedly canceled. So when the line-up for Rolling Loud was announced this past April, fans were eager to get a do-over for the “Hot N—-” rapper’s long-awaited return.

When Shmurda went to prison back in 2016 on a plea deal along with fellow GS-9 crew member Rowdy Rebel, the pair were some of the, ahem, hottest artists out. Now, it’s still unclear if Bobby can return to his former glory after all this time has passed, but considering his first hit was a product of the viral Shmoney dance and spread via social media clips, it seems like he already has the blueprint down, no? And considering Migos have his back several times over, and he’s closely following his parole guidelines, it looks like he’s well on his way to a come back.

Check out some clips of Bobby’s performance below, and here’s hoping he’ll be gracing a lot more stages this year. If anyone deserves a chance to get back on stage and prove his worth, it’s an artist like him who tragically had his career cut short.