Words by Ime Ekpo 


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Eyebrows rose out of the heart of confusion this past Saturday over Cardi B’s honor of the Detroit city council’s Spirit of Detroit Award. Cardi B was awarded the plaque prior to her evening performance at Detroit’s Masonic Temple.

The main reason why this is raising eyebrows is that one, Cardi B is from the Bronx-a borough of New York City, and two, the success of “Bodak Yellow” has no record of dramatically changing the Detroit community.

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According to the city of Detroit’s website, “A Spirit of Detroit Award can be requested from any Council Member for a person, event or organization being honored for an outstanding achievement or service to the citizens of Detroit. Submission of the name of the person, event, or organization and the reason for being honored is required.”

Regardless of Cardi B’s ability to gain worldwide success from her music career, starting from the strip club to reality television, becoming a renowned millennial success story, this has little to do with “outstanding achievement or service to the citizens of Detroit.” Local radio station Hot 107.5 reportedly made the nomination.

Kash Doll, a rapper who most may recognize from the recent BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher and Instagram, who was once a stripper herself, was disappointed in her own city, despite being a former recipient of the Spirit of Detroit award. The rapper took to Twitter to express her concerns, “I already got one, it’s just weird nothing against her I just thought u had to put work in the city to get it like other artist in Detroit.”

Also a recipient of the Spirit of Detroit award, hip-hop veteran Royce da 5’9, a well noted Detroit native, was also disappointed in his city and seems to be well aware Cardi B is not at fault. “Detroit, when y’all gonna cut it out with the goofy shit. When are we gonna stop being so politically correct, this is not a politically correct business. This record industry does not care about Detroit.” 5’9 goes on to say, “I love Cardi B just like everybody else, but, Cardi B don’t know shit about the spirit of Detroit. She ain’t even receive the spirit of New York award yet. What the f*ck is we giving her an award about the spirit of our city.”

Kash Doll and Royce’s argument stands pretty strong in accuracy with both of them being recipients of the Spirit of Detroit award, they are aware of the merit it takes to earn it. The question now stands to why Cardi B did not receive the Spirit of New York award, and well, the answer is, there is none.

Despite spirit award void in New York, does that warrant other states to honor Cardi B? Reality star Deelishis, who is also a Detroit native seemed to have no issues with the New York rap star accepting the award. Cardi B was actually presented the award on her Hot 107.5 morning show, therefore the reality star turned radio personality has nothing but congratulations for Cardi, “…i’m simply saying lets love the moments that make our fellow brothers and sisters feel good and if that award was given unfairly charge it to city councils head and not their hearts!”

Should artists from the city of Detroit take this matter to the city council or has the Detroit city council listened to its citizens and learned their lesson?

Cardi B IG post

 

Kash Doll Tweets

Royce IG post

“The Spirit of Detroit”

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Deelishis IG post

 

??‍♀️OK I HAVE TO SHARE THIS EVEN IF MY OPINION DOESNT COUNT BECAUSE I WAS THERE & IT WAS OUR MORNING SHOW THAT PRESENTED @iamcardib WITH THE AWARD GIVEN BY THE DETROIT CITY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT… MY BEAUTIFUL CUZN AND I WERE DISCUSSING IT AND HERES WHERE I STAND NOT THAT I MATTER BUT I WILL NEVER QUESTION ANOTHER PERSONS BLESSINGS ESPECIALLY IF IT DOESNT HARM NOR DIRECTLY EFFECT ME. THERE ARE THINGS THAT I WANT THAT OTHERS MAY RECEIVE DESERVINGLY AND UNDESERVINGLY BUT WHAT GOD HAS FOR ME IS FOR ME & WHAT HE HAS FOR OTHERS IS FOR THEM. THERE ARE MORE TRIVIAL THINGS IN LIFE THAT ARE UNFAIRLY AWARDED LIKE THE PRESIDENCY AND SUCH, BUT A CERTIFICATE OF SIGNATURES TO SAY WE APPRECIATE YOUR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS PLACED IN A SIMPLE FRAME WITH THE INTENT OF LOVE AND KINDNESS DOES NOT HARM ANYONE. COME ON MY LOVES WE HAVE TO SHOW MORE LOVE AND HAPPINESS FOR ONE ANOTHER. LETS LOOK AT THE SUNSHINE IN THE MOMENT RATHER THAN SEARCH FOR DARKNESS. I AM FOR EVERYBODY TRYING TO BE GREAT AND I LOVE SEEING ALLLLLLLL MY SISTERS WIN! I HAVE ROOTED FOR @kashdoll FROM THE BEGINNING OF HER CAREER AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF BREATH IN MY BODY AND THATS NOT TO SAY THAT I DISAGREE WITH HER FEELINGS, I’M SIMPLY SAYING LETS LOVE THE MOMENTS THAT MAKE OUR FELLOW BROTHERS AND SISTERS FEEL GOOD & IF THAT AWARD WAS GIVEN UNFAIRLY CHARGE IT TO CITY COUNCILS HEAD & NOT THEIR HEARTS! THAT WAS A POSITIVE MOMENT INTENDED TO SHOW SOME LOVE FROM THE CITY… WE HEAR WAY TO OFTEN THAT DETROIT IS A TOUGH TOWN WITH LITTLE LOVE FOR OTHERS AND THAT IS SO NOT TRUE. IF I NEVER RECEIVE A SERVICE AWARD MY REWARD IS IN LOVING YOU. GOD BLESS ALL WHO GIVES AND WHO RECEIVES ?? #MyApologyToAnyoneIMayHaveOffended #ILoveEverybody

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