Since the tragic Wednesday night shooting at a T.I. concert in New York City, where Troy Ave affiliate Banga was killed and three others were wounded, there’s been a lot of finger pointing.
NYPD commissioner Bill Bratton blamed the violence on the nature of Hip Hop culture, a statement Darryl McDaniels (DMC of Run-DMC) would like retracted.
“The crazy world of the so-called rap artists who are basically thugs that basically celebrate the violence they live all their lives and unfortunately that violence often manifests itself during the performances and that’s exactly what happened last evening,” Bratton said to a local news outlet.
DMC says he is outraged by Bratton’s comments, especially considering his position of authority.
“There’s a million rappers who come from the hood who do not portray, promote or produce products that celebrate or legitimizes any forms of negativity,” McDaniels says to the Associated Press. “The commissioner, he knew better than that. I respect his job, I know it’s hard and all of that, but he should have known better.”
The rap legend went on to say Bratton should apologize for his statement that grouped all rappers in one stereotype without considering the implications.
“He needs to apologize to all the rappers who have come from [the] streets but have never put out anything negative [and] disrespectful to break down … and destroy their community,” DMC says.
He cited Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Chuck D, De La Soul and LL Cool J as artists who represent positivity in Hip Hop, whose actions are negated by Bratton’s stereotyping.
He alleges Bratton’s words perpetuate the negativity Hip Hop has tried to break away from, instead of helping the culture progress.
“[Bratton] was upset and pointing a finger and getting to the root and not thinking about the people he would hurt by saying what he said,” he adds. “Him as the commissioner saying it did so much damage [and] pushes Hip Hop back — that’s why he should apologize.”
