Words by Ime Ekpo
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.
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
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba0RCzyBt-d/
Kash Doll Tweets
I can’t believe my city 😒
— #Stacked out now! (@kashdoll) October 29, 2017
Shit disrespectful https://t.co/Adi5HyIgSX
— #Stacked out now! (@kashdoll) October 29, 2017
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 https://t.co/zfPznqtYpK
— #Stacked out now! (@kashdoll) October 29, 2017
Royce IG post
Deelishis IG post
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba13vmHBjjY/
