Nelly: Brass Knuckles, Chuck D & the Don Imus Nappy Negro College Fund
Nelly Talks With Sway
Video notes: Interesting comments about his relationship with Bob Johnson; animated presentation of his take on Don Imus; plus, Sway does a nice job of pushing him on the Jena 6 situation. FYI, the "Hip-Hop Entreprenuer" subheading is misleading.
Nelly's new album Brass Knuckles is due November 13th and it's going to include Chuck D on a tune called Self Esteem. Nelly had some surprising [to me] comments for MTV about Chuck D so click through for that.
But he really gets in the zone when he discusses Don Imus:
Right when Imus did that, instead of everybody getting all riled up and pulling him off the air, [we could have said,] 'Wait a minute, y'all. Hold up before we pull him off the air. Let's get what we can get out of the situation...this guy is a moneymaker.' It's obvious [MSNBC] didn't want him off the air...So, what can we get out of this?...How about we fine both of them? Let's fine both of them $50 million over the next five years; $10 million a year...
Let's start the Don Imus Nappy Negro College Fund...And then for the next five years, we're sending brothers and sisters to college off his mistake. And let's hope he does it again next year! So we can get 100 million. Let's provoke him! Somebody call up there and piss him off.
But again, us jumping to conclusions, because you got so many people wanting to claim the glory off of it, wanting to step in front of the camera, we got shook out of our 40 acres and a mule again. We missed it again! It was right there! Do I think he should've been fired? Hell no! Stand up, let's dock him. We could've built schools. We could have built rec centers off of that. We could have gone to college. We missed it...
What is he going to do, go home, take a vacation, lay up, watch a little TV, then get a bigger deal on a satellite-radio station?...Now he's even bigger because now black folks know who he is. Now we're tempted to tune in just to hear if he's gonna say some other dumb stuff. Now he's even bigger. All we did was blow him up.
He's got some good points and a legitimate argument for those focused on reparations and related approaches though I still think it was necessary to take out Don Imus, even if it was temporary, because that hurt him and he'll carry that with him despite the big stacks of money he will continue to receive.
For my part, I dug Nelly's first album quite a bit. I lost interest musically after that but was certainly impressed with the "swipe credit card between buttocks" moment for its encapsulation of how men view the trick/stripper relationship [though not thinking of themselves as tricks]. Given that strippers often view men as ATMs, within the rules of the sex industry game that was fair play and an awesome example of pop surrealism.
It also speaks to all whose intimate relationships are financially based yet legitimated by such social institutions as marriage.
That said, I still understand why people got upset and had to move at that moment. It's not the kind of thing a smart activist passes up.
Via Real Talk NY.
" . . . an awesome example of pop surrealism"
Wow, that's a stretch. I thought it was funny but I simply thought that as an artist of his stature, he executed poor judgement in his decision to show that on camera.
I believe Don Imus won his lawsuit and will be gainfully employed in December to the tune of a multi-million dollar deal. He's been known to say controversial crap for years. I pretty much doubt he's going to lose sleep over the past few months.
Case closed.
Imus wins.
Posted by: Vee | October 17, 2007 at 12:57 PM
If you're saying it's not pop surrealism then you're wrong and need to study up.
If you're saying it's not awesome that's your prerogative and an understandable one.
Posted by: Clyde Smith | October 17, 2007 at 01:25 PM
Funny not awesome.
The fact that Nelly is still catching heat off that move is kind of crazy in this 15-seconds of fame industry. At least he's being proactive in his own defense, although I seriously doubt his intention was to make a statement on the sex industry.
Don Imus Nappy Headed Ho College Fund ?!?
I think I get his overall point, but damn, a mind is truly a terrible thing to waste. I guess he's not considering to own up to his lyrics.
Cool site(information) btw
Posted by: Vee | October 17, 2007 at 03:21 PM
"I seriously doubt his intention was to make a statement on the sex industry"
True, except for the statement that he's a happy customer!
Posted by: Clyde Smith | October 17, 2007 at 05:47 PM