While the majority of the hip-hop community has been vocal about the disturbing outcome of the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases, no one has had more to say about other rappers’ responses (or lack thereof) than Azealia Banks.
On Friday (Jan. 9), just hours after Billboard‘s Kendrick Lamar cover story published, Banks eviscerated the TDE rapper for his comments on Ferguson in our publication.
Kendrick Lamar on Ferguson, Leaving Iggy Azalea Alone & Why We’re in the Last Days
For context, here’s Kendrick’s full quote to Billboard: “I wish somebody would look in our neighborhood knowing that it’s already a situation, mentally, where it’s f—ed up. What happened to [Michael Brown] should’ve never happened. Never. But when we don’t have respect for ourselves, how do we expect them to respect us? It starts from within. Don’t start with just a rally, don’t start from looting — it starts from within.”
That didn’t sit right with Banks, who criticized Lamar (not by name, but she directly quoted him) for the content of his comments, and for giving them to a “white publication.” Billboard reached out to reps for Lamar and Banks for comment.
You can read her tweets below:
“When we don’t respect ourselves how can we expect them to respect us” dumbest shit I’ve ever heard a black man say.
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
Lol do you know about the generational effects of poverty, racism and discrimination?
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
There are things in society that benefit a select few of us. fine…. But don’t put down the rest by saying they don’t respect themselves
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
HOW DARE YOU open ur face to a white publication and tell them that we don’t respect ourselves…. Speak for your fucking self.
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
I really pray for the minds of the urban youth, I really do because I was once on the side of feeling like I wasn’t owed anything…
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
Once on the side of feeling like black people ain’t shit because that’s what America and my social studies textbooks taught me
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
Becoming an adult and doing my own research has REALLY opened up my fucking eyes, and I get upset to know that…..
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
There are still young black kids in our public schools being indoctrinated with the same shit they pumped into my head.
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
And fuck all this shit about erasing racial barriers and getting along… Why does white America think blacks even wanna be here?!
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
I really just want my fucking reparations, and want you guys to stop killing my sons and telling my daughters they’re ugly.
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015