Rapper Common's White House Performance Draws Criticism

By Boombox Editors Posted May 11th 2011 03:10AM

Hip-hop will invade the White House, as rapper Common has just been announced as one of the performers at the celebration honoring American poetry Wednesday (May 11).

The Chicago native will join the likes of Jill Scott, Elizabeth Alexander and Alison Knowles for the poetry-inspired day.

The event, which will be hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama, also includes an afternoon workshop for students. Common will participate in the workshop before performing later in the evening.

His appearance is causing controversy among some right-winged political websites who have written his rhymes off as being riddled with violence, even labeling him a "gangster rapper."

Republican website Fox News Nation called the rapper, born Lonnie Rashid Lynn, "vile," citing lyrics from one of his poems, 'A Letter to the Law,' as evidence. In the piece, which he performed on HBO's Def Poetry Jam back in 2007, Common addresses the conditions in poverty-stricken communities, and police brutality as it relates to America's political climate. Among the most controversial lines in the poem, is when he slams former President Bush and questions the motive behind the war in the Middle East.

"With that happening, why they messing with Saddam? Burn a Bush 'cause for peace he no push no button/ Killing over oil and grease/ No weapons of destruction/ How can we follow a leader when this a corrupt one?" he raps.

Common doesn't seem too moved by the fodder surrounding his appearance, which he found out about via Twitter.

"So apparently Sarah Palin and Fox News doesn't like me," he tweeted to CNN political analyst Roland Martin. He also urged his followers to post links to websites that are taking issue with his involvement in the event.

Controversy aside, the White House event will move forward with the American poetry celebration as planned.

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Tags: Common

Comments

(36)

Wednesday 11 May

By Capperuno

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The White House has reached a new low in history.

By Pompano Ann

I agree; there use to be dignity in the White House; there is a standard that should still be met and honored and that has been lost.

By BTDT

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If you can't embrace anti-American gangsta rap, you're just a racist.

By Amiable Black Woman

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Obviously I would disagree, as the first 16 presidents considered it morally acceptable to own other human beings.

That's pretty low...

By slickster

This is the best they can do for American poetry?, really???

By keep your change

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I hope someone counts the silverware!

Good one.

By Matt

There will never be another black president in America...

You should HOPE not :)

By Ann

I don't know about that I would consider voting for Collin Powell.

By mark

matt >> never say never >> Obama will not get re-elected. Hes a Joke. Worst ever in history.

By anniewheelr

We should have just ignored it instead of giving this guy more attention.
It's not just that he was invited to the White House but that this is supposed to be for children...
If you check out his lyrics...it isn't just that he calls for a Bush burning but he's pretty nasty to women as well as talking about taking out police officers...this is not the type of person we should have talking to our kids at the White House.
I don't care if the Obama's want to have him over to dinner and have him perform his "poetry" for them or even to their kids but to expose other peoples' children to this is absurd.
That said, the best thing would have been to ignore it...and chalk it up to bad taste by whomever suggested that he be invited to participate.
I have no desire to censor him...just that I find his poetry unsuitable for children and that makes him unsuitable to participate in a program for children.

By Angie

How ghetto can the first lady be? This man cannot even speak correct English....and now she promotes this in front of impressionable children and is Ok with it?

By carlizmc

I disagree with you that we should just ignore him. History is filled with examples of people keeping silent and hoping things will get better...and they never do. Edmund Burke said "All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing." Now, I don't think this guy is evil, but if we do not speak up about our displeasure, then we are giving consent by our silence.

By kehandy88

Angie, hun, did you graduate from Princeton and Harvard?

No?

Our "ghetto" First Lady couldn't possibly take you seriously anyway. Carry on...

By Ladycav08

That's a straight up lie about women. You clearly do not listen to his music. Please name the songs where he degrades women.

That's a straight up lie about him degrading women. You clearly do not listen to his music. Please name the songs where he degrades women.

By MKPA

You just don't get it the WH is our house the people not this president he resides in it and he should respect the history. But then again what can one expect a rapper honoring a cop killer. Being naive is just plain stupid not dumb there is a difference and most people who accept this are stupid to think that it wasn't planned as a slap in the face to policemen.

By dara

Michele Obama and her husband knows no shame. For the first time I am ashamed to call myself an American - to paraphrase.
Vote them OUT. We don't need this in the country.

By Dan

This is exactly what we need in our country. More inclusion, less exclusion.

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