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 Lenny

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I support any President elected to office, but you sir are a racist for that remark.

By Amiable Black Woman

This....

By stephenseebaran

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You racist SOBs in this thread can bite the fattest part of my @ss. Go back to your pro-white rally where you belong.

By MJPA

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It has nothing to do with race it has to do with honoring someone who killed a cop through expression in art. If you can't see that then you are color blind.

By carlizmc

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This is what we should ignore and not pay attention to.:)

By GG357

Doesn't his "name" sum things up?

By brutony

What a joke! Not only this alleged "poet" but the doofus-in-chief! Please give me back me country!

By kehandy88

The poet and "doofus-in-chief" heal people with their words.

Yours are simply destructive...A lot like "gangsta rappers"

Thanks for your input.

Thursday 12 May

By 80s gal in the 80s....

Its not your country, its ever Americans country.

By hoffmom

"Fodder" means "food." If you're going to try new vocabulary words in your article, you might look them up first in the future. And Fox News Nation is not a "Republican website." If you read the "statement of purpose" and you have a problem with any of the principles stated therein, you should seriously consider emigrating to Afghanistan.

By tinkdnuos

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Wow. Why am I not surprised that the fat, ugly, midwestern housewives who frequent a site like this are also ignorant and racist?

I can't wait until people like you all die off so America can actually join the 21st century. People like you are a disgrace and the downfall to this once-great country.

By txholdemsdarlin

Wow did you read what you wrote? If your and example of what you want America to be in the 21st century, I feel very sad for the future of this great nation.

By capperuno

I agree 100%....I view this presidency like the worst date I ever had that will never hapen again.

By Yvette

Most of you people have no idea what you are talking about. Please obtain at least a LITTLE knowledge about this artist before lumping him into your stereotypical bag of discussion TREATS for general consumption. He's a positive recording artist who has created songs about taking abortion lightly (among other subjects). Get a clue.

Hey, "80's gal", it IS my country, as well as yours, if you do live here, and I want it back! These Socialists are trying to take our country away from us, and remake it in their image!

Friday 13 May

By Bad Choices

This man is not a good choice beause he is promoting violence plain and simple. THis is not the message we should be sending our children

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