During a newly-published interview with Vlad TV, Brooklyn rapper Papoose expressed his concern over the use of the word “slave” on Kanye West’s Yeezus record, “New Slaves.” While responding to comments late-night television host Arsenio Hall made in regards to the song, Papoose sided with Hall as he commented on the weight that comes with such a word.
The New York City lyricist also spoke briefly on the tragic history surrounding the word “slave” before proclaiming that Kanye is not a slave.
“I like what Arsenio said. You know what I mean? I liked it,” Pap said. “Basically, the same thing I just said. I like what he said…It’s like ‘Yo, people was raped and murdered under that word.’ You know what I’m saying? So, you can’t just—How can you throw that around? You not a slave. ‘Get in that cell or die.’ These are the terminologies that we heard next to the word ‘slave.’ So, nah, that’s a heavy word. That’s a heavy word to be throwing around.”
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Late last year, Arsenio offered a similar critique of Kanye and those who use the word “slave” in their music, during a press conference. As part of the press conference, the television host also clarified comments ‘Ye made about him being fired from his talk show years ago.
“I hate the word ‘slave’ used in songs,” Hall said during the press conference. “The [expletive] outta here. Do you know what that word is? Do you know what that word is all about? Nobody can use ‘slave’ in pop culture. If you’re in the music business, you shouldn’t [expletive] with that word. Too serious an era. Too serious a problem in America. There is no one that’s free to move around this country that should use the word ‘slave.’ Do you know what it meant to slaves?”
In addition to Kanye, Papoose has offered commentary on a number of his fellow artists over the past few months. The Brooklyn rapper recently referred to Drake’s Nothing Was The Same as “a sweet album” and also released a Kendrick Lamar diss following the release of Big Sean’s “Control” last year.
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