>yet, there’s a problem because who it came from. With this
>in mind, would the message be received differently if it came
>from someone...let’s say, “untainted”?
>
>

If someone else were to say the same thing I would feel the same way.

It's a fucked up form of gatekeeping and its coming from someone who has a laundry list of past transgressions

Shes implying that Cardi represents the downfall of discourse surrounding black woman empowerment in the ongoing dialog that has been happening over the past few years..or that her presence means that the conversation stops in its tracks. Its possible to have many conversations at once and to Cardi's credit shes not making 2d work, there is some depth to it even though she might not sit on a panel and wax poetic about her lyrics.

my problem is that Azelia implies that there is really only one way to show empowerment / control over ones own image. There is also the implication that there is no space for Cardi, or that her output takes away from the messages put out by Beyonce and co. If thats the argument then Azelia should also have a seat - in this framing every negative and fucked up incident shes been in involved in should dim the positive messaging as well.

I'm not the biggest Cardi fan but I really appreciate her candor and the fact that shes unapologetically herself. Few public people will show you what they look like when the cameras are not around, even fewer will be honest about their origins.

It also feels targeted and targeted in the weird personal way Azelia targets folks - Has Banks ever gone after similar women rappers?

edit: further, blackness is a spectrum.

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https://soundcloud.com/swageyph/yph-die-with-me