http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6436268/kendrick-lamar-billboard-cover-story-on-new-album-iggy-azalea-police-violence-the-rapture?utm_source=twitter

The relevant passage:

Asked about the high-profile killings of African-Americans by police in 2014, from Ferguson, Mo., to Staten Island, he says, "I wish somebody would look in our neighborhood knowing that it's already a situation, mentally, where it's f---ked up. What happened to 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."

Another relevant passage:

Surprisingly for such a hyperliterate lyricist, Lamar is not much of a reader, saying that he mostly learns by talking to people from different walks of life.

___

1) WTF is a "hyperliterate lyricist"?
2) Should rappers be expected to speak on political matters with any higher level of insight than other occupations (plumbers, doctors, firefighters, etc)? No one ever interviews, say, a 9/11 firefighter and says "What's your opinion on Boko Haram?"

Saying all that to say, should journalists limit their rapper interview questions to music?

Absent someone making a political reference in their discography (which justifies follow-up questions), I don't really care about the political opinion of any modern rapper is on any given issue. Or veteran rapper, for that matter.

Now, if the rapper goes into political matters sua sponte, by all means, ask follow up questions.

3) I long for the day when respectability politics dies. Malcolm and Martin got shot wearing suits. Respectability doesn't have anything to do with being Black and getting murdered in America.

Peace,

Spirit (Alan)
http://wutangbook.com