Lupe Fiasco speaks out against violence in rap music

Chicago rapper, Lupe Fiasco has spoken about the prevalence of violence and criminal themes in modern rap music.

In a series of tweets posted online yesterday afternoon (24 March), the hip-hop star began by saying “Violent music (and all violent media) effectively says its “ok” to be violent. It provides positive reinforcement for negative actions”, before urging his peers: “If you rap and make violent music then own up to it. Stop hiding behind “art imitating life” as a way to evade the guilt.” Fiasco went on to say that it “creates the atmosphere that violence is an acceptable means to an end”.

Before people began accusing the singer, who has rapped about guns frequently in the past despite an overall tone of social commentary, of hypocrisy, he added: “Ive made violent music. Done violent things. Most my friends are violent. Lived in violent neighborhoods. Seen violence first hand.” He related his recent reconsideration to the U.S anti-gun lobby cause. “You turn on the news and see that a 12 month old got shot in the face by two teenagers in Georgia for no reason at all,” one tweet read before he added: “A certain point you start to get tired of it. You ask why? why is it like this? what is causing this? why is this ok to live like this?”

Fiasco is currently working on his fifth album and follow-up to 2012′s Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1.