So, About That Kendrick Lamar 'Billboard' Interview…

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Hey guys! TGIF.

This is my last vid about the Australian Voldemort and it was inspired by rapper Kendrick Lamar, who recently gave an interview to Billboard defending the Australian Voldemort (and trashing Ferguson protestors, among other things) by claiming she is 'rocking it' and that 'God wants her here.' I was deeply saddened and disappointed to hear such statements, especially considering he's the rapper that dropped a verse last year specifically calling out mediocrity in hip-hop, but there have been rumors swirling for months that Kendrick has been struggling with drinking and depression due to to the pressure of the industry and celebrity (along with last year's Grammy snub), and so perhaps he's decided to give up on his original beliefs and cater to the status quo to gain more mainstream recognition. Some also believe his relationship to her boyfriend (they're cousins) made him hesitant to address her problematic behavior.

Either way, the statements were startling because of their inability to address the actual issues people have with the Australian Voldemort as well as the appropriation of Black culture in general. Even if he didn't want to discuss her personally, he could have said he has nothing against her but that perhaps she is emblematic of other issues in hip-hop. Dancing around the topic with a quotable quote about God and 'rocking it' seems naive and enabling to me.

I went on to have a conversation with a good friend about this over Instagram, where we covered just about every issue people have with the Australian Voldemort in particular along with what she represents in society. Some of the most popular arguments used to defend her include:

'People buy what they like! She's selling which is why shes buying awards! Buy what you like! Support who you like!'

Response: But she doesn't sell. Fancy took off after she released a copious amount of singles because TPTB wanted the song to be a hit. Her label paid journalists to talk about it. Then radio started playing the song to death, by aligning her with Clear Channel, until it became a hit. Voldemort’s success was orchestrated for the pop world after they used black bloggers to give her the patina of street cred.

And if this is about sales, then why can't Nicki get her singles from The Pinkprint on Top 40 radio like the Australian Voldemort can automatically? Nicki has been successful since 2010 but doesn't get the carte blanche Vodemort gets...and Voldemort’s albums and singles after 'Fancy' haven't done a thing ('Beg For It' isn't even getting a music video). But her failures get brushed under the rug where Black female artists of any genre get brushed aside from Top 40 radio if one song under performs on that format.

'She deserved those Grammy noms because she had a huge year with a huge single! Shes the most popular rap artist! And she's not the only rapper making ignorant music!'

Response: Popular to who? No one is giving Migos and Young Thug awards and they have had big records too. So why is the Australian Voldemort getting awards? And for the same ignorant music Migos/Young Thug might make? She appeals to mainstream white audiences and there is an undercurrent of belief that white consumers are worth more than Black consumers. She is the most blatant example of white privilege in music. And complacency (and COSIGNING) like Kendrick is displaying is ignorant and dangerous.

'It's not a big deal! Just stop talking about her and she'll go away! She's doing her thing!'

Response: But she is essentially taking food out people mouths who worked hard to get recognition/get to the Grammy's and can't get put on because they're Black. Meanwhile she has everything handed to her on a silver platter because she is white. You can't just treat something like this like "whatever, let them do their thang". How is that fair to a person that dedicated their lives to singing and rapping, gave up much and sacrificed for it?

P.S. Sorry this video and description is so long, I've been trying to work on it!

P.P.S. After I was informed 'Igloo Australia' could be problematic due to igloos being used as ceremonial Inuit spaces, my husband named her 'the Australian Voldemort' because she's 'evil and Australian.' I liked it waaaay better.

Link:

'KENDRICK LAMAR DEFENDS IGGY AZALEA: ‘GOD WANTS YOU HERE’'
http://www.rap-up.com/2015/01/08/kend...