CeeLo Green is catching flack for sharing his thoughts on today’s female rappers, notably Cardi B and Megan’s “WAP”. The hit-making artist took time to criticize the two during an interview with Far Out magazine, suggesting that this era of “savagery” is running rampant and perhaps there should be more temperature checks for adult content.
“A lot of music today is very unfortunate and disappointing on a personal and moral level,” Green began. “There was once a time when we were savvy enough to code certain things. We could express to those it was meant for with the style of language we used. But now music is shameless, it is sheer savagery.”
“We are adults. There should be a time and a place for adult content,” says CeeLo, real name Thomas DeCarlo Callaway. “As adults and artists, we should at least attempt to be each other’s accountability partners in some regard. The stereotypes that are celebrated and perpetuated, ultimately make the perception a reality. It is disenfranchising and it has caused a great deal of problems.”
It is then that he proceeds to call out Nicki Minaj and others with her platform that he feels are perpetuating the issues that he feels. “You have the ‘Heads of State,’ like Nicki Minaj or someone who is up there in accolade: success, visibility, a platform to influence. Nicki could be effective in so many other constructive ways, but it feels desperate,” Green stated.
Not stopping there, the Gnarls Barkley singer brings Cardi B and Megan into the conversation, more than likely due to their chart-topping hit single “Wap”. “Attention is also a drug and competition is around,” he remarks. “Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, they are all more or less doing similar salacious gesturing to kinda get into position. I get it, the independent woman and being in control, the divine femininity and sexual expression. I get it all.” He concludes, “It comes at what cost?”
CeeLo’s statements propelled social media to label the singer mysoginist as it feeds into the conversation that it is acceptable for males to participate in that particular content, but not women. Fans began to remind the singer of his own past content, including a song Necromancer off of the “Gnarls Barkley” project that featured questionable lyrics.
Fans also resurfaced the 2012 accusations of him unknowingly slipping an ecstasy pill to a woman as they dined, taking advantage of her whie in an unconscious state. He also deactivated his Twitter after an argument with fans in 2014 when he attempted to prove his innocence with tweets that read: “If someone is passed out they’re not even WITH you consciously! so WITH Implies consent,” the rapper alleges.
After overwhelming backlash from fans, CeeLo issued an apology via social media. Check out the full statement below.
— CeeLo Green (@CeeLoGreen) August 12, 2020