Blog # 8 Private Enemy:Two New York rappers dreamed of stardom. MF Doom got it. MF Grimm didn't.

Reading this article reminded me of L’il Ze’s story in City of God. It’s a little hard to be compassionate towards someone who’s “longtime friend” describes as "He was a fucking murderer. What do you want me to say?" I am left thinking “Man, this guy doesn’t deserve a ‘comeback’ in the recording industry, why am I wasting time reading about “a fucking murderer”?”

I am having a bit of trouble finding a response to this article, I just feel like it’s a waste. It’s probably based on my own recent run-ins with hoods and violence, but I just feel angry that we’re even asked to read about this guy... you got shot ten times? Good for you, but how many people do you claim to have murdered? If this man thinks he’s paid off his karma by surviving in a wheel chair, maybe he’s missed the concept of even return. Maybe my head and heart are “full” and I’ve gotten out of this class everything I can get out of it for the time being, but I really feel like I can only give someone so much consideration for growing up in the upper west side and their life experiences of running a drug ring… “a fucking murderer”—not thanks, I’m not thinking this person contributes much to the advancing of society. Maybe that’s closed-minded.

For me, this article reads as a more mundane example of how distracks are involved with battles in contemporary hip hop and publicity (citing last weeks article) than an important testament to an artist’s bio.

The article hones in on his physical disabilities and his doubtlessly cute cameos on Sesame Street, but these just augment the fact that he continues to rap about a murderous lifestyle that he’s claimed to repent from—I believe in forgiveness, but I think it has to be backed up with some positive action. I can have compassion for this man, but I don’t think he should be accepted as a role model or respected artist for our society, maybe that’s just me, maybe that’s closed-minded, but more importantly, maybe I don’t really know enough about him or the article we read just didn’t frame his position well enough for me to understand.