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This week Kodak Black reminded all of us that the accountability being fostered by the #MeToo movement hasn’t quite made its way to hip-hop culture.
Thursday, the rapper appeared on Ebro In The Morning as a guest to talk about his music and his upcoming album, Dying To Live, which drops this Friday. While Kodak is no Shakespeare, after a slow start, the radio hosts were able to get some coherent gems from the 21-year-old – most notably his feelings about Cardi B using him as inspiration for her career-making hit Bodak Yellow.
As Kodak relaxed the overall vibe of the conversation seemed light and jovial, until Ebro brought up his sexual assault case.
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“We take sexual assault serious(ly),” the host said somberly. “We can’t get into details [due to the pending case], but we hope to have you back so we can have a deeper conversation about that because it’s a serious topic and we hear these stories a lot.”
After this is said there is an awkward silence and the rapper’s discomfort is palpable. To relieve the tension co-host Peter Rosenberg changes the subject and tries to infuse some comedic relief by bringing up a moon landing conspiracy story that recently made headlines recently due to NBA star Steph Curry.
—Steph Curry ‘I was joking’ about the fake moon landing comment—
But when Kodak still refuses to engage, Ebro addresses the elephant in the room and asks if his earlier statements upset the Florida native. That’s when the now clearly annoyed rapper replies that he thinks “When n—-s goin’ through sh*t, y’all be entertained by bullsh*t. So, change the subject, or I’m fi’n’ta walk out.”
This statement is odd considering, changing the subject is exactly what they attempted to do, to no avail. At this point, Ebro is tired of walking on eggshells and responds, “We don’t have to talk about nothing else. We can be done right here.”
An invitation that Kodak accepts by getting up to leave the studio, while Rosenberg and Laura Stylez sit there in shock by how quickly things went left.
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When news of this incident hit, I was sure that people would be intrigued by the awkward moment and maybe even slam Kodak for not handling things better.
But I was mistaken.
Instead, it appears that a significant portion of the audience was upset and at times even angry at Ebro for having the nerve to even bring up the sexual assault in the first place.
For those who aren’t aware, in 2016 the No Flockin’ emcee was accused of sexual assault after a minor claimed he raped her in his hotel room following a performance, and alleges he said he “couldn’t help himself,” during the attack.
The rapper pleaded “not guilty” in February of 2017, and now his trial set to begin in April 2019. And in the time since the alleged assault, he’s already been sent to jail repeatedly for a myriad of other offenses including possession of marijuana and child neglect.
What fascinates me about the Kodak Black apologists out there is how they make no mention of the casual and nonchalant way he talks about his other criminal cases. In one instance he even jokes that he feels like the jail is his next door neighbor because he’s been going over there, “since I was a baby,” at the tender age of 14.
So the issue here isn’t that a sensitive topic having to do with a legal matter was brought up, because that was going on all throughout the conversation without even a wince. The real issue is that it was about sexual assault and the mere mention of addressing – and perhaps even taking accountability for what was alleged to have occurred that fateful evening in Florence, Florida was enough to make that young man storm out.
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People being furious at Ebro for telling Kodak Black “We take sexual assault seriously here” is proof there’s a lack of guidance out here. People whose job is interviewing musicians are supposed to ask hard questions. But that wasn’t a hard question. That was just accountability.
— Craig Bro Dude (@CraigSJ) December 13, 2018
Unfortunately, the need to defend and silence conversations around sexual assault and deem them “inappropriate” whenever the accused are asked to speak up, is a time old tradition in the Black community. From our churches to our family dinners where young women (and men) often end up sitting right next to the very uncle, cousin, stepfather etc, who snuck into their room the night before – (even after telling an adult what happened) – sweeping sexual violence under the rug is a pretty common practice. So perhaps the vitriol directed at Ebro should have been expected.
Do I know that Kodak Black assaulted that young woman? No.
When she reported the alleged rape to her school nurse the next day could she have been lying? Possibly.
These are all questions the court and legal teams from both sides will have to contend with when the trial starts next spring. But the idea that white Hollywood has been empowered to yell #TimesUp at the top of their lungs for almost two years now, while toxic masculinity is still being so preserved in hip-hop culture that we can’t even address the topic with candor…. speaks volumes.
I was tryna have a balanced convo with Kodak Black & not ignore the serious allegations against him but also not ask specifics to make his situation worse… and he wanna get an attitude with me?? Nah….
— El Viejo Ebro (@oldmanebro) December 12, 2018
Kodak Black went on hot 97 and Ebro brought up his sexual assault case and said that they take that type of issue really seriously. Kodak got mad and left the interview, and 90% of the comments I’m reading are calling Ebro a clown. we really are doomed
— © (@CashAndJewels) December 12, 2018
Ebro being pretty disrespectful towards Kodak honestly. No need to bring that shit up in the interview. Kodak smart for leaving tbh
— jake™️✝️ (@ASAPmodelo) December 13, 2018
Is Ebro corny and an attention whoring for inviting Kodak? Probably. Oh well.
— Melanie Dione (@themelaniedione) December 13, 2018
Watch the entire @KodakBlack1k interview… I think most of it was honest & balanced. He’s a smart guy… I just won’t be given ultimatums after we tried to be chill.. nah
— El Viejo Ebro (@oldmanebro) December 12, 2018
Kodak has been accused not charged.
Remember that. Ebro jus don’t respect Kodak. Why didn’t Ebro hot up Fab about the Emily B situation when they spoke?
Ebro’s interviewed murderers, drug dealers, domestic abusers & said nothing. All of a sudden man has a moral compass today. Mug https://t.co/wrWVyzXS0C— #3ShotsOfTequila ??? (@MarvAbbey) December 13, 2018
Kodak Black sexually assaulted a whole person and Ebro is the clown? pic.twitter.com/TQqeLiIZoT
— Just an icon living. (@fakelovebegone) December 12, 2018
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