As far as rap circles go, Yelawolf has enjoyed some moderate success working with Eminem and Shady Records. The guy isn’t a household name, but he’s been kicking up dirt as a “redneck rapper“ for several years. He embraces the image, and even his Twitter profile description reads, “Alien Redneck Mastermind.” Much like Kid Rock, Yelawolf loves to embrace Southern pride, states’ rights, and the Confederate flag. He went on a gigantic rant this week when he spotted an anti-Confederate flag shirt on the Babylon shop website.
Here’s the shirt, which shows the flag burning, and Yelawolf’s indignant caption. He listed examples of black Southern rappers who have embraced the “Bars & Stars” before ripping into the anti-Confederate flag crowd.
Ain’t no way I’m letting some ones ignorance tear me from my roots .. you f***ing f*** boys can save it with this anti Dixie SH*T !! .. You media succubus in fashion and news are taking full advantage of yourself’s business .. Not knowing at all the damage you’re creating by giving a false impression of who we are in the South .. We’re GOOD PEOPLE !!! .. We love our small towns and we love our folks .. For me and me only I’ll tell you like this … Rip DIME BAG DARRELL !! and Long live PANTERA !! .. Long live Lynyrd Skynyrd !!… Long Live Dukes of Hazard . .And mother F***ER … The DIXIE WILL NEVER DIE !! … Do you want Me to mention my black inspirations on the Dixie side .. like Big Gipp who I saw in a full Dixie Flag outfit at Madison Square Garden in 05 ? , or Andre 3000 rocking a Dixie Flag Belt buckle in ” Sorry ms Jackson ? ” , maybe little Jhon or Pastor Troy who rocked the Dixie Flag in a protest against ignorance ? … I saw the GROWTH and the POWER !! NOT THE DEMISE !!! And here we have these f***ing yuppies from the west coast and world wide jumping on this band wagon .. Who know NOTHING ABOUT US .. Other than the movies and misrepresented news reels they see .. Lied too at school and at home .. Further deepening the injury of social perception .. With this wack as** image of a burning Dixie Flag …. F*** that !! … Well I can tell you that a #slumerican will never support you .. We’re beyond you all .. More open and way more prepared than you are ⚡️⚡️🇺🇸⚡️⚡️DIXIE !!! @savetheconfederateflag #slumerican
“Long live PANTERA !!” is hilarious. Yelawolf also posted a photo of Andre 3000 with a quote that reads, “I wear the belt for southern pride and to rebel … I don’t take the confederate flag that serious as far as the racial part is concerned.”
Sigh. Yelawolf and his buddies defend the Confederate flag in terms of embracing their culture. Their enthusiasm for states’ rights is inseparable with how those states defended the right to own slaves. There’s no talking any sense into people like this, although I take a small comfort in knowing they embrace a symbol that should remind them they lost the dang Civil War. Ah well.
Someone else can deal with Yelawolf’s ignorance better than I can. That person is Talib Kweli Greene, who points out the irony in Yelawolf’s status as a guy who build his career on “music invented by black people. Have respect.” Yes.
@yelawolf dude. No. You're better than this. You got famous doing music invented by black people. Have respect. It's hate. Not heritage.
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) August 25, 2015
Photos courtesy of WENN
