Lil Uzi Vert and Lil Yachty have inadvertently become the poster boys for all that’s wrong with Hip Hop. But for the legions of listeners who love them, the criticism seems like blind hate. Despite veterans such as 9th Wonder defending them in the past, the attacks continue to pour in on a daily basis. One man who is clearly sick of the constant bashing is R&B singer Tank.
Tank, who has collaborated with everyone from Busta Rhymes to Wale, spoke out against the hate on Friday (May 19) via Instagram. The rant was targeted at black men criticizing the two rappers for being different. He also compares them to innovative artists like Prince and Michael Jackson.
“I’m utterly disgusted!!” he wrote. “I’ve never seen so many grown black men speak out against young black kids fighting to earn a living in this already difficult world! Yes they’re different but so was MJ and Prince! Y’all still celebrate those men highly with no thought to their differences. The crazy part is that these kids actually represent positivity. They give a voice to those who feel like outcasts and may even have a hard time fitting in. These kids make being different ok and give hope to those who may feel like their life has no value. Maybe you’d feel better if these kids ran up on your car high and tooled up with extended clips and told you to ‘get down, lay down, or be found!’ That would make more sense to you huh?”
Tank was particularly frustrated by the idea of music becoming stagnant. He pointed out how people want music to stay the same, yet desire innovation in other aspects of their lives.
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“You definitely don’t want them to live their dreams and have fun entertaining the world,” he continued. “You definitely don’t want them to feed their families and get they mama out the hood. You niggas kill me wanting your music to stay in the 80s and the 90s but gotta have the 2018 Benz! Everything changes! Everything evolves! It may not be for you but it is for the millions that stream it and show up to be entertained by it! Let these kids live!!.. #RnBMoney #RnBSoldiers #TheGeneral #savagecomingsoon #musicislife.”
Tank capped off his defense of Uzi and Yachty by further comparing them to Mick Jagger and Prince. He centered his argument around their similarities in bold fashion choices and being regarded as “different.”
The music of Uzi and Yachty will continue to bother some people. Uzi’s dancing, as seen in the viral video below, may provoke strong reactions. But in the end, both men are leaving an undeniable mark on Hip Hop.
