Jay-Z, Kanye West Join Stevie Wonder's Boycott of Florida over Stand Your Ground

Credit: whittlz / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND

Following George Zimmerman's acquittal, soul singer Stevie Wonder announced his intention to boycott the whole state of Florida. He cited the state's "Stand Your Ground" law for his self-imposed exile, even though, as Jacob Sullum has pointed out several times, Stand Your Ground played no role the case. Since Wonder's announcement last week, other big name celebrities have rallied behind the singer.

Standing in solidarity against self-defense laws is rapper Jay-Z, who once faced charges for plunging a knife into a music producer. The artist, whose song "Threat" features lyrics such as "I'll kill ya, I'll chop ya up/ Put ya inside the mattress," made a prominent appearance at a "Justice for Trayvon" rally in New York City. Also agreeing to boycott Florida is Kanye West, who is facing felony charges for attacking a paparazzo.

Wonder proclaimed his musical embargo of the sunshine state on stage in Quebec City, Canada last week. Because of his "love for everyone," the musician took a break from a concert to express strong sentiments against any place which allows citizens to stand their ground in a dangerous situations. Wonder encouraged fans to join him in shunning Florida. Captured on video by a fan, Wonder declared to the crowd:

I decided today that until the 'stand your ground' law is abolished in Florida, I will never perform there again. As a matter of fact, wherever I find that law exists, I will not perform in that state or in that part of the world.

[…] For those that we have lost in the battle for justice, wherever that fits in any part of the world — we can't bring them back… [What] we can do is we can let our voices be heard. And we can vote in our various countries throughout the world for change and equality for everybody. That's what I know we can do.

If Wonder stands his ground against self-defense laws, the musician's decision will leave fans throughout the United States cut off from his concerts. As the National Conference of State Legislatures points out, "laws in at least 22 states allow that there is no duty to retreat an attacker in any place in which one is lawfully present."

Journalist April D. Ryan lists 23 music celebrities who have joined Wonder thus far:

Eddie Levert
Rod Stewart
Madonna
Usher
Kanye West
Jay Z
Pattie Labelle
Mary J
Trey Songz
Rolling Stones
Justin Timberlake
R. Kelly
Rihanna
Alicia Keys
Joe
Will I AM
Keyshia Cole
Young Jeezy
Erykah Badu
Wale
Frankie Beverly
Parliament
Mary Mary

Update: A local station reports that a concert with Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake is still set to hit Miami. A Mother Jones article explains that some of the celebrities listed, though they expressed solidarity with Stevie Wonder's boycott, "that doesn't mean they're necessarily blacklisting Florida" themselves.

Comments

[Enough About Palin]

Stupid fucks.

[Brett L]

Please, please, please keep your promises on this, musicians.

[Eduard van Haalen]

He wants Florida to be his pallbearer...

[some guy]

Don't. Just don't.

[goneGalt]

Could we make "pallbearer" part of the Reason drinking game?

[some guy]

The boycott is really in their own self-interest. They apparently have a tendency to attack people and stand-your-ground laws are scary for people like that.

[ant1sthenes]

I am skeptical that this applies to Stevie Wonder. At any rate, I think quietly moving out of the way would be a more appropriate response.

[Caleb Turberville]

Is it racist if I don't think Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Stevie Wonder know anything about Stand Your Ground statutes?

[RBS]

Apparently Stevie doesn't even believe in plain old self defense either.

[Zeb]

Well, I wouldn't give him a gun.

[Pro Libertate]

When you believe in things
That you don't understand
Then you suffer.
Superstition ain't the way.

[Free Society]

Is it racist to know with a high degree of certainty, who these celebrities vote for, without ever looking at their voting record?

[RBS]

Gary Johnson?

[jesse.in.mb]

Bitch, I voted for Gary Johnson

[Sigivald]

As long as the reason you don't doesn't hinge on the color of their skin, nope.

(I'm pretty sure it's just stupid ignorance, same as for Madonna and the Rolling Stones, and, well, everyone on that stupid, ignorant list.)

[wareagle]

it's always helpful when dumbasses self-identify.

[Hawk Spitui]

Who do I have to shoot to get them to boycott my state?

[Tommy_Grand]

I too will boycott America's wang.

[Pro Libertate]

Don't be silly. You can't quit Florida.

[A Serious Man]

Nice alt-text, rookie.

[The DerpRider]

Excellent.

[Hugh Akston]

Agreed.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Ignorant.

[Sudden]

I will continue my long-standing boycott of shitty music by noycotting these boycotters. I may slip a Rod Stewart song in every so often cuz he's the man.

[Death Rock and Skull]

Pooped 'em.

[Caleb Turberville]

I'm depressed to see the Rolling Stones listed. Aren't they getting too old to worry about being seen in the latest political celebrity fad?

[Pro Libertate]

So, they hate the millions of blacks who live here, too? Just to make sure I understand this. Besides their dislike of guns, Hispanics, self-defense, and the high burden of proof on the state in criminal prosecutions.

I think this whole business shows in very stark light how detached the left can really get from reality. The facts in this case are completely ignored. No, twisted into something they aren't. If they do that with some case in a little town, what else do they do it with?

[John]

It is not so much detachment from reality as an addiction to mindless symbolism.

[RBS]

What John said, at least for the progressive rank and file.

[Sudden]

Have you not witnessed the lyric brilliance of Jay-Z? How can the man be expected to spend time learning about SYG laws or justifiable self-defense cases when he's busily at work putting together such poetic gems as :

"What you know about going out, head west
Maybach, 3 TV's all up in the headrest
Mace niggas at Madison Square Garden
20 million sold and we still catching charges
Rope chains, Rakim and Eric B
Bought my sidekicks Suzuki Jeeps and Cherokees
Hoop earrings, coupes with the rear cameras
Put that bitch in a cherry M3
"

[Irish]

I didn't know Jay-Z made a song based on a Wordsworth poem.

[Swiss Servator - past LTC(ret)]

*rises to applaud*

[Nas]

Now, not to support the man's decision to do any of this stuff or anything, but he is pretty good at crafting metaphors and double/triple entendres. Rapping is harder than people think. That being said, he is pretty dumb.

[DWC]

Rapping is hard. So is putting your fist in your mouth.

[sloopyinca]

What kind of heathen would put a rear-view camera in an M3 coupe? It's just not done, man.

And S-jeeps? Really? Even Kid N Play bought their sidekicks Isuzu Amigos.

[Caleb Turberville]

None of the musicians listed above know anything substantive about the Zimmerman trial. I sincerely doubt that any of them are well versed in the facts, the law, or the court testimony to even begin to have an intelligent conversation about the case.

[John]

^^THIS^^ The Rolling Stones wouldn't be on any list unless there was a buck to be made by being there.

[Pro Libertate]

I'm not boycotting a whole state for no fucking reason.

[Episiarch]

That's because you're not a collectivist moron. Well, not a collectivist; I don't want to go too far.

[Pro Libertate]

I just can't get over the idea. I mean, there are millions of blacks here, with a decent share working in the tourism industry. If the protest is about racism, then what about them?

And, as noted below, there are a lot of states with similar laws, and any lawyer who isn't selling something will tell you that Zimmerman would've walked in all fifty states. Self-defense is a very old and honored defense.

[Episiarch]

The Narrative has been created, ProL; it's a done deal. To all the low foreheads and sheep who follow The Narrative, this case was all about Stand Your Ground, and collective guilting is A-OK. It is now absolute truth in their minds and nothing can change that now.

[Pro Libertate]

At least these people can't vote, right?

[G-dub]

As I understand it, many if not most states require a defendant claiming self defense to prove with a preponderance of the evidence that he was acting in self defense. In Florida, the evidence presented by the defendant need only be enough to create reasonable doubt about the State's version of the events. So there is a significant difference here. Zimmerman would have had a higher burden of proof in some states.

[Red Rocks Rockin]

Zimmerman would have had a higher burden of proof in some states.

No, the state would have had a lower burden of proof. Innocent until proven guilty, remember?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

We're going to Disney in November. Look forward to it.

[Paul.]

f they do that with some case in a little town, what else do they do it with?

Healthcare.

[Free Society]

The prosecutor wrapped up their logic in his closing arguments thusly: "The bottom line," the prosecutor said, "is who is responsible for Trayvon Martin lying on that ground? Trayvon Martin did not kill himself."

To these people, the facts of the case are irrelevant since those facts don't support Zimmerman's guilt. Justice was never the goal, a vendetta was.

[Live Free or Diet]

"Trayvon Martin did not kill himself."

Yeah, he kind of did.

[The DerpRider]

Hey, a list of singers and bands I don't want to see either. My nine year old daughter would be bummed about JT I guess.

[RBS]

It's like a list of people who make terrible music, with a few exceptions.

[Live Free or Diet]

It's like a list of people who make terrible music, with a few exceptions.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I wonder if we could manage to get them to not sell their music in states with SYG?

[A Serious Man]

In my opinion Jay-Z is the most contemptible public figure in this country that's not a politician. He produces music that celebrates and glorifies murder, theft, domestic violence, and overall criminality and he has the gall to bitch about young black men being profiled?

Blacks look up to him because he's rich and famous but he got that way exploiting black ambition. Fuck Jay-Z.

[Sudden]

Meanwhile, Lupe Fiasco continues to gain my respect as an independent thinker (not to mention a far more talented lyricist), even though I think he's a bit too much on the victim mindset at times and a bit too heavy on the leftist liberation theology aspects.

[Irish]

Meanwhile, Lupe Fiasco continues to gain my respect as an independent thinker (not to mention a far more talented lyricist), even though I think he's a bit too much on the victim mindset at times and a bit too heavy on the leftist liberation theology aspects.

He's also a 9/11 Truther. Lupe only looks good compared to other celebrities. He's like the tallest midget.

[Sudden]

Ya, but at least he's not blinded enough by the "my president is black" self-congratulations to actually call the potus out for bombing third world brown kids into smithereens and even had the goddamned common sense to tweet that "we dont really know what happened" with the trayvon-zimmerman thing.

[Sudden]

Plus, he also derides the flashy cars, drugs, and bitch talk in contemporary mainstream rap since he seems to see what its doing to his community.

[Paul.]

Lupe Fiasco was... 'discovered' by Jay-Z. Wonder how that relationship is going.

[Sigivald]

Fiasco's rapping makes my brain hurt.

I mean, he's skilled, and I respect that, but for whatever reason something about his flow just makes it impossible for me to think while he's talking.

Which is awkward, and all.

[John]

Yes. He is a contemptible piece of shit. And most of the money he has made has come from selling records to white teenagers. And how does he sell those records? By playing the worst stereotype of the scary dangerous black man.

The irony of Jay Z complaining about black males being stereotyped as criminals is enormous even by today's standards. I don't know Jay, maybe your making millions telling the white community what bad ass criminals black men are might have something to do with white people thinking black men are criminals?

[Sudden]

Not to mention the fact that it molds young black men into thinking that in order to be successful like JayZ they must also be thuggish ass criminals, therefore further reinforcing the stereotype.

[John]

Yup. Reinforcing an image of manhood that would cause someone to, I don't know, go sucker punch a creepy ass cracker who was following him?

[Sudden]

Well, that and the lean-induced paranoia.

[Floridian]

I know this is not going to be popular but isn't this along the same line as blaming video games for school shootings? Yes Jay-Z is glamorizing thug life but I believe people are smart enough to know the difference between lyrics and real life.

[John]

Sure they are. But think about what Jay Z is saying here. He is saying that all white people are evil and think a black man is automatically a criminal. If you really thought that, wouldn't you also think it was a bad idea to make music that white people bought that re-enforced that idea?

[Floridian]

It might be irresponsible but if it sells records he should do that. I don't think fast food is good for you but if I could get rich selling it, I sure would. He is an entertainer so if this gets him the spot light and sells to his base he is just looking out for his business interest.

[Sudden]

@Floridian: the crucial difference is that anyone who watches a movie or TV show knows that it is a work of fiction. The impressionable kids looking at Jay-Z's life think he got to where he is (and brags about excessively in his money-worshipping music, ironic for a lefty) exactly by being a thug. So they're actually emulating an example instead of being brainwashed by some fictional escapism.

[Floridian]

I see the difference. I just hate when people alleviate blame from themselves or others at the expense of someone else. I played GTA and never killed a hooker. I listened to the black album but still got a college degree. If you want to blame the reputation that the black community has I think we should look past Jay-Z for a root cause.

[PM]

I don't think it was as much blame as pointing out what a mindless fucking hypocrite he is. It's scary to think that these people are actually stupid enough that they don't even experience the natural discomfort of cognitive dissonance that accompanies that type of complete and total hypocrisy.

[G-dub]

True. Jay Z bitching about profiling is sort of like Tony Soprano bitching about Italians being stereotyped as mafiosos.

[ThatSkepticGuy]

"In my opinion Jay-Z is the most contemptible public figure in this country that's not a politician. He produces music that celebrates and glorifies murder, theft, domestic violence, and overall criminality and he has the gall to bitch about young black men being profiled?"

He's also a big-time worshipper of Che Guevara and the Super Castro Bros.

Cuz hating blacks and shooting teenagers left and right for no reason is totally cool if you're a Commie.

[rts]

Here's the list of states, courtesy of Wikipedia:

Many states have some form of stand-your-ground law. Alabama,[13] Alaska,[14] Arizona,[15] California,[16][17][18] Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa,[19] Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,[15] Maine, Massachusetts (though the term is used very loosely there),[20] Michigan,[15] Mississippi, Missouri, Montana,[15] New Hampshire,[15] North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma,[15] Pennsylvania,[21] Rhode Island,[22] South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee,[15] Texas,[23] Utah,[24] West Virginia,[15] Wisconsin[25] and Wyoming have adopted Castle Doctrine statutes, and other states (Iowa,[26] Virginia,[27] and Washington) have considered stand-your-ground laws of their own.[28][29][30]

[Thane of Whiterun]

Yeah, he's going to boycott California and Texas? Right.

[Mike M.]

I can't wait to see how he's going to effectively run his sports agency while boycotting half the country. That'll be some kind of neat trick!

[Pro Libertate]

Boycott them all, or boycott none.

[Live Free or Diet]

If we get SYG in all 50 states, does that mean these jerk leave the country?

[DaveSs]

I'm fairly certain Illinois is among the states w/o a duty to retreat.

Not that it really matters much till concealed carry is implemented.

[John]

I don't follow this stuff. So forgive my ignorance. But when was the last time Jay-Z actually made a record? He doesn't seem like a working musician anymore. He is in the business of being Jay Z, whatever that means.

And poor Stevie Wonder. Something went very wrong for him in the late 1970s. How did he go from the guy who was making records like Superstitious and Higher Ground and opening for the Stones to I just Called to Say I Love You" in just ten short years?

[RBS]

I think he has one about to come out, if the samsung commercials are to be believed.

[Sudden]

It recently came out, and hit #1 on the billboards. Giving him as many #1s as the fucking Beatles had while they were still active. I've always thought the Beatles overrated myself, but ferchrissakes, JayZ matching them makes me wanna laugh, cry, and punch every person I walk past.

[John]

He only has so many because of the strange shape of the music industry these days. Rock and roll has totally splintered. There are very few bands who command a large fan base. The fan base is still there. They have just retreated into their various niches and don't listen to the same kinds of music anymore. That is really been the result of the internet and the access to so much more music than before.

Hip Hop in contrast is a fucking cult. The hip hop fan base all listen to the same music and the same acts. So that makes the few hip hop stars who make it into the mainstream consciousness very big.

[Sudden]

Well, the hive mentality exists in the mainstream rap community (as Trayvonapolooza shows), there is an underground hip hop culture that is as splintered from the mainstream BS as any black metal band is in the broader R&R scene.

[John]

There is an underground rap community. But it is really underground. The hive mentality in mainstream rap is appalling. Artistically, it is a dead art form. No one has done anything new or interesting in 20 years. It still sells for sure. But it stopped being interesting and innovative a very long time ago.

[Irish]

Artistically, it is a dead art form.

Nonsense. Underground rap is much more popular than you give it credit for and there are plenty of talented and artistic rappers.

I'll agree with you about mainstream rap though.

[Sigivald]

"This is where the flare sank
This is where the maps led
This is where we stare blank
At those who think that rap's dead..."

(Also, I think John's comment about the dead art form was limited to mainstream rap.

I don't listen to enough to judge, but that's not entirely implausible.)

[KDN]

More like ten years, but the overall point is correct. Rap is stuck in its hair metal phase.

[Sudden]

I'm still a fan of the UG stuff, even used to spit a few rhymes in my collegiate days (went over surprisingly well for an upper-middle class white kid). Won a few battles here and there (MTV campus invasion thing) and one of my favorite things to flow was Dulce Et Decorum Est by Sir Wilfred Owen.

[Irish]

Won a few battles here and there (MTV campus invasion thing) and one of my favorite things to flow was Dulce Et Decorum Est by Sir Wilfred Owen.

That's awesome. Rappers think they're tough for rapping about gang violence or life on the streets, but that's nothing compared to a poem about living through a gas attack as you watched your brothers in arms die with blood streaming out of their mouths.

[Sudden]

Iambic pentameter sonnets lend themselves so well to hip hop beats that I'm surprised I havent heard an underground artist do it before.

[PH2050]

"Iambic pentameter"

http://mscronksclass.weebly.co.....meter.html

[Swiss Servator - past LTC(ret)]

Cripes...that is hardcore. Maybe I could do a lighter version 107s inbound, baby.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Sudden, The Beatles over rated?

Surely you jest.

Hands down. The greatest of them all.

http://www.hooksandharmony.com.....test-ever/

[Pro Libertate]

I'm actually a fan of his older stuff. The last album I liked at all was Hotter than July.

[Thane of Whiterun]

Actually he just released Magna Carta, for which he generated buzz by partnering with Samsung to give it away for free to owners of Galaxy phones.

[Zeb]

I love Stevie. But goddammit, why can't famous artists just keep their fucking mouths shut about political shit that they clearly haven't thought very deeply about. Why isn't it enough just to be an extremely talented musician.

[Scruffy Nerfherder]

What is the point of fame if you can't get people to listen to your bullshit?

[Paul.]

Thinking deeply. You answered your own question.

[JW]

Journalist April D. Ryan lists 23 music celebrities who have joined Wonder thus far:

Huh. Still not giving a fuck.

[Anders]

Floridians breathe a collective sigh of relief.

What would really have been disturbing would be a threat by all those nebbishes to descend on Florida and play some kind of We Are The Skittles concert / horror show.

[Pro Libertate]

Live Rage.

[wwhorton]

Please, let it be in Tampa.

/Glen Benton

[The DerpRider]

Morons. Getting from MIA to the rental car center is a better reason to avoid the state.

[Pro Libertate]

Going to Miami was your first mistake.

[The DerpRider]

My office is there. I can't avoid it.

[Paul.]

I hear their kiosk placement blows.

[pogi]

I wonder how hard it would be to get them to boycott America?

[John]

Seriously. Other than the Rolling Stones, who are unlikely to have played Florida anyway, none of those people can even play in tune. Parliament maybe, but isn't George Clinton dead or even with them anymore?

[Pro Libertate]

The Stones have played here plenty, though their greatly truncated tours these days would mean no more than one appearance, anyway.

[John]

That is what I meant. In the past, for sure. But unlikely more than one show today anyway.

[Sigivald]

My impression is that Alicia Keys is actually a musician.

But, yes.

[PM]

... the Rolling Stones, who are unlikely to have played Florida anyway...

I don't know, the demographic is right for it. The state's composed of a bare majority who may actually be older than the Jagger. When you think about it, they should be LIVING in Florida.

[wwhorton]

So, does that mean those artists cede the field to native Floridians, such as Morbid Angel, Death, Deicide, Cynic, Obituary, Hate Eternal, et al? Because, I'm totally ok with that.

[Mint Berry Crunch]

I don't listen to Jay-Z, but I bet whatever he's doing these days is more metal than some of Morbid Angel's recent work.

[Anonymous Coward]

Fashionable politics.

American celebrities hold positions because they are acceptable in their social circles. They certainly can't defend them or even rationally explain them.

And did you hear that Kate Middleton asked the Cleveland Browns to deliver her baby so they can let her down one more time?

[Caleb Turberville]

Give Prince William credit. He doesn't have that air of sophisticated pretense that surrounds Charles or his grandma. One might think he would rather preemptively abdicate his claim to the throne in order to spend a normal life with his hot wife and young son.

[Anonymous Coward]

If you can't keep a harem of mistresses in your royal court or ride into battle at the head of an army of thousands, what exactly is the point of being king?

[Sigivald]

A really fabulous hat.

[Swiss Servator - past LTC(ret)]

I am a king that find thee, and I know
'Tis not the balm, the sceptre and the ball,
The sword, the mace, the crown imperial,
The intertissued robe of gold and pearl,
The farced title running 'fore the king,
The throne he sits on, nor the tide of pomp
That beats upon the high shore of this world,
No, not all these, thrice-gorgeous ceremony,
Not all these, laid in bed majestical,
Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave,
Who with a body fill'd and vacant mind
Gets him to rest, cramm'd with distressful bread;
Never sees horrid night, the child of hell,
But, like a lackey, from the rise to set
Sweats in the eye of Phoebus and all night
Sleeps in Elysium; next day after dawn,
Doth rise and help Hyperion to his horse,
And follows so the ever-running year,
With profitable labour, to his grave:

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Other than Monarchs who actually mattered, I don't know a whole lot of the British Royal family because quite frankly it's annoying. But apparently Middleton is Canadian. If so, what's with the Brit accent? She disowned us already?

And what does royal sex look like?

I want to know.

[XM]

Next - Lebron James returns his championship rings in protest, demands trade to a team in a state without SYG. Insists on annulling the existing contract that was effective in murder ground Florida.

[Outlaw]

And nothing of value was lost.

[PM]

Fuck, beat me to it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbIMLz4ei7Q

[Brett L]

Also, can we get a "Higer Ground" lyric rewrite for Stand your ground? Which scans just fine.

[Pro Libertate]

"Till I reach my stand your ground?" I dunno, looks like a lot of work.

[Brett L]

Keep your life and stand your ground?

[Pro Libertate]

Maybe another song?

[sloopyinca]

Trayvon keep on learnin'
Z-man keep on warrin'
World keep on turnin'
Cause it won't be too long

Crackers keep on lyin'
While our people keep on dyin'
World keep on turnin'
Cause it won't be too long

I'll be so glad when they try him again
Cause his last day on earth will be filled with sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin'
Till you can't Stand Your Ground

Teachers keep indoctrinatin''
Preachers keep on race batin'
World keep on turnin'
Cause it won't be too long
Oh no

I've taken it as far as I can.

[Pro Libertate]

Okay, that'll teach me not to be so dismissive. I like it.

[Brett L]

Well played, sloop.

[Sidd Finch]

Joe?

[Irish]

Erykah Badu
Wale
Frankie Beverly
Parliament
Mary Mary

^^^ Who the fuck are these people?

[Thane of Whiterun]

Isn't Parliament a 70s-era funk band?

[John]

Yes. It is George Clinton's band. I don't think they even tour anymore.

[RBS]

I saw them in 2001 and, while fun, the show was a little rough.

[RBS]

What I meant was, I saw what was left.

[Brett L]

Depends on how much money George owes at any given time.

[ChrisO]

George Clinton still tours with the P-Funk Allstars, which is basically the successor group to Parliament. He retired the Parliament name in 1980 due to record company problems.

[Scruffy Nerfherder]

Who doesn't know who Parliament is?

[Irish]

Who doesn't know who Parliament is?

This guy.

-Points at self-

[Sidd Finch]

That means you don't know who Bootsy Collins is. What the fuck is wrong with you?

[Irish]

Growing up my parents kept me in a shack in the back yard and only allowed me to listen to jug music that the hill folk played whenever the moon was full.

[Brett L]

Two words: Lead bass.

[Sidd Finch]

Space Bass

[Enough About Palin]

TO THE MOTHERSHIP!

[Marc F Cheney]

Bootsy. He's from outer space, you know.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Parliament were rather influential.

And now, apparently, stupid.

[TANSTaaFL]

Funk, Gutter, funk! George Clinton, Parliament Funkadelic. Dude, aren't you a music major?

[Jordan]

That guy *points at Irish* and this guy *points at self*.

[John]

Other than Parliament, who are a cult band, none of them have ever been in any way important to anything.

[KDN]

Nonsense. Erykah Badu wears a cool hat.

[Sigivald]

And double nonsense.

The Rolling Stones were important to rock music.

45 years ago.

And Rod Stewart actually does a really good set of American Songbook standards...

[Sidd Finch]

Erykah Badu wears a thing on her head.

Wale (pronounced wa lay) had some sort of run in with a Raptors announcer.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Sidd, thanks. Kept pronouncing if whale.

Now my life has meaning. Off to India...

[ThatSkepticGuy]

Parliament is a pretty damn good funk band known for tag-teaming with Funkadelic. They've always been a super-racially charged 70's band which translates into them holding the sort of uninformed racist double standards one might expect from a Black Panther.

The rest, I imagine, are nobodys trying to ride the wave into the spotlight.

[ChrisO]

Parliament and Funkadelic were the exact same group of people, just signed to two different record labels for various wacky reasons.

Parliament records had a horn section, while Funkadelic records had lots of guitars. That's the main musical difference between them.

[Tim]

I've always like Florida but I like it more now.

[sloopyinca]

So is Jay-Z going to recommend all of his clients leave Florida teams? Or will he not negotiate with Florida sports franchises for his clients?

If so, I would imagine all of the major sports leagues would like to discuss his agent's license with him.

[RBS]

Somehow I doubt he thought it all the way through.

[Caleb Turberville]

RACIST!

[I can't trust my fans]

I'm here in South Florida (SOFLA). Sanford is Central Fl.

This boycott's dumb. We got lots of Black people down here. They didn't shoot Trayvon. Dwayne Wade and Chris James and Lebron "King" James... they all live in Florida. They didn't shoot Trayvon. So, uh, who's getting punished?

AFAIK, no one's getting punished. Everyone can still by the CDs. And all the George Zimmerman supporters throughout the rest of the country will still be able to see Jigga, Yeezy, Jeezy, Patti Lebelle, the mummified Rolling Stones, Madonna, etc.

So, this is, um, weird and pointless.

George Zimmerman will still be saving lives everyday (rescuing kittens from fires; performing CPR on handicapped dwarves, etc., etc.).

Boycotts are retahded.

[sloopyinca]

Do you do drugs, Danny?

[Sigivald]

It's just posturing.

Odds are everyone involved, even the artists, knows it's just posturing.

The only weird thing, really, is that people still think that posturing like that is a good idea, or matters.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Madonna's mummified clit...

What?

[sloopyinca]

Mary Mary

Why ya buggin'?

[EDG reppin' LBC]

For a creepy ass cracka, you sure know your rap lyrics!

Also, tOSU at Cal Sept. 5th. You in?

[Sudden]

Hmmm... I'd go if I didn't have to be up in the Bay the weekend before for a wedding.

[sloopyinca]

Yeah, brother. How many are there in our group? And I was thinking of taking the CalTrain up, so we can all drink (except Banjos). Not sure what the rules are on babies, but I think that would be a fun trip.

I'll buy the tix in a couple of weeks and everybody can rep[ay me. I just need to know how many of us there are.

[Sudden]

I believe the Berkeley City Council approves of murdering babies up to three months after they've exited the birth canal.

/Kermit

[sloopyinca]

Three months? My body, my choice!

/progtarded feminist

[Pierre]

It's odd that Stevie Wonder would make those comments in Canada, which imposes no duty to retreat, IOW, a whole country that is a "stand your ground" state.

[Pro Libertate]

BOYCOTT!

[Invisible Finger]

Kanye West hates black people.

[Sidd Finch]

*doesn't care about*

[Invisible Finger]

Invisible Finger doesn't care enough about Kanye West to get the quote right.

[Enough About Palin]

"Pattie Labelle"

The only talent this bitch has is upstaging people. I think she does it to hide the fact that the others on stage are far superior.

[Invisible Finger]

I'd bet "Rolling Stones" is only Mick Jagger. Keith Richards usually has the exact opposite opinion from Jagger on almost everything.

[Anders]

Keith also killed Brian Jones who was by the far the blackest member of the Stones.

Justice for Brian Jones!

[KDN]

Related: Killer Mike would be popular around here.

People not gonna love you for waking them up to the truth. You gotta be prepared for people to hate you ... That's why it's important for me in my music to represent all of me. Not just both sides ? I'm not split down the middle. I like freedom and I like absence of government in my life because I like drugs, and I like strip clubs, and I like guns, and I like shit like that. And I don't want you in my life. I am here by accident because two teenagers made love in this country, but God put me on this earth. You don't own me. I have inalienable rights to live my life as I see fit. And that's what this shit is about.

[Sudden]

I'm a huge El-P fan. Thanks for the link.

[Marc F Cheney]

What's your favorite album? Tarkus?

[Sigivald]

Everyone knows Fragile was their best album.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

"underdeveloped political opinions" one commenter said.

[Marc F Cheney]

Not Eddie Levert! DEAR GOD NOT EDDIE LEVERT!

[Marc F Cheney]

If I can't go to Florida and see a live performance of "Love Train" I DON'T WANT TO LIVE!

[Jon Lester]

Is Jay-Z even aware of stop-and-frisk in his own city, or Ray Kelly's nomination to DHS?

[John]

Someone in the PR department told Mick it was a good idea.

[Pro Libertate]

Actually, the statement was probably issued by PR without even consulting the band.

It's such bullshit, anyway, because not a damned one of them will be "boycotting" for very long, no matter what.

[Dave C]

Apparently the Stones aren't really on the list.

[Pro Libertate]

Okay, that's better. Didn't really sound like something they'd wade into, really.

[John]

Thank God.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

I was bummed out the Stones were on the list. Nice to hear they aren't. It's retarded. Rod Stewart is the only one I care about this list (Stevie Wonder is simply brilliant but can't say I'm not surprised by him jumping on this stupidity). Wtf, Rod? Old Rod and Faces - awesome.

Other than that, bunch of clowns on the list.