Some Kanye West Merchandise Emblazoned With Confederate Flag, "Ain't Coming Down"

How to nurture controversy for profit 101

Kanye West and the Confederate battle flag. That's the discussion.

It's not about race relations or a relic's true meaning. It's not about whether a group can co-opt a pejorative of which they've historically been the butt and make it their own, much like the gay community did with "queer" or African-Americans did with the n-word.

No, the conversation is about West and that flag.

The rapper thrust himself into the spotlight, yet again, with news that several pieces of merchandise from his Yeezus tour are emblazoned with the controversial Southern Cross. At his tour store in Los Angeles, a replica of the flag is affixed to the wall with red tape and adorned with the words, "I ain't coming down."