In an unflinching and no-nonsense moment during an episode of It Is What It Is, the rapper and cultural commentator Cam’ron called out two of Chicago’s most celebrated and loathed figures, Kanye West and R. Kelly. Uncharacteristic, Cam didn’t sugarcoat anything, calling them out for bringing themselves personal shame and the stain they’ve cast on the city they represent.
“I’m not saying anything about the city of Chicago,” Cam’ron added before jumping to his larger point. “It’s a lot of sh*t going on with two of the biggest superstars […] Not just from Chicago, ever in music history where some personal nasty sh*t going on […].” His words reflect the magnitude of West’s and Kelly’s celebrity and the weight of their respective falls from grace. “Y’all putting a stain on a good city, man. Y’all need to cut the sh*t baby,” he concluded, an exceedingly rare moment of musical criticism in a culture that often recoils from holding its icons to account.
For Cam’ron, it’s about legacy, community, and cultural responsibility. Chicago has been a musical titan since music was first popular in America, a city where legends come from every genre, blues, jazz, gospel, hip-hop, and so many more. Musicians such as Common, Chance the Rapper, and Lupe Fiasco have proudly worn their Chicago flag, using their music to uplift their city and perform community service. But when two of the city’s most notable exports are more famous for scandal than artistry, there’s a sour aftertaste beyond the headlines.
Check out this article: Michelle Obama Keeps It Real About Love & Hip Hop Addiction
R. Kelly, a once beloved R&B artist with undeniable talent, is notorious for his past as a predator. Now serving a 30-year sentence after being found guilty of offenses ranging from racketeering to enticing girls for sex, Kelly is a broken man, and his empire lies in ruins. The volume, scope, and depth of the accusations and convictions, including producing child pornography and exploiting minors, have made his name a warning, one not only about fame but also about power and abuse.
And Kanye West’s scandals, of another kind, have also elicited worldwide opprobrium. Once celebrated as a music prodigy and fashion-forward icon, Ye’s unpredictable antics in the public sphere, controversial political remarks, and a string of anti-Semitic outbursts have drawn widespread backlash. For a city that once took great pride in considering him a hometown hero, it’s been an unsettled few years. His impact on music and culture has since been mired by his public persona.
Cam’ron’s remarks reflect a more widespread anger among some people. It’s about their actions’ weight on the communities from which they’ve emerged. When Chicago’s name is relegated in the media to the company of R. Kelly’s crimes or Kanye’s controversies, it diminishes the labor of countless artists, activists, and everyday people trying to elevate the city’s profile.
In an age when we demand more government accountability, Cam’ron’s words come as criticism and provocation. They’re another reminder that fame equals influence, and influence equals weight. Cities, meanwhile, deserve better representation by those who bear their name before the world. If talent raises a city, disgrace can lower it just as quickly. In holding his fellow artists to a higher standard, Cam’ron is the leader hip-hop could use. In the process, he underscores an essential truth of a city’s legacy, which is determined by how those stars decide to radiate.
