|
Ross rapped about giving a woman the drug MDMA, known as Molly, and having his way with her in Rocko's song "U.O.E.N.O." Reebok ended its relationship with Ross in April after the women's group UltraViolet held several protests, including one outside a Reebok store in New York City. The sneaker brand said it was not happy with how 37-year-old Ross handled the situation (Ross apologized for his lyrics twice before he was dropped, but only acknowledged the seriousness of his words after Reebok let him go). "I bet you (Ross) wasn't thinking that was going to happen when he was writing that lyric," John Legend said of the backlash the burly rapper received, with whom he has collaborated three times. "Now people will think twice about stepping in that territory and making light of it ... and if that's the effect of people protesting then maybe that's a good effect." Lyrics from rap icons like Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. were sometimes raw and vulgar, but they didn't have contracts with major companies like rappers do today. Hip-hop performers have become the faces for many top brands: Nicki Minaj has a contract with PepsiCo; Snoop Dogg has had endorsements with Hot Pockets and Monster Energy; and Jay-Z, rap's ultimate businessman, has had a plethora of partnerships, including Duracell, Reebok and Samsung to debut his album, "Magna Carta Holy Grail," released this week. "When these companies go into business with artists, they know what they're getting into. It's not a surprise what kind of record Lil Wayne makes. He's Lil Wayne," said Rick Rubin, who has worked with the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Run D.M.C. and dozens of other rock and rap icons. "There's a reason they want to be associated with him: because of the kind of records he makes."
Stoute echoed that. "(Pepsi) went in business and (Wayne) was already locked up in jail for having a gun, but now they're going to get rid of him because of the Emmett Till line?" Stoute said.
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.