Dear David Banner,

A weird little beef started between you and Al Sharpton this week. We all know why — he is waging a campaign against hip hop, and you think that he should worry about what’s happening in the streets before he starts thinking about violent imagery and curse words in rap songs. By default, I agree with you. To a certain extent.

But your initial approach was way off. Telling a reverend to suck your dick is rarely an adequate way to effect change. At the same time, Kirsten John-Foy’s rebuttal on behalf of Sharpton wasn’t the most mature either.

Then you decided to step back and write a well thought out, persuasive letter to Al Sharpton, Oprah Winfrey, and Jesse Jackson, letting them know how you felt in an articulate manner. Your heart was in the right place. The only problem was that the letter sucked. I know you are an educated guy, having graduated from Southern University (where you were SGA president). You also do a lot of good things for the community, and, personality-wise, I’ve always liked you. Still, your letter sucked. And therein lies the problem in the recent “war on hip hop.” The hip hop side can’t find an artist who actually uses the kind of language that’s under attack — guys like Common are clearly not the ones the Sharptons of the world are after — to defend their work without sounding ignorant. How could you expect opponents, or even people who are on the fence about hip hop, not to take that as a sign?

In other words, neither presenting inaccurate information to outline your side of the argument nor resorting to “suck my dick” to portray your frustration are ever going change minds about you or the music you love. That’s all.

Love,
Lauren