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Rick Ross issues formal apology for rape lyric after Reebok drops sponsorship

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 20:12:00 +0000

After being dropped as sponsor for Reebok for a rap lyric that advocates rape, rapper Rick Ross has issued a formal apology to the public that takes more responsibility for his lyrics:

Before I am an artist, I am a father, a son, and a brother to some of the most cherished women in the world. So for me to suggest in any way that harm and violation be brought to a woman is one of my biggest mistakes and regrets. As an artist, one of the most liberating things is being able to paint pictures with my words. But with that comes a great responsibility. And most recently, my choice of words was not only offensive, it does not reflect my true heart. And for this, I apologize. To every woman that has felt the sting of abuse, I apologize. I recognize that as an artist I have a voice and with that, the power of influence. To the young men who listen to my music, please know that using a substance to rob a woman of her right to make a choice is not only a crime, it’s wrong and I do not encourage it. To my fans, I also apologize if I have disappointed you. I can only hope that this sparks a healthy dialogue and that I can contribute to it.

The disputed lyrics come from Rocko’s song “U.O.E.N.O,” in which Ross raps: “Put Molly all up in her champagne, she ain’t even know it, I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it.”

Ross's apology follows a half-apology he issued on Twitter in which he said, "I dont condone rape. Apologies for the lyric interpreted as rape.”

Rape lyrics cost Rick Ross a Reebok deal

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:56:00 +0000

Guess Rick Ross' assurances that he doesn't "condone" rape were not enough for him to keep his gig as a sneaker salesman. Late Thursday, Reebok announced it was dumping him as a spokesman.

At issue were the lyrics to the new track "U.O.E.N.O." – in which Ross brags that "Put Molly all in her champagne. She ain't even know it. I took her home and I enjoy that. She ain't even know it." ("Molly" is slang for Ecstasy, non-partiers.)

The song has been scrutinized ever since writer Rosa Clemente noted the "problematic" line last month on her YouTube channel. Soon after, Ross told New Orleans radio station Q 93.3, "I would never use the term 'rape' in my records and as far as my camp … Nobody condones that. So I just wanted to reach out to all my queens that’s on my timeline, all the sexy ladies, the beautiful ladies that have been reaching out to me with the misunderstanding: We don’t condone rape, and I’m not with that. I want to make sure this is clear, that woman is the most precious gift known to man. It was a misunderstanding with a lyric, a misinterpretation where the term rape wasn't used."

Rick Ross dropped from Reebok over rape lyric

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Rapper Rick Ross's apology for his pro-rape lyric was not enough for Reebok. After women's group Ultraviolet petitioned the company with 71,000 signatures to drop Ross as a sponsor, the company released the following statement: "Reebok holds our partners to a high standard and we expect them to live up to the values of our brand. Unfortunately, Rick Ross has failed to do so."

In Rocko's song "U.O.E.N.O," Ross raps: "Put Molly all up in her champagne, she ain't even know it, I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain't even know it."

Rick Ross apologizes for lyrics some call pro-rape

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 21:30:00 +0000

NEW YORK (AP) — Rick Ross has formally apologized for lyrics some have called pro-rape.

Thursday's apology — in the form of a tweet — came the same day a women's group, UltraViolet, planned a protest outside of one of his sponsors, Reebok, in Manhattan.

In Rocko's song "U.O.E.N.O," Ross raps about giving a woman the drug MDMA, known as Molly, and having his way with her. The song was released in January but just recently began getting widespread notice.

Although last week Ross said his lyrics were misinterpreted, he tweeted Thursday that he doesn't condone rape and apologized for lyrics that were "interpreted as rape."

The best and worst apologies of the week

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:58:00 +0000

It has been one sorry excuse for a week. Each new day has brought with it a fresh batch of bad behavior and questionable decision making, and with it, apologies of highly variable quality. If you're looking for object lessons in what not to say – and how to get it right – behold our rogue's gallery of March mad men.

Let's start with our gold medalist in the field of ineffectual apologies – Rick Ross. Ross has come under fire for his part on Rocko's "Gift of Gab" mixtape, specifically the track "U.O.E.N.O." As activist journalist Rosa Clemente pointed out, "U.O.E.N.O." contains Ross' "problematic" line, "Put Molly all in her champagne, she ain't even know it/ I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain't even know it." "Molly," by the way, is what the young folk call Ecstasy.

Is “good kid, m.A.A.d city” the “Great Gatsby” of hip-hop albums?

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 20:18:00 +0000

A month ago, the eccentric Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco released "Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1," which shared an all-black cover with, among other things, Spinal Tap’s "Smell the Glove," and banked on a single that attempted to declassify the evils of using the word “bitch.” Songs alluded to Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” and Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth’s “T.R.O.Y. (They Reminisce Over You).” But despite a healthy (and American!) skepticism of the president and the military-industrial complex, most agreed that it was not the great American rap album — it’s too condescending, particularly to women, skillful but muddled, and told more often than showed.