Actor and poet Malcolm Jamal Warner recently shared his concerns about the direction of hip-hop, particularly pointing out J. Cole’s use of the n-word as a problematic issue. During an episode of his new podcast “Not All Hood (NAH)”, Warner expressed his discontent with the current state of rap music.
He criticized record labels for profiting off stereotypes of the hood and perpetuating Black self-hate through the music they promote. Warner emphasized that hip-hop now seems inseparable from the use of the n-word, which has been normalized due to the financial success of those perpetuating these stereotypes.
In a conversation with his co-hosts Weusi Baraka and Candace Kelley, Warner singled out J. Cole as an example of an artist he is disappointed in for his frequent use of derogatory language. He called for a moratorium on the use of words like “n***a” and “bitch” in hip-hop, labeling it as lazy and overdone.
Despite J. Cole being known for his conscious lyrics, Warner found the excessive use of derogatory terms in his music off-putting. Warner’s critique may serve as a wake-up call for artists like J. Cole to reconsider their lyrical choices and strive for more meaningful content in their music.