Alicia Keys can talk about whatever she wants, just because she a “star” she cant have an opinion? Just because she is a singer she can’t talk about politics? I guess we who all are not politicians shouldn’t even vote right?

ANY WHY WAS RACE BROUGHT INTO THIS… Okay so you are a brown skin panamaian who doesn’t want to be labeled as black, so fuckin what. You can get offended allllllll you want to boo… and she aint on no high horse becaue she doesn’t want to be considered black.. thats like agreeing that they are better than black… she hanging on a fence.. she don’t want to be in the “black world” but the white aren’t gon even accept her.. so she stuck on a fence.. and let her stay there.

and as far as A. Keys she spoke her mind…exactly what 50 does every freakin day even at times when he should shut it…so why jump all over her for it…50 needs to go do something constructive…donate some money to a worthy cause and then maybe he can actually make a intellectual comment!!

As for not being a politician, Alicia has a right to express her opinion to the public, as an educated woman (did you know she attended Columbia University before the launch of her musical career) and activist. AMERICA’S first amendment guarantees her that. Her points of view are about depth and concern for society in general, not whether or not she’s influential in politics. Her remark had to do with certain influences of ‘gangsta rap’, not the rap industry in its entirety. Look at Russell Simmons: he has made plenty of political comments (remember the Hip Hop Summit?) as well as political allegiances and who criticizes him for that? When he supports something-he stands up. When he’s against something-he stands up. If anything, he’s praised for being an activist, for getting young people involved in politics. Alicia’s stance as a children’s/human’s rights activist, and our first amendment, give her a license to speak on the issues that affect or influence the society in which she lives.

You probably misunderstood where Alicia was headed and I’m going to disregard your comments about ‘theories on Africa’ because this site really isn’t about satisfying intellectual appetites, though to some degree I have enjoyed this exchange. While I don’t nor will I ever know you, based on your comments, you seem so out of touch with social reality. Your sentiments are a reflection of true social naivete. Alicia is too introspective to have any regrets over her comments. In no way did this hurt her image, no more than Bill Cosby’s comments hurt his image. The ‘hip hop community’ is always so quick to lean on the defensive against anyone who says anything that holds a mirror up to the community. I truly hope that others will read the entire transcript of Alicia’s comment before agreeing with 50 Cent, of all people. That’s the difference between the leaders and those being lead.

There’s an intellectual among you–pay attention!

…ALSO ALL THAT TALK ABOUT AFRICA BEING THE ” CRADLE OF MANKIND” IN RIGHT IN LINE WITH BEING THEORIES JUST LIKE MS. KEYS’ COMMENTS.
MANY HISTORIANAS READILY DEBATE THIS CLAIM, SO AGAIN, WHY EVEN TALK ABOUT IT? SO WHAT IF AFRICANS WERE HERE FIRST? THEY SURE ARENT FIRST NOW, IN TERMS OF BEING AN ALL AROUND FRUITFUL CULTURE.

AS FAR AS WOMEN RIGHTS, IF DISCUSSING POLITICS OR RELIGION IS A WOMENS CHOICE OF WORK, THEN BY ALL MEANS, A WOMEN HAS EVERY RIGHT TO ARTICULATE HER VIEWS ON SUCH MATTER, MY POINT IS THAT THERE IS A TIME & PLACE FOR EVERYTHING.

ALICA KEYS IS A SINGER, NOT A POLITICIAN. SO IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR HER TO BE POLITICING IN AN INTERVIEW FOR AN ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE. I AM SURE SHE REGRETS THESE COMMENTS. THE BACKLASH HAS BEEN MORE HURTFUL TO HER IMAGE THEN HELPFUL.

And as for your comment regarding Hispanics, etc., Hispanic isn’t a race–it’s an ethnicity, as is African-American. And as a Hispanic woman, surely you see the ethnitic division that also exists in your Hispanic communities. I damn sure see it and I’m multi-ethnic. Maybe you didn’t get the memo that there isn’t really a such thing as separate races since Africa is the cradle of mankind. Race is a concept created to ‘divide people’ into categories based on features such as eye color, hair texture, and skin complexion. Think about it: a “white” person who is born in Africa and becomes an American citizen is correct to consider himself an African-American. And a person from a North African country such as Egypt or Morocco is considered to be white. In essence, there is no ‘pure, single’ race! That’s why this thing called “race” is so complicated. Though this comment isn’t in direct alignment with the topic that was originally presented, it is a reflection of the need for more intelligent dialogue in the hip hip community–and Alicia (among others) brings that! You may want to pick up some BDP…