A Brief History of Rappers Endorsing the Confederate Flag

It's still hard to believe, but the Confederate Flag is a source of major controversy in the year 2015. In light of the recent South Carolina tragedy which resurfaced the flag's racist connotations, the country is divided between those who think it's finally time to do away with this symbol of oppression and those who see it as a symbol of Southern culture and pride, irrespective of its use in history.

In the center of it all are rappers, especially artists from the South—and one outlier in Chicagoan Kanye West—who have their own complicated relationship with it, in terms of both endorsing it as a symbol of their hometowns and rejecting it for its ideals.

West drew a lot of heat back in 2013 when he outright tried to co-opt the flag as his own and featured it on various Yeezus Tour merch and clothing, branding it as "his" flag now. But of course, Southern rappers have been dancing around, and in some cases, with, the flag for years now in a complicated push-pull. Here's a brief history of all the instances notable rappers co-signed or otherwise co-opted the flag.

Where: Put Yo Hood Up album cover (2001)

How: Draped around his shoulder, flanked by the East Side Boyz

​But: There are also two flags burning in the background. Is this an endorsement or a brazen dismissal?

Also: Jon and the Boyz continue rocking and displaying the flag in the album single's video, "Bia Bia"