Last night, CNN’s Don Lemon spoke to T.I. and Kap G about a controversial topic: police brutality.
It’s been an ongoing issue in America, especially when a police officer is caught in the act on video. The outcry from rappers since the shooting of Michael Brown have motivated them to create anti-police brutality songs to show solidarity. Of recent memory, G-Unit’s “Ahhh Shit,” Run The Jewels’ “Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck),” and Kap G’s remix of “La Policia” featuring T.I. and David Banner have all shed a light on the problem.
During the CNN segment, Tip defended angry rap lyrics, saying it is a direct response to the unfair treatment conducted by police. “I think there is a disregard in underserved areas of society when it comes to interaction with law enforcement,” he said. “I think there is a resentment, a undeniable fear law enforcement have for young minorities and it is reflected in their actions.”
Kap G, who is a proud Mexican-American rapper, says he created the song off an experience when police harassed him because they suspected he was an illegal immigrant.
“The reason I wrote this song ["La Policia"] is I was racially profiled. Me being Mexican-American, the whole situation, two years ago I got pulled over, basically the whole situation was unfair," Kap G said. "They just wanted to check my car, asked for my ID. They thought I was illegal. It’s just unfair.”
The rest of the interview, which you can watch above, breaks down the song’s rap lyrics and why they shout “good” police officers at the end.
