KRS-One believes that his words were taken out of context when he spoke about allegations that Afrika Bambaataa sexually abused multiple teenage boys. The Boogie Down Productions rapper took to his website to issue a statement to clarify his comments and decry the media for distorting his words.
"I have just arrived in Barcelona; sorry
for the delay. In response to the responses and comments made after my
interview with Nore, I am taking this time to clarify some of my
statements to those that seem to be confused about my remarks regarding
the controversy surrounding Afrika Bambaataa," KRS-One says in an essay entitled Keep the Focus and Ignore the Haters [Part-One].
"One headline that I had read stated 'KRS-One Doesn’t Care If Afrika
Bambaataa Molested Kids'. Wow! Really? Fortunately, anyone can go to the
audio and/or video recording of my entire interview with Nore and see
for themselves just how irresponsible such headlines are. It seems that
people will say anything these days to draw attention to their site."
KRS-One has a song, "We Don't Care Anymore," which was a part of the 2003 compilation album D.I.G.I.T.A.L. He
says he does not find it amusing how the media played off this in order
to get page views. He says that he is concerned about the well-being of
all youth and does not condone sexual abuse and is seeking to remove
himself from the controversy, which he calls "sensationalist gossip."
"I am indeed concerned about the
accusations made against Afrika Bambaataa, but I will not become
entangled in a controversy that seems to be less about justice and more
about self-promotion and revenge," he says. "Of course, I care if a
young person is being abused or even neglected, my entire life is based
upon the protection and further development of young people; I teach and
inspire young people every day! But, as you can see, irresponsible
headlines like 'KRS-One Doesn’t Care If Afrika Bambaataa Molested Kids',
and trying to turn a funny song I did years ago into some kind of
question regarding my character is precisely the type of sensationalist
gossip which I really don’t give a fuck about! Let us have Focus And
Ignore These Haters.
"I said then as I am saying right now, it
is not that I don’t care at all about the accusations made against
Afrika Bambaataa;" he continues, "I am saddened at the whole controversy
and how it is being handled. It is not that I don’t care, it is more
the fact that I don’t gossip, I don’t take sides in real disputes that
don’t concern me, I don’t slander people’s names and I don’t believe in
abandoning your friends when they may be accused of crimes or make
mistakes in life. What is so confusing about that? My position is clear!
At this moment, all I am seeing and hearing regarding Afrika Bambaataa
is gossip and sensationalism, and like I have already said, “I really
don’t give a fuck about all that!” I don’t apply my mind to gossip and
slander. Slandering the accused for the sake of slander is not justice,
nor is it the seeking of justice. I would like to see justice and
healing for both the accusers as well as for the accused. But continuous
slander and disrespect are not healing anyone or even correcting the
situation. Disrespect and slander is NEVER an indicator that true
justice is being sought. Disrespect and outright slander proves personal
vendettas and revenge against the slandered, and I don’t participate in
such immaturity, nor am I naïve to political set-ups and character
assassinations."
KRS-One concludes with a call for the audience to examine
itself and strive for a culture of love and understanding and asks for
Hip Hop to look for more meaningful conversations.
"Instead of using one’s mind and time to
gossip about Afrika Bambaataa, I think we should look closely at what it
means to hate," he says. "There is no forgiveness, justice or healing
on any level when hate is involved. Hate is also a federal crime, as
well as a spiritual disease. There is no victory with hate, and hate is
what is leading the charge against Afrika Bambaataa; not justice or even
healing or reconciliation. Only love conquers all! And within the
character of love is forgiveness, and healing, and loyalty; this is what
is needed at this time. Hate reveals itself for what it really is—evil!
It cannot see clearly so it exposes itself at every turn, and those
that truly love can see it. Hate is indeed self-destructive, and this is
what real Hip Hop must avoid at all cost. Only love sees clearly. Only
love is consistent because only love is UNCONDITIONAL. Love shows us the
full life of the accused; not just the accusations brought against the
accused.
"So, in closing, I would ask that you not
expect KRS-One to seriously lend his mind to such sensational issues
when there are larger, and frankly more serious, issues concerning the
future and global existence of Hip Hop," he says. "Issues pertaining to
the correct documentation and updating of Hip Hop’s global history, the
colonization of Hip Hop by the university system, Hip Hop and
Healthcare, Hip Hop and Education, Hip Hop and urban policing, Hip Hop’s
relationship to the White House, Hip Hop recognized as an American-born
culture with federal protection and its own tax benefits, more touring
and recording opportunities for our youth, our Hip Hop City, and so on.
These are the things that serious Hip Hop scholars, artists and
journalists are discussing. And by the way, Nore and I did discuss other
issues pertaining to song-writing and my present battle with M.C. Shan,
to police misconduct and creating a Hip Hop currency, but for some
reason the controversies surrounding Afrika Bambaataa is what our entire
conversation has been reduced to with deliberately disrespectful
statements like 'KRS-One Doesn’t Care If Afrika Bambaataa Molested Kids'
as the main focus of our interview. This whole thing is childish and
immature, and this is precisely why our community remains in the
powerless state we find ourselves within today. Am I the only one that
sees this? I think it’s time we grew-up!
"Serious students and apprentice of our
culture can review paragraphs 20 through 29 of the Eleventh Overstanding
of the Gospel of Hip Hop pages 470 and 471 for further insight on this
matter," he says. "During Hip Hop Appreciation Week (May 16th—22nd
2016), I will also be releasing a special instructional video entitled
'An Introduction To Hip Hop' for those interested in upgrading their
teaching of Hip Hop; go to KRS-One.com for viewing. And of course,
check-out my new music project 'Now Hear This' with two new bonus tracks
also available at KRS-One.com. This is what’s important, not gossip and
slander with no attempt at real justice. Instead of seriously tearing
each other down, let us consider seriously building each other up! Guard
your soul; seek peace always."
(This article was first published April 29, 2016 and is as follows.)
When it comes to allegations that Afrika Bambaataa is guilty of child molestation, KRS-One has made his stance clear.
“For me if you keep it Hip Hop, nothing
can be taken away from Afrika Bambaataa. … But if you want to dig into
dude’s personal life and accusations that’s being made and so on,” the Boogie Down Productions rapper said during an interview on N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN’s “Drink Champs” podcast.
“Personally — me personally – I don’t give a fuck. Look, if somebody
was harmed or whatever, y’all gotta deal with that shit. Deal with it.
That don’t stop Hip Hop. That don’t stop what you did for Hip Hop. It
don’t take away none of it. History is history. But deal with that.
That’s personal.”
Last month, Afrika Bambaataa — the Hip
Hop pioneer, author with the Soul Sonic Force of the genre-shifting song
“Planet Rock” and founder of the Zulu Nation — was accused of child molestation by former New York State Democratic Committee member Ronald Savage. Savage claimed that Bambaataa forced him to engage in oral sex when he was 15 years old. Three other men came forward after Savage, making similar allegations.
During his recent interview, KRS-One said
the allegations may not be true. And even if they are, he said, he
deals with people who have been convicted of crimes often.
“Controversy is not truth,” KRS-One says. “What you want is truth right now. But truth is also not information. It’s not gossip. It’s not even conversation.
“I deal with dudes that are questionable
all the time,” he continues. “Not even just if the accusation is rape.
If you know anybody from prison, if you know anybody from the shelter,
if you know anybody – if you’ve lived really in the hood, you know
shooters. You know dudes running from the cops. You know your man might
have an open warrant on him right now. I’m not judging these
motherfuckers, man. That’s my nigga right here, yo. That’s it. Now what
you do and your crime, and your shit and your bullshit, whatever you’re
doing, that’s on you. That’s you, my G. That’s how I always dealt with
it. I can’t pick and choose.”
Afrika Bambaataa and Zulu Nation have issued statements denying the allegations,
labeling them as attempts to tarnish Bambaataa’s reputation and his
legacy in Hip Hop. Savage is pushing to change the statute of
limitations in New York that prevents victims of sexual abuse from
pursuing charges after their twenty-third birthday.
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