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Lil Durk Encourages Other Hip Hop Artists to Give Morgan Wallen a Shot at Collaboration
Lil Durk went public with his plea to other artists to give Morgan Wallen a shot at collaborative projects.
Lil Durk and Wallen recently collaborated on a track entitled “Broadway Girls.” And it appears Lil Durk got to know his collaborator reasonably well during the creation process. So what gives us this indication? He’s now making a particularly bold move. Lil Durk is attempting to persuade other artists in the Hip Hop community to provide Wallen with a shot at collaboration based on his experience.
Wallen Canceled
Footage from a ring camera surfaced last year showing country singer Wallen glibly using a racial slur. When discovered, Wallen became the poster child for cancel culture. As a result, the industry canceled and exorcised him from almost everything.
Morgan Wallen got caught on street cameras, while saying racial slurs. Image source: WSMV.
However, after the incident, Wallen went on a PR tour to salvage the remaining pieces of his image. Or shall we say he went on a mission to ingratiate himself back into the hearts of those he disappointed? Insert shoulder shrug.
Assessing Wallen’s Response
Based on his post-incident interview, it can be said his justification for using a racial slur was lacking substance. According to Variety, In a GMA (Good Morning America) interview, Wallen used this as justification when talking to Michael Strahan,
“…use of the N-word was the result of being in a drunken climate with friends where they “say dumb stuff together,” and was not meant “in any derogatory manner at all.”
Was Wallen’s Response a Red Flag
Depressingly Wallen’s rationale mimics so many who have been caught in similar circumstances, making it hard to validate authenticity. While it Is challenging to verify the validity of his reasoning, reports show Wallen does have a poor relationship with alcohol landing him in rehab. According to Variety, Wallen contends following the incident. He spent 30 days in drug rehab. He also attempted to make restitution with a $500,000 contribution to “Black-led causes.”
Are Wallen’s Actions Enough?
That is a difficult question to answer. One could reason whether Wallen would have been forthcoming if the video had never surfaced. On the other hand, do cash payments or simple apologies excuse reckless behaviors? How a derogatory term can be of any use and form, other than derogatory? There are vast amounts of questions begging for answers. Yet, that is not the point of this article.
Getting to the Point, Lil Durk And Wallen
Lil Durk is standing in the gap for Wallen. He vouches for the country stars’ character and single-handedly declares Wallen should no longer face cancel culture. Why? Because Durk assessed the situation, and Wallen passed the vibe test. In a statement, Lil Durk is reported as proclaiming,
“He ain’t canceled, I talked to him. When I say you ain’t canceled, you ain’t canceled.”
Lil Durk Defends Wallen With A Lot of Bravado
Some will say Lil Durk’s statement has a lot of gall. It’s not enough for Durk to open himself to collaborating with Wallen. Now he is appealing to other artists to be more open to working with him. According to Wallen, he’s got a wish list of artists he wouldn’t mind collaborating with. At the top of his list is Kendrick Lamar. So far, all we’ve heard are crickets from the hip-hop community.
Assessing the Wallen Situation Post-Lil Durk Statement
One can’t fully judge a person based on a momentary lapse of acceptable behavior. So many people say inappropriate, unpopular, and unpleasant things when not in more respectable company. And all the public can go on is what the footage uncovered and the country singer’s response. Lil Durk said what he said regarding Wallen, and now his fellow industry mates must decide for themselves.
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Written by Renae Richardson
