Truth rating: 10
12:22 pm, May 1st, 2013
(GettyImages.com)
Lil Wayne has written a letter of apology to the family of Emmett Till, the teenager whose infamous and gruesome murder in 1950s Mississippi the rapper controversially referenced in his lyrics on Future’s track “Karate Chop.”
14-year-old Till, an African-American, was tortured and killed after allegedly flirting with a white woman in 1955, with his case becoming a rallying point in the civil rights movement.
On “Karate Chop” from earlier this year, Wayne raps, “Pop a lot of pain pills / Bout to put rims on my skateboard wheels / Beat that p**sy up like Emmett Till.”
Back in February, Epic Records issued an apology for Weezy’s lyrics and said it would try to remove the leaked, unauthorized track.
On Wednesday, a letter from the rapper himself surfaced.
In it, Lil Wayne tells the Till family, “I would like to take a moment to acknowledge your hurt.”
He then promises not to use or reference Till again in his music.
Lil Wayne never directly apologizes for “Karate Chop,” but recognizes that his lyrics “deeply offended” the Till family.
Check out the full text below and tell us what you think.
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Dear Till Family:
As a recording artist, I have alway been interested in word play. My lyrics often reference people, places and events in my music, as well as the music that I create for or alongside other artists.
It has come to my attention that lyrics from my contribution to a fellow artist’s song has deeply offended your family. As a father myself, I cannot imagine the pain that your family has had to endure. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge your hurt, as well as the letter you sent to me via your attorneys.
Moving forward, I will not use or reference Emmett Till or the Till family in my music, especially in an inappropriate manner. I fully support Epic Record’s decision to take down the unauthorized version of the song and to not include the reference in the version that went to retail. I will not be performing the lyrics that contain that reference live and have removed them from my catalogue.
I have tremendous respect for those who paved the way for the liberty and opportunities that African-Americans currently enjoy. As a business owner who employs several African-American employees and gives philanthropically to organizations that help youth to pursue their dreams my ultimate intention is to uplift rather than degrade our community.
Best,
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.
Lil Wayne
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