DaBaby Dropped: Where do we draw the Cancel Culture Line?

Over a week has passed since rapper DaBaby made headlines with his homophobic comments as well as comments about those living with HIV & AIDS. He stated during the show at Rolling Loud music festival that:

“If you didn’t show up today with HIV/AIDS, or any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die in two to three weeks, then put your cell phone light in the air,” he said. “Ladies, if your p**** smells like water, put a cell phone light in the air. Fellas, if you ain’t suck a n**** d*** in the parking lot, put your cell phone lights in the air. Keep it f-cking real.”

DaBaby at Rolling Loud music festival

His comments received a slew of backlash (& rightly so) from all angles leading to him having several major partnership deals, major festivals & shows canceled. 

The latest being iHeartRadio Music Festival & Austin City Limits following his performances at Lollapalooza, Governors Ball & the Day N Vegas festivals all canceled on Sunday & Monday. Lollapalooza, which ran from July 29 to Aug. 1, announced the cancelation on Twitter, saying the festival “was founded on diversity, inclusivity, respect, & love.”

But the question then is how does what DaBaby said differ much from the words & lyrics of most of the artists still on the books of all these shows?

Artists such as dua lipa also added to the conversation by condemning the rapper in a strongly worded Instagram story in which she states she was “surprised & horrified” by DaBaby’s comments, which were captured in this TMZ video.  

“I really don’t recognize this as the person I worked with. I know my fans know where my heart lies & that I stand 100% with the LGTBQ community. We need to come together to fight the stigma & ignorance around HIV/AIDS.” 

Dua Lipa via Instagram

Yet in the same week, Lipa released the video for her collaborative song titled “Demeanor” with the late, great Pop Smoke. Pop Smoke himself states in his song “Dior.” 

“I can’t f*** with these n***as ’cause n***as is gay, all on my page suckin’ di**, all in my comments & screamin’ my name.”

Pop Smoke

Smoke even has a video for Dior which has over 300 million-plus views & counting & the song was his first single to hit the US billboard 100 list. So what exactly is it that’s different here? Was it the HIV/AIDs comment?

Why such the reaction & why now?

IN AN EARLIER DISCUSSION with someone who is HIV positive who cannot be named in respect of their privacy. I asked this same question ‘what was most offensive to you about DaBaby’s comments,’ their response:

“It was very uninformed & careless from him but rappers say these kinds of things all the time. Through their music which they take the time to write or in moments like these. I’ve heard comments like this thrown around by artists as far back as when Big L he said in his single All Black, “I be placin’ snitches inside lakes & ditches, & if I catch AIDS, then I’ma start rapin’ bi—es,” to more recent artists comments from such as J.Cole with use of the word ‘f-ggot’ in the song “Villuminati” & Travis Scott who also made homophobic comments on stage during a show. Eminem remained on top of the music world while screaming out gay slurs every chance he got but that wasn’t a big deal then or now.”

“It’s really nothing new but it’s in the context that it was said in so frankly & in the moment & how it caught traction on social media. Many of these companies jumped on the bandwagon & stated how they stand with the LGBTQ community — more so it’s about lining & protecting their pockets,” they said.

Where has all this support been for all the drug & murderous comments rappers have been spewing for decades? “…At this moment during festival season, it’s great PR.”

DJ Akademiks echoed these comments when he took to Twitter to share his thoughts:

“I fw Da Baby.. at this point though I don’t think it’s about his comments (him & others in hip hop have said worse things.. not justifying them)… however I think this is one of them last stands for cancel culture.. He apologized but basically acted like he was 2 big to cancel.” 

DaBaby has issued multiple apologies which too have come under the flames of social media. The latest being titled DaApology.

Akademiks concluded by pointing out the hypocrisy of the festivals, writing:

“It’s just weird how Festivals are putting out these elaborate statements about how much they care about humanity & because of that can’t have DaBaby on their show for what he said. Yet 90% of the artists they book.. music is about drugs & murder.. n its totally fine to them. These companies gotta choose whether they are prioritizing the art or morality..”

Where do we draw the line?

“Breakfast Club” co-hosts Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee & DJ Envy discussed the DaBaby controversy.

Charlemagne stating:

“There’s a cost to everything that comes out of your mouth & DaBaby’s being held accountable for what came out of his.”

Charlamagne Tha God

He added:

“These companies & festivals seem not to have an issue with rappers talking about killing, drugs, violence against each other & violence against women, but this is where they draw the line… clearly, it’s ok for us to degrade each other but no one else. Right should be right & wrong should be wrong.” 

Charlamagne Tha God

Check out the rest of the breakfast club discussion here at the Wrap.