My parents always told me that every person is responsible for their actions. They always advised me to choose my words very carefully. Apparently, Rick Ross either never heard this advice, or maybe he chose to ignore it. Throughout his career, he has been able to say controversial lines with little to no consequences. However, his latest lyrics have him in hot water. The media is making an example out of him.
The lyrics he spoke in his song U.O.E.N.O are descriptive and quite offensive. The lines that have caused him problems are: "I put Molly all in her champagne, she ain't even know it; I took her home and enjoyed that, she ain't even know it . . . " I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt when I analyzed the lyrics but I still came to the same conclusion. He was dead wrong. He tried to argue that his lyrics were not about rape because he did not say the word "rape." I think that argument is weak. Any person listening to the song can make the logical step from a person being given a mind altering drug and another person taking her home and "enjoying that" while she did not even know it. Those words are clearly alluding to a nonconsensual act.
Some argue that Rick Ross is the media's sacrificial lamb. I disagree. He is not blameless under the current situation; therefore, he is not a sacrificial lamb. I do believe that other artists have said similarly offensive lyrics that have gone relatively unnoticed. However, as a successful artist with a lot of influence or at least perceived influence on young fans, he should have known that he would be held responsible for his words. He would be held to a higher standard. He has to understand that the crime of rape is one of the most morally reprehensible acts anyone can do.
Rick Ross has accumulated millions of dollars from his music and other business ventures. Why he would make a song that alienates a segment of the population that has always supported him? Woman have always supported Ross. Did he really think that his lyrics would be swept under a rug and forgotten? Maybe he did. Maybe he began believing that he was bigger than the law, and above reproach. Maybe he really thought he was the "Boss." Either way, he was wrong and his business venture with Reebok was lost along the way.
Reebok is one of the biggest, most successful sports apparel companies in the world. That said, the powers-that-be at the company had no choice but to release Ross from his contract. I do not know the statistics, but I imagine that women are responsible for purchasing a high percentage of all Reebok products. And, again, rape is the worst of the worst crimes. If Reebok laid idly and allowed Ross to proceed with his career without punishment, it risked alienating many women and men. That means the company would risk losing money. Reebok made a business decision. Rick Ross had to pay the price for his insensitive lyrics. I bet he will think twice before writing that kind of lyric going forward.
Peace
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