Platinum-selling R&B artist, Akon, is a world class fake. He built his reputation (street cred) on the time he spent in prison, yearning to be free, and for the various illicit activities that he was supposedly involved in.

He sold millions! It's the culture stupid!

Recently, I had a discussion with a caller on The National Conversation radio show about the rap culture. We were discussing Eminem and whether or not he should be invited to sing at Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebration. I said no. The caller said that I was making a big deal out of nothing, that rap was just entertainment and that rappers didn’t believe in what they rapped about, that they were just entertainers.

That’s what came out of one side of his mouth.

With the other side, the caller freely called rap a movement, a lifestyle, and admitted that he had the phrase “Thug Life” (The Hate you Gave) tattooed on his arm. I’m confused. That’s entertainment?

Who is the “you?” I asked him this question thinking he would say "the Man" or “ol’ whitey” or something. I was wrong. The “you” was family, community, friends? Huh?

Holy culture of self-hate, Batman!

If perception is reality, then “the hate you gave” is the ultimate excuse for failure! Only in post modern America (still the richest country in the world) can a man believe in the philosophy of self-hate in which the more debased you are, the more you celebrate depravity, the more time you spend in jail, the more kids you sire but don't take care of.....

The more respected you are, the more music you sell, the more you lie about it, the bigger you become.

Thug Life. This gives a whole new spin to “We Shall Overcome.”