By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com
– Rapper Nelly talks about the backlash he received from his 'Tip Drill' music video in 2005 from
"You get on brothers about doing certain things, but then when the brother comes to do something helpful for the community, you knock him for the bad s-t that he did. Example: Spelman. I come down there to teach people about leukemia and help benefit and try to help save lives and try to find a donor for my sister. Yet unstill, instead of doing that and help and teaching our community about a bigger issue as far as healthcare, you want to have a three hour conversation about a f-king video. Now, where are our priorities in it? Why didn't you take that same three hours and educate brothers and sisters up on leukemia and what I came down there for? Now the same fight you are fighting in 2005, are you fighting that today? Because I don't have my sister today! No, I don't have her today! But are fighting that same battle?"
In 2003, the 'Hot In Herre' rapper formed the Jes Us 4 Jackie campaign to find a bone-marro
w donor for his then 31-year-old sister, Jackie Donahue, who had been diagnosed with leukemia in 2001.
Before a scheduled a bone-marrow drive for his sister at
A donor was never found for Donahue and she died in March, 24 2005.
Comments: (92)
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By: Tanya on 8/29/2008 11:17AM
I mean this with the utmost respect for the life of his sister, but if you fought for saving your sister's life, how could you see that those women at Spelman aren't fighting for their sister's lives? It may not have been in a physical way, but its not just a "f-ing video" as you say.
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By: Chinse on 8/29/2008 6:04PM
I agree with you Tanya, however there is a time and place for everything. The sad part is that there are alot of african americans effected by Leukemia, Sarcardosis sickle cell anemia etc, yet most rappers or celebrities do not try to help or contribute to research, So even though Nelly was personnally effected by his sisters disease, he atleast was trying to do the right thing by finding a donor for her. You have to give the brother a break for that and usually the artist is not the person that comes up with the concept for their videos and dont have alot of say in what goes on. Record Labels are the ones that should be boycotted not the artist and undermining such a worthy plight is dangerous and ineffective to the situation. In times such as donor drives we need to be aware that that blood or marrow could very well help a family member or in some cases ourselves...Just a thought
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By: Chinse on 8/29/2008 6:05PM
I agree with you Tanya, however there is a time and place for
everything. The sad part is that there are alot of african americans
effected by Leukemia, Sarcardosis sickle cell anemia etc, yet most
rappers or celebrities do not try to help or contribute to research,
So even though Nelly was personnally effected by his sisters disease,
he atleast was trying to do the right thing by finding a donor for
her. You have to give the brother a break for that and usually the
artist is not the person that comes up with the concept for their
videos and dont have alot of say in what goes on. Record Labels are
the ones that should be boycotted not the artist and undermining such
a worthy plight is dangerous and ineffective to the situation. In
times such as donor drives we need to be aware that that blood or
marrow could very well help a family member or in some cases
ourselves...Just a thought
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By: R Michelle on 8/29/2008 10:34PM
I commend Nelly for trying to educate people about leukemia, but he also needs to realize that women should not be exploited as they were in that video.
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By: LIA on 8/29/2008 11:19PM
I guess he thought it was ok to exploit women and treat them like garbage until he needed them for something. Don't get me wrong, those women chose to be exploited, but that still doesn't make it right.
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By: Calvin on 8/30/2008 1:32PM
Nelly you are right. Those women at Spelman are some uppity, snotty, arrogant biyatches. They think the better than everybody. On Oprah talking bout they stop dancing at parties when hip-hop come on. Just lying. You right, they should have gotten the bigger picture. Deal with the video stuff on their time, another time and not when you trying to teach. Like Madea says, "they need to sat down!"
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By: Caesar on 8/30/2008 2:26PM
I am learning a lot lately about what black females are like from watching these videos. evryone says that black rappersd are street poets who teach what is real. Where can I watch these video that they talk about?
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By: jen on 8/30/2008 4:13PM
Tanya i agree with everything you've said. As for Nelly, he could have handled this thing differently. He could have sat down with the ladies of Spelman and addressed their concerns about the video, his lyrics, etc. Along with leading a campaign about his sister's illness, he could have launched a joint campaign about respecting black women. He could have asked for BET to pull that video but he chose not to. And Chinse, while i see what you are saying, i don't totally agree with it. Nelly was/is at a level where he could have owned his own record company and called the shots about the music he was putting out. There are a lot of artists out there who would love to be huge stars but they put their principles ahead of the money and fame. Case in point, Heather Headly left her record label because they wanted her to show her body more. She refused, left, and is now doing gospel. He made the choice and now he has to deal with the backlash of it all.
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By: Talulazoeapple on 8/30/2008 8:49PM
People need to realize that their actions have consequences. You cannot disrespect women and then expect them to rally behind you for a cause, even a good one. Why? Because they can't trust the messenger.
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By: Cheryl on 8/31/2008 2:03AM
Wow, Nelly sister died, and we are worried about the way Spellman women feel, isnt the abuse still happening , isnt women being disrespected all over the worlds, Yet a Blood Drive is the place to have a three hour discussion...and Women are dying..We choke on a gnat n never get anything done..
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