reNew Orleans...

"The FBI's rankings for 2007 will not be out until much later in the year, but New Orleans' population is thought to be 295,450, which would mean a rate of about 71 homicides per 100,000 people."


When my hometown was recently listed as the 7th most dangerous city in the US, I was only moderately surprised. Anyone that has lived in Charleston, SC for a extended period of time, knows that the gentrification of the downtown area and the uneven distribution of wealth are two issues directly correlated with the consistent increase of crime. A simpler explanation would be, niggas in Charleston are just flat out crazy. And that's a reputation that is well documented, just ask any SC resident. So seeing Charleston listed along side notoriously dangerous cities like Detroit and St. Louis wasn't that surprising to me. Anyone that has visited both Charleston and New Orleans can attest that the cities are eerily similar. The two port cities boast a history rich with culture and tradition. But in addition to the culture and diversity, both cities are plagued by the toxic effects of black on black violence. According to CNN, New Orleans is murder capital USA. A dubious distinction that Lil Wayne heralds, as if leading the nation in homicides is some sort of accomplishment.

"If you are talking about rap and beef, I’m the wrong person to talk to. I am from New Orleans. Cut your televisions on. You know where I’m from. I’m from the murder capital, ma. Beef is a different thing there. I have four teardrops on my face and I have to look my mom in her eye every day...We don’t play. No, I’m not gonna rap about you man, I will murder you, your family, your child, a newborn, I don’t give a fuck. I could never go to hell cause I’ma take over, bitch"



When Lil' Wayne made these frivolous, careless remarks about his city to Ozone magazine (btw I co-sign Charlamagne) I shrugged it off as typical "rapper stupidity". But after reading this article I realized just how important his statements were. No matter how ignorant I believe those statements to be, it is now painfully obvious that that particular mindset has permeated throughout New Orleans. In a city that is still dealing with the crippling effects of Katrina, it's heart wrenching to see a predominately Black city on the eve of self destruction. But instead of Lil Wayne showing an unconditional love and vested interest in the future of his city, he choses to further promote the type of thinking that has landed his city at the top spot for homicides in America.

Wake up New Orleans...