Rick Ross- 'Trayvon Martin I'm Never Missing My Target' Lyric Sparks Controversy (LISTEN)
Rick Ross' Trayvon Martin lyric in his latest single "BLK & WHT" has garnered controversy as the "Maybach Music" rapper invoked the slain teen's name to while bragging about his own accomplishments on the track. Ross released a statement Wednesday attempting to clarify the lyrics, saying he was reminding African-Americans to "stay accurate" in whatever they do.
Rick Ross' Trayvon Martin lyric came during the second verse of the song, which mainly describes selling drugs, being shot at, and being the successful head of record label imprint Maybach Music Group.
"Forbes dot com, I'm the Teflon Don / Too close to a n---- as a m------------ bomb," Ross raps on the eleventh track of his new album Mastermind. "Trayvon Martin, I'm never missing my target / B---- n----- hating, tell me it's what I'm parking."
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Rhyming "Martin" with "target" didn't sit well with some people, especially considering the circumstances behind the 17-year-old's death— Martin was killed Feb. 26 2012 by a gunshot wound to the chest from George Zimmerman. However, Ross released a statement Wednesday attempting to clarify the lyrics and quell the controversy.
"It's so important that today, on the two-year anniversary of the death of Trayvon Martin, we never forget that tragedy," he told Vibe magazine. "I'm never going to let the world forget that name. In my song 'Black and White' … I'm reminding people that if you're a black person or a person of any color for that matter in this country, you have to be accurate, whatever moves you make, stay accurate."
"Black men are being killed and their killers [are] beating the trial," Ross continued. "I am Trayvon Martin, we're all Trayvon Martin. … So, stay alert and never miss your target. Whatever that target may be. Getting out the hood, providing from your family. Stay sharp. Stay alive."
However, some critics felt that the timing made the statement more of a media opportunity than the heartfelt apology or explanation they expected. Ross' new album Mastermind will be released March 4.
"Rick Ross is just trying to bank on the Trayvon Martin tragedy. Ross isn't honoring Trayvon Martin he's honoring his bank account,"one user wrote on the UPI.com blog.
"I'm so tired of Rick Ross taking the general public for imbeciles," Jessica agreed. "He stays trying to explain away the actual meaning behind his controversial lyrics … I don't like that he's trying to beautify a stupid a-- lyric."
Ross' controversial lyrics have gotten him in trouble before. In the Rocko song "U.O.E.N.O." last year, many complained that his rhymes condoned date rape.
"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," the emcee rapped.
The resulting outrage caused him to lose a valuable sponsorship from Reebok and the rapper Rocko dropped his verse to have the single once again played on the radio.
To hear "BLK & WHT" and Ross' divisive lyrics in the second verse, click below (WARNING: Adult themes and lyrics).
