While he usually makes news for decidedly unmensch-like behavior, like, you know, nightclub brawls with rap stars over female pop stars and stuff, Drake seems to be turning things around. The Canadian Jewish rapper has just announced he will remove a controversial lyric fellow rapper J. Cole contributed to one of his tracks, USA Today reports.
“I’m artistic,” while others are “autistic, retarded,” Cole rapped in “Jodeci Freestyle,” his collaboration with Drake. Many (shockingly!) found this incredibly offensive, including the powerhouse organization Autism Speaks.
Cole was the first to come clean, although he did begin his blog post by saying he “resents” that when rappers say offensive things the are “attacked for it in the media and pressured to apologize”
Drake, on the other hand, did not qualify his regrets. “I share responsibility and offer my sincerest apologies for the pain this has caused,” he wrote in his blog on Monday. “Individuals with autism have brilliant and creative minds, and their gifts should not be disparaged or discounted. This was a learning lesson for both of us, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to try to right this wrong. J. Cole and I believe that it is the right, responsible, and respectful decision to remove the lyric from the song.”
Yasher koach.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
