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“Put molly all in her champagne / She ain’t even know it / I took her home and I enjoyed that / She ain’t even know it.”

Rick Ross’ questionable lyrics in his latest track, “U.E.O.N.O.” have enraged everyone from women to fellow rappers. Talib Kweli recently appeared on Huffington Post LIVE, discussing the topic with Ebony Magazine’s News & Life Editor Jamilah Lemieux, Washington Post columnist Rahiel Tesfamariam and activist Rosa Clemente. During the discussion, each panelist brought up potent points about the rape culture in Hip-Hop and the responsibility of these artists to pay attention to the lyrics they push out. They all pretty much condemned Rick for his disgusting lyrics, but Talib stood out because he’s interested in finding a solution to this problem we’re facing.

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Talib’s presence on the panel made for an interesting parallel of opinions, but with his insider knowledge of Hip-Hop, he took the conversation farther. He agrees with everyone in the world and thinks Ross was wrong for what he rapped, but he’s not a fan of condemning his brother in rap. “If I didn’t love him, I would be dismissive. I don’t believe Rick Ross is inherently evil. I think we should condemn them. We should criticize, discuss and express our disappointment. We should welcome them into this culture and welcome them to change,” Talib passionately stated. According to Kweli, rappers are only the symptoms of the problem not the problem itself.

Kweli’s opinion mirrored my own and when I saw the debate turned argument between he and Black journalist and pioneer for women who love the written word, Dream Hampton unfold on Twitter, I knew a story was brewing.

This is the tweet that started it all:

I listened to Kweli’s entire appearance on the show and there was never any disappointment in what he shared. We can condemn Rick Ross until the cows come home, but that doesn’t solve our problems. Kweli is a part of this Hip-Hop industry, so he feels a kinship to Ross and that allows him to have the ability and the want to open up a conversation with Ross about why his lyrics lack responsibility. Dream Hampton must have heard between the lines because she was outraged by Kweli’s opinion and told him so on Twitter. Their conversation took a turn for the insulting once Dream called Talib’s opinion “weak.” Check the entire exchange out below:

What do you beauties think about Dream Hampton’s assessment of Kweli? On or way off? Let’s chat on Twitter @Rhapsodani.

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