Vladislav Lyubovny, also called hip-hop media persona DJ Vlad, discovered that he’s not as beloved within the rap group as he thought after a web-based back-and-forth with a Princeton professor had Black Twitter calling for his cancellation.
It started on Saturday, Could 4, when Kendrick Lamar dropped “Not Like Us,” his newest contribution to his myriad of diss tracks geared toward Drake over the previous week. Whereas most listeners had been impressed by the Bay Space affect of the DJ Mustard-produced beat and the catchiness of Okay. Dot’s lyrics, DJ Vlad drew his consideration to different areas.
“Kendrick’s ‘Not Like Us’ wanted a greater combine. It takes away from the music,” he tweeted.
Morgan Jerkins, whose X profile lists her as college at Princeton College’s Lewis Heart for the Arts artistic writing program, responded to Vlad’s tweet, saying, “You might be WHITE. This can be a BLACK FOLK AFFAIR.”
The response from Jerkins set off the DJ-turned-journalist, who then threatened to get her fired from her job.
“Wait, so a professor at @Princeton is telling me {that a} white particular person shouldn’t be allowed to voice their opinion about Hip-Hop?” Vlad said earlier than asking, “Is that the way you work together together with your college students?”
Morgan didn’t again down, “What I’m saying is that you just put your opinion in a dialogue that’s not wanted. This dialog is and will middle Black individuals, not you.”
DJ Vlad doubled down, tweeting, “Good luck being a professor at @Princeton once more. I doubt the college helps their college telling non-black college students to close the f—ok up about something Hip-Hop associated due to their pores and skin shade.”
Whereas DJ Vlad means that Morgan Jerkins shut him out of the Kendrick Lamar versus Drake dialog as a result of he’s white and that she is prejudiced, Morgan, then again, believes that he solely singled her out as a result of she is a Black lady and is making an attempt to weaponized her phrases in an effort to get her fired from the Ivy League.
“I discover it humorous that you just particularly selected to answer me, belittle my educational background, and threaten my job when others responded to you in a lot harsher method. Very attention-grabbing. And telling,” mentioned Morgan, after clarifying that she by no means advised him to “shut the f—ok up” about something hip-hop associated because of the shade of his pores and skin.
The previous DJ warned her to not change her phrases up now, promising, ”I’ll be reaching out to Princeton about this on Monday” to which Morgan promptly let him know that she had accomplished each her semester and contract on the college.
“However thanks for making an attempt to bully me out of a job for centering Black individuals since you bought your emotions harm. Very retaliatory, huh? Good tactic,” she added.
It is known as a “everlasting document”. Each college has one. I went to Berkeley myself. Folks spew ignorant & bigoted feedback at you publicly after which act like they’re getting bullied once they get a response. Typical sufferer mentality. Go forward and take that @princeton out…
— DJ Vlad (@djvlad) Could 5, 2024
It didn’t take lengthy for different customers on X to say DJ Vlad was out of his depth for a selected purpose. One X consumer following the dialog rapidly took be aware of Morgan’s final identify and identified the school professor’s relation to a distinguished producer, Rodney Jerkins.
Rodney Jerkins, also called “Darkchild” has given superstars reminiscent of Michael Jackson, Brandy, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez, Toni Braxton, Girl Gaga and others a few of their greatest hits. DJ Vlad has additionally interviewed him.
“Morgan are you associated to Rodney Jerkins (Darkchild),” requested the eagle-eyed X consumer. “I’m culturally competent to know who he’s on this Tradition. Vlad won’t know. Vlad you already know who Rodney Jerkins is? Do your analysis.”
“Sure, he’s my uncle,” Morgan replied.
“DJ Vlad tryna dox & intimidate a black lady professor at Princeton is humorous. however what’s hilarious is that she’s Darkchild’s niece lol,” one X consumer joked.
Issues turned silent on DJ Vlad’s finish as soon as Morgan’s affiliation turned public, however not earlier than the remainder of Black Twitter jumped in to defend her.
“You get accused of being a white particular person that should keep out of Black enterprise and the very first thing you do is…. *checks notes* …Threaten to name the supervisor,” mentioned one X consumer.
You might be WHITE.
This can be a BLACK FOLK AFFAIR. https://t.co/BC2NbQcJ0W
— Morgan Jerkins (@MorganJerkins) Could 5, 2024
One one who can all the time converse up for hip-hop is rapper and Flipmode Squad member Rah Digga, who additionally rushed Morgan’s protection.
“Rattling u calling the principal on her for battle rap s—t speaking? Massive yikes. Not studying the room man,” she tweeted.
“Rah, give it some thought this manner,” Vlad retorted. “If a black music blogger made a remark a couple of Taylor Swift music not having combine, after which a Harvard professor responded to him and mentioned ‘You might be BLACK. This can be a WHITE FOLK AFFAIR.’ You’d be OK with this professor instructing youngsters at a high college? Not me.”
The Flip Mode femcee ping-ponged, “You simply described AMERICA. That’s LITERALLY what they’re screaming to Beyonce RIGHT NOW. And he or she’s holding it MUSIC. As so a lot of your white Hip Hop counterparts are for the time being.”
Digga Digga left him with phrases of knowledge, significantly as a white particular person in hip-hop. She advised him, significantly relating to Morgan’s message, “When you imagine you may have earned your house. Sticks and stones, man…”
Journalist Bomani Jones additionally weighed in.
“And lemme be clear for me re: vlad… anybody listening to a document on this battle speaking about, of all issues, the combination? not like us. nicely, possibly such as you. however def not like me. f ck that about,” he mentioned, stating that the combination of the music is the very last thing any true hip-hop lover cares about throughout a battle.
“I perceive and respect your level. However on the finish of the day, Kendrick’s audio is being heard by tens of tens of millions of individuals – a tough combine is the equal of blurry video. In the meantime, Drake goes all out on manufacturing and mixing degree,” Vlad responded.
Bomani reminded Vlad that it is a diss observe and much deeper than that.
“He known as drake a slave runner and also you calling kendrick out for two-tracking. nah man. nah,” he replied, proving that, as soon as once more, Vlad was deeply out of contact.
“He additionally went full Karen,” replied an observer of the dialog.
Even comic Kev on Stage mocked Vlad’s critique however didn’t get personally attacked the way in which Morgan was. Nevertheless, she warned him he is perhaps subsequent, “You higher take this down earlier than the corridor monitor sends you to the principal’s workplace!!!”
You higher take this down earlier than the corridor monitor sends you to the principal’s workplace!!! https://t.co/gZ6v3VOjeg
— Morgan Jerkins (@MorganJerkins) Could 5, 2024
Different professors stood with Morgan as nicely, telling Vlad he’s welcome to name their faculties.
My good friend 😭 Thanks https://t.co/dvEbBCLeKP
— Morgan Jerkins (@MorganJerkins) Could 5, 2024
Vlad mentioned the explanation why he responded to Morgan’s submit was as a result of he noticed that she was an actual particular person and never a “bot” hiding behind a fabricated id. The faculty English instructor mentioned that it was way more than that, implying his remarks had been rooted in a type of misogynoir.
She tweeted, “He additionally didn’t assume that anybody would defend me as a result of I’m a Black lady. So thanks to everybody who did. I do know why he responded to me and it’s not as a result of his different critics had been ‘bots.’”
If that’s what Vlad believed, he was incorrect.
Darkchild has not weighed in on his niece and DJ Vlad’s spat.
