Rhyme & Reason: Rappin’ Bout Chipotle’s
A few weeks back I wrote a piece about Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett and his own rendition of the “Black Olympics.” My main criticism of Bennett was that he seemed to lack a basic understanding that staging watermelon and fried chicken eating contests between him and his brother -- Seahawks rookie Michael Bennett -- was the ultimate slap in the face to a lot of people that fought for centuries so that black folks didn’t have to be portrayed in such a manner.
However, after going back and forth about it with some friends, I ultimately realized that as much as I was taken aback by the racial component of the video, I was just as irked by its complete lack of creativity and the fact that it just wasn’t funny … at all.
Fast forward to this afternoon, when I see the video posted above of Cavaliers guard Delonte “Dough-nuts” West and another dude’s apparent 18-minute wait for about $47 worth of food from KFC. While they wait outside in the car, at about the 0:49 mark, West decides to break out into an impromptu freestyle over Twista’s “Fire” about: his cousin working there, getting a hookup every year, grilled chicken, parfaits (strawberry and chocolate), apple pies, macaroni and cheese, raspberry iced tea, hot sauce in his bag (extra…extra!), some chick he met named Shaunae that tried to get him to take her to a spot with valet parking, cheeseburgers, Chipotle, barbecue sauce, Original Recipe, doing the brew (whatever that is), biscuits and mashed potatoes.
After taking it all in and wiping the tears from my eyes, I asked myself if it was fair to criticize Bennett for what he did yet laugh at West and his self-proclaimed interpretation of a Sonic-esque commercial for KFC.
After thinking about it, for a few seconds, I quickly came to the conclusion that:
1. He didn’t emulate one single stereotype.
2. It was creative.
3. It was funny.
Sure, he used some choice language and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him (foolishly) fined by the team. However, this is ultimately just a random moment -- not a pre-meditated production -- from a dude who isn’t doing anything (visibly) illegal and gave the world the great gift of comedy. At the end of the day, I think my folks over at FiyaStarter would agree that when it comes to good ignorance, this is the cream of the crop.
Choice “verse”:
Some days I do Chipotle’s
She said, “Chipotle?”
Yup, baby girl Chipotle
Said Chipotle’s
Said Chipotle’s
Get burrito, beans, rice, Chipotle
Get some napkins
Lil hot sauce
Sit down eat
Chipotles like a bawse!
This is funny and sad at the same time. I’m all for having a good time and have taken part in some of the most ignorant discussions and events of all time. Luckily, I was not recorded or am not famous enough for those events to be posted on youtube. Hopefully, this does not exclude him from any endorsement deals or opportunities to make money. I can’t see it helping his career any, but crazier things have happened.
Sheamac aka Shea (pronounced like Geah) aka Sheafus aka Shea by the Pound…
I have to agree with you on your point. I actually had a heated discussion with Kenny Badd about this yesterday. My point…it’s cool to kick back with your friends and cut up a bit. He’s a young man, we do these type of things. And at the end of the day he’s a regular cat from around the way. But at the same time he’s a professional, he’s college educated and he’s also an African American athlete. His actions were broadcasted in a manner that does nothing but continuously tarnish the image and level sophistication of the African American athlete. How much more non-substantial publicity do we need??? It does nothing for his image, it does nothing for his organization and it does nothing for the NBA.
I know Delonte is a stand-up guy with a outgoing personality. But again, he along with other knuckle heads (that do worse things than this) get paid MILLIONS of dollars to “play a game.” A game in which 40-50 years ago blacks weren’t even allowed to play. He owes it to the pioneers who paved the way, he owes it to his family and he owes it to himself to be a responsible adult and keep that style (jargon) of footage off the air.
KBads, being that you’re a man of many tastes and flavors…I honestly think you were enamored by the subject matter (ie. apple pies, macaroni and cheese, raspberry iced tea & hot sauce) he was rapping about. I know food is an intimate topic that you cherish to a wholesome degree. But there’s nothing quality about this footage accept for forcing a slight chuckle here and there.
Signing off mane…
I understand what ya’ll brothas are saying, but like I said in the piece, what stereotype is he emulating?
I guess I just fail to see how this makes others look bad when it’s obviously just a candid moment between him and one of his boys. The fact that Delonte West is in it doesn’t make it funny, it’s just funny, at least to me.
And I’m copping one of these tees.
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs159.snc1/5935_103426927923_500297923_2192041_5291124_n.jpg
Those tees are actually pretty good. Maybe I’m ol’ school and coming off a bit harsh. I’ll lighten up and live for the moment. Enjoy Hot Sauce in my baaaaaag. There it is.
I’m new to this site, but I’ve gotta agree with KBadd on this one. Delonte doesn’t have to transform into a completely different person because he’s a black man in the NBA. In that clip, he wasn’t representing the Cavs. LeBron and Shaq were the furthest things from his mind. He wasn’t representing any black athlete at all. Delonte was just being himself and it was hilarious.
Would the clip be more acceptable if he walked inside the restaurant, wearing his Cavs Road Jersey, and helped a little kid pay for a combo meal…only to have the kid turn to him and say, “Delonte, you’re the greatest!!! I wanna be just like you are when I grow up.”? Will that help the black man’s plight? I don’t think so…
Yeah, he dropped a few “N” bombs on camera, but no laws were broken. He didn’t shoot himself in the leg with an unauthorized pistol. No drugs were smoked, snorted or sold. No white women were raped. No dogs died. All and all, its just comedy…
I would feel differently if they didn’t record and post this themselves. Like I said, if there was a video recording of any of the sessions we had back in the days, people would view us differently. Fortunately for us, technology wasn’t as advanced back then. The other thing I forget is the age of most of these dudes. We all know money doesn’t translate into maturity or intellect.
Shea, if there were recordings of some of the sessions from back in the day, you’d have a TV show and multiple film credits to your name. We were still in our teens at the time, and I don’t think people would view us as anything as kids with a lot of time on their hands.
15 deep bathroom sessions in the Harbors! Let’s go!!! Rubb’s freestyles and wall beats were uncanny.
I’m glad I never had any or those experiences with you guys… You can’t tell me that was not one of you guys back in day day with your right hand man, after a session, freestylen in the car or at the park. Looking at that instantly took me back, I remember several occasions, with Skitches, that that sort of thing broke out , then a half hour later we still stuck in the car having the time of our life, in the moment. Now as far as for West, oh well, I don’t think he’ll lose the non-existing endorsement deal just yet, LMAO!