the drake effect.

decentering celebrities and seperating the art from the artist.

Drake’s more recent cancellation actually stuck, for me at least.

And that’s me, speaking as a person who delved deeper into their love for music around the time that his album Nothing Was the Same was released.

I vividly remember being in the 6th grade, diving into his music for the first time.

It was during my daily bus rides to and from school.

At that time, I lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

I would wake up when it was still dark out.

One of my parents and I would leave the house after 5 AM.

I would catch the school bus to my magnet school in another town and be on the bus for at least 40 minutes at a time, with all the other stops included.

Wired headphones in.

On my iPod touch.

Taking in the change of scenery as the dark clouds turn to a warm sunrise.

Listening to Tuscan Leather. WuTang Forever. Connect.

Songs on that album had beats that scratched my 12/13 year old brain just right.

Topped off by melodic rap that was truly my introduction to being able to listen to songs on repeat.

The graphic used for the album always held a symbolic place in my mind as well.

The baby blue sky with white clouds.

A younger representative of himself, and himself at the current stage.

Staring at each other.

Taking in the past and the present.

I honestly thought I would be a Drake stan forever.

One of my instagram handles during my middle school years was literally “drakexbae”... like girl pls LMFAO

At that time, I would only listen to the music.

The art and the artist were separate.

I would start to hear controversies surrounding him as I got older.

And honestly, I would intentionally ignore learning more about the controversies.

I wasn’t ready for my bubble to burst yet.

Eventually, the light filled up the dark room.

But that was, of course, after I crossed off seeing him in concert.

And getting a general standing pit ticket.

One of my first solo concert experiences; honestly a memory I’ll hold fondly for life.

It was for his “It Was All A Blur” tour featuring 21 Savage.

I really appreciated hearing a lot of his old discography and it flowing into his newer hits.

For reference, I stanned him so hard I consumed every album he’s released and definitely enjoyed the art down.

And in hindsight, this concert would be the full circle of my listening span,

to an artist who now feels more like a time capsule.

What happens when we become aware of the flaws of the artist?

And when the flaws are predatory.

And harmful to a group of people.

Especially women, a group that is overlooked & under protected.

Where does the line of morals begin and the concept of appreciating art stop?

For myself, my favorite songs by those artists will still bring me back to a time where the song comforted me.

And reciting the lyrics that are etched into my mind from repetition.

At times where I used this music to escape, during loneliness, depression, and grief at a young age.

Those who can still separate the artist from the art will always find appreciation in the production, the lyricism, and the era being represented.

The fall of the “idols” that humans once held on higher pedestals is an interesting timeline.

We all are recognizing that “celebrities” are just normal people.

And some of them have dark sides that we would never even imagine.

Holding space for the notion that these are just regular humans, who honed into their craft long enough to become the “masters”.

But when you truly understand

That they are both light and dark just like anybody else,

You can remove them from that pedestal

And replace that idolization with realization.

You are the true star.

What you focus on, shines.

There are so many artists that have had a downfall when their true colors start to emerge.

When the hidden stories come to light.

Some mentions: Nicki Minaj. Cardi B. Tory Lanez. Diddy. Da Baby. Trey Songz. Daniel Cesar.

But chile, the list is so long.

Feel free to comment on other names that are cancelled in your sphere / side of the internet.

And honestly, Daniel Cesar got cancelled for one moment in time.

Some of the other mentioned names have a long list of public & unerasable mistakes.

Despite all that, of course when their music comes on, I’m bopping my head.

However, on a human level, they have either stood behind things or done actions that are just immoral, harmful, or hateful.

But back onto Mr. Cesar.

He had a moment in time where to me, the impact feels like it stuck with the audience more than the actual action.

I often forget exactly what he did but I just know he left a bad taste in my mouth.

The impact is his poor representation for the black community & having a lack of demand for respect for our culture.

And an ignorance to protect the rhetoric that is communicated in his presence surrounding blackness through his platform.

I love Tyler the Creator’s music, but he falls under that umbrella to me as well.

In my eyes, he once represented the awkward black personality trope.

Those of us who are black but were told we “talk white”.

But yet he’s publicly made statements that literally diminish the light of our blackness.

Cancel culture looks different for each consumer.

For some, it’s standing on not buying from certain corporations.

For others, it’s not streaming a certain artist’s music.

For all of us, we are unsettled by the discovery of the truth and are taking back our power.

To follow the true cliche;

Standing for something. Not just falling for anything.

I think in these times

Realizing that your community

Your life

Your story

Is the story that you should be replaying

Studying

Nurturing

Polishing until it shines

You and your crew are the true “celebrities”

Treat them as such.

Start with destruction.

Break down the hierarchies.

Decenter other artists.

And shift into just appreciating the art

& focusing on your own craft.

- The Flesh Out.