Last week, Chicago rhymer Chance the Rapper sent out some critical tweets directed towards Spike Lee regarding the filmmaker's new movie Chi-Raq. Chance argued that the Brooklyn-bred Lee had no right to portray Chicago's gang culture, but now the filmmaker has fired back with some criticisms of his own.
According to Lee, Chance has a conflict of interest, and his critiques were inspired by his family's political affiliations. The director told MSNBC [via the 405], "First of all, Chance the Rapper should say full disclosure: his father works for the mayor [Rahm Emanuel]. He's the chief of staff, whatever the title is. His father is the chief of staff. Show me any criticism, if you're so concerned about Chicago, do your research, show me where he's made a criticism about the mayor. I think your finds will be surprising. He has not criticized the mayor. Why? His father works for the mayor."
Lee continued, "And, on top of that, Jennifer Hudson is in the film. She plays a pivotal role. Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew were murdered in Chicago. If what Chance the Rapper's saying is true, then why would Jennifer be in the film?"
Lee has met with Mayor Emanuel, who reportedly didn't oppose the film, but wanted Lee to change the name Chi-Raq. Lee said, "I didn't come up with the title. Local Chicago rappers came up with the title."
Read Chance's tweets about the film below. Scroll past that to watch Lee's interview with MSNBC.
According to Lee, Chance has a conflict of interest, and his critiques were inspired by his family's political affiliations. The director told MSNBC [via the 405], "First of all, Chance the Rapper should say full disclosure: his father works for the mayor [Rahm Emanuel]. He's the chief of staff, whatever the title is. His father is the chief of staff. Show me any criticism, if you're so concerned about Chicago, do your research, show me where he's made a criticism about the mayor. I think your finds will be surprising. He has not criticized the mayor. Why? His father works for the mayor."
Lee continued, "And, on top of that, Jennifer Hudson is in the film. She plays a pivotal role. Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew were murdered in Chicago. If what Chance the Rapper's saying is true, then why would Jennifer be in the film?"
Lee has met with Mayor Emanuel, who reportedly didn't oppose the film, but wanted Lee to change the name Chi-Raq. Lee said, "I didn't come up with the title. Local Chicago rappers came up with the title."
Read Chance's tweets about the film below. Scroll past that to watch Lee's interview with MSNBC.
Let me be the one from Chicago to personally tell you we not supporting this film out here
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 4, 2015That shit get ZERO love out here. Shit is goofy and it's a bunch of ppl from NOT around here telling u to support that shit
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 4, 2015The people that made that shit didn't do so to "Save Lives". It's exploitive and problematic
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 4, 2015Also the idea that women abstaining from sex would stop murders is offensive and a slap in the face to any mother that lost a child here
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 4, 2015You don't do any work with the children of Chicago, You don't live here, you've never watched someone die here. Don't tell me to be calm
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 4, 2015
