Fat Joe is facing criticism for a a lyric that he is spit on a song from Benny The Butcher.
Benny The Butcher just dropped a sequel to The Plugs I Met project where Fat Joe appears on song ‘Talkin’ Back’. The controversy is due to the bar that Joe raps on it: “Track me in and out of court, Harvey Weinstein / Threw that white up in the pot, gave ’em pipe dreams / And watch it spread like the Wuhan virus / Do ’em dirty for the low like Wu-Tang ’Sirus (ODB).”
Some fans are upset with the line for a couple of reasons. One is him name-dropping Weinstein, who is currently serving a 23-year sentence on sexual assault and rape charges. And second, there was the mention of the “Wuhan virus,” which is being seen as an insensitive reference to Covid-19.
Really hope that the hip hop community doesn’t let Fat Joe’s “wuhan virus” on the new Benny the Butcher EP slide.
Trash like that is contributing to AAPI hate in this country. It’s unacceptable
— James Burky (@BamesJurky) March 19, 2021
Can I delete the Fat Joe verse off the new Benny album? It's a big no for me dawg
— Tottenham Makes Me Cry (@jayabe2) March 19, 2021
This is especially because there has been a rise in anti-Asian attacks in America — the mass shooting that occurred in Atlanta earlier this week was a grave example. Some section of media and politicians were referring to Covid-19 as the “Wuhan Virus” back then but only later realized that terming it that was harmful.
I’ll adress the Benny verse i did that verse a year ago when the news was calling it the wuhan virus before they called it COVID i support and love all my asian brothers and sisters never hate
— FAT JOE (@fatjoe) March 21, 2021
Joe has now addressed the lyric, saying that he recorded it a year ago and has no intentions of hurting the sentiments. “I’ll adress the Benny verse i did that verse a year ago when the news was calling it the wuhan virus before they called it COVID i support and love all my asian brothers and sisters never hate,” he wrote.
