Chance the Rapper Says Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq Is “Exploitive and Problematic”

Photo via Chance the Rapper’s Instagram

Spike Lee’s latest film Chi-Raq is in theaters today. In a series of tweets, Chance the Rapper has taken issue with the film, calling it “exploitive and problematic.” He first retweeted a tweet saying, “Don’t forget support your struggling neighborhood DVD man when #chiraq come out,” and then continued to share his own thoughts. Read his tweets below.

Chi-Raq is a modern adaptation of the Ancient Greek comedy Lysistrata. In the play, the women of Athens and Sparta withold sex from the men until they stop fighting each other. Chi-Raq applies the story to Chicago, with women doing the same to stop gang violence in the city. Chance, in regards to the plot, tweeted, “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 has been an outspoken voice about political issues in his hometown. Recently, Chance showed his support for Vic Mensa, who protested against Chicago police over Laquan McDonald’s murder. For the past two years over Memorial Day Weekend, he’s promoted an anti-violence campaign using the hashtag #SaveChicago. In 2014, Chicago went 42 hours without a reported shooting during the campaign.

Fellow Chicago rapper King Louie has also spoken out against the film. He’s shared a video for his song “Fuck Spike Lee”, directed by himself and Forman James. Watch it below, via Exclaim.

Read “Chance the Rapper’s Set at Pitchfork was #PeakBlackness and #PeakChicago” on the Pitch.

Don’t forget support your struggling neighborhood DVD man when #chiraq come out

— Reese of the People (@ReeseSwag) December 4, 2015

Let me be the one from Chicago to personally tell you we not supporting this film out here

— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 4, 2015

That 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, 2015

The people that made that shit didn’t do so to “Save Lives”. It’s exploitive and problematic

— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 4, 2015

Also 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, 2015

You 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

 

Watch the trailer for Chi-Raq: 

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