Nick Cannon says the Oscars don’t matter: ‘It’s just fake gold and plastic’
Don't be distracted. These three words end a spoken word video posted by rapper-turned-actor Nick Cannon on his Facebook page. The two-minute poem is his response to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy leading pop culture news.
"Look what they did to Oscar," the "Chi-Raq" star begins. "Nah, not another trophy rant. I'm talking Oscar Grant, Sandra Bland, Mike Brown, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Freddie Gray. Why we trust what the news say anyway? It's blasphemous, don't get distracted by these lottery tickets and statues. It's just fake gold and plastic."
The video continues with Cannon making references to the hit Fox show "Empire," calling for black ownership and leadership in companies, presumably movie studios, and questioning people about their support of black award shows such as the NAACP Awards -- which air Feb. 5.
Oscars 2016: Full Coverage | Complete list | #OscarsSoWhite: Boycotts, reactions and more
"Nah, I ain't never seen Empire, but I serve my own throne," he said. "What I look like begging them to let royalty into they home. As for me and my house, we'll serve the Lord! We crying for votes, but how many of us is on the board. Better yet, when's the last time you showed up and supported the NAACP Awards? I want what's mine, not yours."
Cannon's words capture sentiments similar to those a number of detractors of the calls for boycotts embrace. They believe that support and recognition of black people, or other minorities, should come from their own people, and it should suffice.
"Hollywood mainstream don't validate me, yo," he continued. "Like Hov say, Save the accolades, just the [dough]. You in this show for the business, or this business for the show?
Talent and brilliance? Hands down, man we got that [expletive]. That's why I told Chris, man go 'head and rock that [expletive].
Check out the video for yourself below. And be wary, adult language is used.
#SpokenSunday #Oscar #poetry #DontBeDistracted OscarDamn! Look what they did to Oscar.Nah, not another trophy rant.I'm talking Oscar Grant, Sandra Bland, Mike Brown, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Freddie Gray.Why we trust what the news say anyway?It's blasphemous, don't get distracted by these lottery tickets and statues. It's just fake gold and plastic.We come from Pharaohs with no masters.What happened? We went from golden tombs to closed caskets.The Black Plague, they want us to catch it.Just ask Magic, Malcolm, Martin, Muhammad Ali, Bill Cosby. It's tragic. How the enemy can tear down our community and rewrite the history by highlighting our flaws.But let he who cast the first stone, who constitutes the new laws.Nah, I ain't never seen Empire but I serve my own throne.What I look like begging them to let royalty into they home.As for me and my house, we'll serve the Lord!We crying for votes but how many of us is on the board.Better yet, when's the last time you showed up and supported the NAACP Awards?I want what's mine, not yours.Fuck getting my foot in.I'm building my own doors.Hollywood mainstream don't validate me, yo. Like Hov say, Save the accolades, just the doe.You in this show for the business, or this business for the show?Talent and brilliance? Hands down, man we got that shit. That's why I told Chris, man go 'head and rock that shit.You got the Juice now. Fight the Power.Hell yeah, I'm gonna watch that ceremony where they gonna let a black man be the Master for at least two hours. So don't waste your voice, don't waste your prayers.Save'em for the thousands killed in Nigeria, Kenya, The Philippines, Syria or right here in our urban areas.Low America.Nah, now no one cares.What about my mother raising a son while working three jobs and still equating to less than minimum wage?What about me being placed on medication before my system could age?What about that prison industrial system turning Brothers into new slaves?Where's the outrage? Where the complaints at?Overcoming obstacles, definition of Black.Hashtag #facts.But I guess they don't make no awards for that.Real talk.Real Kings don't need no pats on the back.#Dontbedistracted
Posted by Nick Cannon on Sunday, January 24, 2016
Get your life! Follow me on Twitter: @TrevellAnderson.
MORE:
With 'Chi-Raq,' Spike Lee takes on gun violence — and angers Rahm Emanuel
Teyonah Parris hopes to 'inspire change' with her role in Spike Lee's 'Chi-Raq'
Why Spike Lee used satire in 'Chi-Raq' to take a shot at gun violence
Only good movies
Get the Indie Focus newsletter, Mark Olsen's weekly guide to the world of cinema.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
