Noname April 2023, (Presley Ann/Getty Images for Coachella
Chicago rapper, Noname, has issued a statement addressing the controversy surrounding Jay Electronica’s verse on her newly-released album, Sundial. The verse in question has been criticized for allegedly perpetuating harmful stereotypes about Jewish people. In her statement, Noname acknowledged the backlash via Instagram Sunday morning.
“Here’s the truth. I’m not antisemitic. I don’t hate groups of people. I am against white supremacy which is a global system that privileges people who identify as white. I’ve been clear about this for years,” the rapper wrote.
Noname stood by her creative choice and refused to apologize for effectively signing off Electronica’s words. “I’m not going to apologize for a verse I didn’t write. I’m not going to apologize for including it on my album. If you feel I’m wrong for including that’s fair. Don’t listen. Unfollow and support all the other amazing rappers putting out dope music. Your disappointment truly means nothing to me and I say that with love,” the rapper concluded.
The Electronica verse in question that caused a uproar, “Everywhere I step foot, I leave a trail of names/Of the sons of Yakub, in a trail of flames,” Electronica says in his verse, before calling former comedian and current Jewish Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a joke.
Sundial dropped Friday, August 11th.