LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 19: Aoki Lee Simmons attends the Dior Men's Spring/Summer 2023 Collection on May 19, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/WireImage)
Aoki Lee Simmons is fed up with the lack of loving tributes from white fans to Takeoff after he was tragically killed this week, so she spoke about it on TikTok.
The 20-year-old daughter of Russell Simmons says she observed that white American fans, who are usually at the forefront of consuming music from The Migos, Takeoff, and similar artists, seem to be absent from paying tribute to Kirshnik Khari Ball aka Takeoff, who died from a gunshot wound while at a bowling alley in Houston on Monday.
Simmons recognized in her statement on TikTok that she owes her entire life to the existence of hip-hop music, and because of that, she felt compelled to speak on the lack of compassion for the humans, Black artists, behind the music when they die from the same issues that plague the Black community that they rap about.
You know, every time a Black hip-hop artist or rap artist[…]dies, it is only those communities, the Black community, the hip-hop community, who are actively involved in their remembrance or in mourning them.
At the same time, so many privileged, non-black people living their lives—like the soundtrack to their lives is this music. They are using it for everything…parties, lives, moments, gym, motivation… it’s the soundtrack to their life. They are getting so much value from these artists and their life stories and yet when the art dies, not a word.
Simmons continued, calling out white American fans’ silence despite living vicariously through Black trauma.
Part of what makes [hip-hop] compelling to white Americans is it often the stories of the traumatic lived experiences of Black Americans. Like, the absolute worse parts of systemic oppression, and the havoc its reeks on communities in the hood. Violence and drugs[…]but it’s fine to relate to and live vicariously through that when it’s all fun and games, yet these are ongoing issues that frequently kill these artists. And when that happens it’s “the hip-hop community is violent.”
Aoki Lee also uses her TikTok moment to address the perceived lack of appreciation of Black art in American history despite its influence. Hit play to see it.
In related news, TikTok artist ASMR Roger shared a unique tribute to the late hip-hop giant, Takeoff, with one of his glass water bottle designs.
The video went viral with fans sending their love and condolences to the family of the 28-year-old Migos rapper. The aritst is one of many creators on the platform sharing memories of the star.
