Fans rush to defend firefighter responsible for one of 2016’s most cult-acclaimed rap albums after “anti-cop” accusations.
The New York Post has been criticised for publishing a “disgusting” and “immoral” front page story about New York rapper Ka.
The article, which was published yesterday (August 21), tried to “out” Ka, born Kaseem Ryan, for living a “double life” as a firefighter, while criticising the Brooklyn-based artist for “bad-mouthing” cops in his lyrics.
The story implies he glamourises “ghetto life, a world of guns, dope and despair” and sees a Sergeants Benevolent Association official urge: “As a New York City firefighter, he should be trying to bring people together rather than fracture relationships, especially in communities of color.”
It is common knowledge that Ryan, who we interviewed back in 2013, is a veteran firefighter working in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area.
“I had no idea he was doing that on the side,” one fellow firefighter is quoted as telling the Post. “He’s really not a bad guy. But he shouldn’t be bad-mouthing cops.”
Many members of the music community, and beyond, have been left feeling frustrated and upset by the story, while showing solidarity with Ka. See a selection of the responses below.
https://twitter.com/Clarknova1/status/767510024008658944
Ryan has yet to comment directly on the story, although his website bio declares that “his songs are not for everyone.” “They’re not for the radio, the club or the masses. My music is for those who miss early ‘90s hip hop when pain and struggle were the dominant themes.”
Ka has just released is fourth solo LP, Honor Killed the Samurai, the follow-up to The Night’s Gambit in 2013.
Update: Killer Mike defends Ka via Instagram.
“Ka creates beautifully written fiction giving us wonderful and tragic looks into mystery and the underworld. I think [the article writer] Susan [Edelman] does understand this and think she knew that when she used these wonderfully poetic Songs that a NYD Fire Capt writes in his spare time when not saving lives to shame him.” More below.