Royce Da 5'9 Defends Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole from Cancel Culture

Royce explained the complex nature of expression in the middle of these difficult times. HipHopDX asked him if it was a valid criticism for people to go out after Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole during this time.

Hearing From Your Idols

The "Caterpillar" rapper answered: "You got Kendrick Lamar fans who genuinely are, like, 'Yo, we need to hear it from Kendrick right now." Royce Da 5'9 then shared that he understands these people. He pointed out how he also wants to hear first from people he admires. For him, he listens to comedian Dave Chappelle.

"Dave Chappelle is that guy for me. I always wanna hear how Dave Chappelle is gonna put things into words because he's gonna choose the perfect words at the perfect time," Royce explained. He did clarify that while he wants to hear Chappelle's opinions, it does not mean that he is challenging the stand-up icon.

Royce Da 5'9 then explained that other people are challenging Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole to "shift the focus off of them" because they are not doing anything. While the rapper understands the value of speaking since other people look up to them, he believes some people are just pushing their idols' responsibility.

"I think there's places where it's valid, and there's places where it's just bulls**t. It's just like trolling," Royce concluded.

Twitter's Cancel Culture Puts Kendrick's Comeback at Risk

He also expressed concern over Kendrick Lamar's recent appearance. Royce noted Lamar's last presence at a Black Lives Matter rally in his native Compton. "I don't know if that was something that was already planned or if he just did that to tell people to kind of shut the fuck up. But if he was made to feel like that, I'm not cool with that."

The "Alright" artist has been spotted at a Compton rally in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Together with NBA stars Russel Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan, participants of the Compton Peace Walk went from Gateway Towne Center to the City Hall last June 7.

On Wednesday, June 17, Terrence "Punch" Henderson responded to a fan on Twitter telling him to "tell Kendrick it's time for the real to return." The Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) President shut down the fan, saying, "Nah. Ni**as* don't appreciate it." Lamar has been facing criticism from people about his perceived passivity over the Black Lives Matter protests. The artist has remained silent, although his 2015 hit "Alright" has surged in popularity as the anthem of the movement and his recent appearance in Compton.

Meanwhile, J. Cole has recently dropped a surprise single, "Snow on Tha Bluff," Tuesday, June 16. The politically-charged hip-hop track illustrates the North Carolina rapper's thoughts on racism, police brutality, and activism. The song, however, was met with mixed opinions. Others didn't take kindly to J. Cole's attempts at explaining how other black Americans find difficulty in reacting with the movement.

"It's a reason it took like two hundred years for our ancestors just to get freed / These shackles be lockin' the mental way more than the physical," one of the bars on "Snow" went.