Ras Kass Letter To The Sydney Morning Herald

An Open Letter To The Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday - October 24, 2006

— by Ras Kass


Ras Kass recently released a diss track to The Game, called "Gayme Over," where he references Steve Irwin (the Crocodile Hunter), who recently died after a being stung by a stringray. The death of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin is already being used as material in gangsta rap music.

In the track Ras spits the line:

"You're the waste of L.A. / get blast up in L.A. / face down, ass up in L.A. / you the Crocodile Hunter, I am the stingray."

Steve Irwin's manager, John Stainton, responded to Ras' line, mentioning Irwin, calling it disrespectful and wrong (see "Gangsta rap feud goes from shock to Irwin croc tactics"). Ras wrote the following open letter in response.

Ras Kass' Words

Every person should be treated with an equal brush stroke, or no one should, and everything must be considered in context. I am a hip-hop artist. Hip-hop is like any other art form; nothing is sacred, nothing is off limits. As such, I have used historical events and current events as metaphors to express a greater perspective to certain ideas and points. At other times, I myself, have been referenced -- be it in a positive or negative light. That is part of the creative process and the nature of what rap music is. I in no way have, or have had any ill will towards the late Steve Irwin. Sadly, I think this has been unreasonably blown out of proportion.

Steve Irwin who loved nature and had a pioneering spirit, knowing the dangers of nature, put himself in harms way consistently, understanding the risks involved in his passion/ job. He even requested that in the event of his demise that the show being recorded be aired in its entirety.

What strikes me as hypocritical is that in a six minute song (that literally starts out with gun shots), the only thing that stood out in Mr. Stainton's mind was a one-bar reference to a current event. Actually, a reference where there is no trace of malediction; I specifically used the metaphor neither making a positive or negative judgment or connotation about the late Mr. Irwin. Mr. Stainton doesn't seem to be the least bit concerned with other references that one could (mis)construe as homophobic or misogynistic, let alone is he concerned with the potential violence in hip-hop or black-on-black violence. He only seems to be bothered by one line. I am just saying that consistency would be nice.

If you aren't from the hip-hop culture and are not familiar with it then you are not qualified to judge it. Whether American or Australian, every human life is valuable; otherwise it makes it appear that Mr. Stainton thinks that only one man's is.

Sincerely,
Ras Kass
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