As far as I can tell, this Kanye West character has every right to say whatever he pleases, and when Jay-Z (whoever that is) suggests that he's being denied his rights as an American, he's full of it.
If these guys had paid any attention in school they might be able to grasp that whether there are consequences to what you say, regardless of your freedom to say it.
These consequences probably include a very long pause between now and the next time some organisation dependent on donations from the public calls on Kanye West to perform or speak.
Of course, that may be a moot point, because rap is not exactly a career with a future. Think how hard it is going to be for music moguls to find another boy who can... more or less rhyme. And express that rare attitude, teen rebellion.
By 2007, kids who buy music will be saying, "who dat?"
By 2010, young West will be shouting at an accountant, "what you mean, the money gone?"
By 2030 when he dies in a flophouse, or prison, or shot down in a holdup, he probably won't even be a two-graf crime story on Page B13.
That just breaks my heart.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
It's biggest stars seem incapable of putting together more than two hit albums in a row, and it's rare for an artist to come out with more than four albums total in an entire career.
So many famous groups or MCs have a reputation on the basis of one or two albums: Eric B and Rakim, Mobb Deep, DMX, Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Jay-Z, Nas, Jah Rule, Ol' Dirty Bastard, the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan, Snoop Dogg, etc.
Every top MC either gets in trouble with the law, develops a drug habit, gets shot or killed, retires to enjoy his money, moves into some other end of the business or pursues a career in acting.
And if you manage to make it and keep releasing records for more than five years running, you are considered too old and your style too wack to continue selling.
Look at Public Enemy.