The best way to show you’re truly sorry is by changing , they say. But in actress Gina Rodriguez’s case, she’s hoping a social media press release will do the talking.
The Miss Bala star took to Instagram once again Tuesday night to address a video she posted earlier that day where, while singing along to the Fugees’ “Ready or Not,” Rodriguez said the n-word.
Gina Rodriguez, known for her leading role as Jane Villanueva in Jane the Virgin, is facing backlash for saying the n-word in a recent Instagram Story post. pic.twitter.com/YRmZvZBGo6
Originally, Rodriguez delivered a passive-aggressive “apology” via her Instagram Stories. “I’m sorry if I offended anyone by singing along to the Fugees, to a song I love, that I grew up on—I love Lauryn Hill—and uhm, I really am sorry if I offended you,” Rodriguez said. Apparently Rodriguez learned her lesson rather quickly and after
backlash she delivered part two of her apology which was a lot more remorseful: “The word I sang, carries with it a legacy of hurt and pain that I cannot even imagine,” she wrote in her Notes app statement. “Whatever consequences I face for my action today, none will be more hurtful than the personal remorse I feel. I feel so deeply protective and responsible to the community of color, but I have let this community down,” she added. “I have some serious learning and growing to do and I am so deeply sorry for the pain I have caused.”
Rodriguez’s remarks on race—specifically, inaccurate and anti-black comments have caused backlash before , Because of that her lack of self-awareness, mixed with a complete and unwavering commitment to playing the victim, is bordering on hilarious.
It is quite ironic that Rodriguez considers herself an advocate for women in Hollywood, specifically women of color. Rodriguez has offended and gaslighted black people on various occasions and it would serve her right to be clear about that in her apology.
Black Sheep burst onto the scene in the early 1990s and quickly found success and acclaim. This momentum led the group’s label, Mercury Records, to entrust Dres with his own imprint called One Love. The talented MC was then tasked with signing talent. The first act he inked was a Bronx trio known as The Legion. The crew consisted of lyricists Cee-Low (aka Diceman), Molecules, and Chucky Smash, and in 1993 they released their first 12” titled “Jingle Jangle.” Plenty of Rap peers—reportedly including Biggie Smalls—were admitted fans of the production and hardcore Hip-Hop style.
These boogie-down Bronx bombers served up their debut, Theme + Echo = Krill in 1994. While it was a solid introduction to the world, it was not met with the commercial response that the group likely hoped for. Like many artists feeling discarded by the label system, The Legion went the independent route. Later in the decade, they gave fans a 12” that had “Street Thing” on the A-side, and “Caught Up” on the B.
Since then, a bunch of the group’s unreleased material from that era finally saw the light of day through indie efforts. In 2017, Showbiz partnered with Molecules for A Bronx Tale. That was before The Legion returned with two brand new songs (“1980 Something” b/w “Heard We Quit”), on by Ill Adrenaline Records.
Recently, Diceman dropped solo material. “Denzel,” from the limited-edition vinyl release The Power OfNow, pops as a straightforward video in the neighborhood. Those that have been Legion fans since “Jingle Jangle” will know that while Sean Jennings’ official Rap moniker was Cee-Low, Diceman was his alias even back then. He shows his O.G. stripes with a flow in the pocket, checking receipts on feeble MCs as he pulls up at the curb.
Dice’ spits a quick verse over solid drums and a smattering of strings and piano courtesy of producer, J Depina. Dice is blunt about his stance on the comp, “See, I murder competition during intermission / And now I’m 10 steps ahead of them sucka moves, that’s intuition / I’m in the cut, givin’ the beat an incision / I poetically pound punks out with precision / That wack sh*t f*cked your ears up, impaired yourvision,” he commands. Moments later the confident MC touts, “I’m constantly consistent with conviction / And you? You just a constant contradiction / Never no facts in your diction / You’re spittin’ fiction / Even the DJs say it don’t blend when they mixin’ / I see the videos, n*ggas looking like vixens.” The delivery is confident, with compound rhymes and a nice display of cadence.
The Power of Now is available now on limited edition vinyl from King Of The Beats Records and comes with a bonus 45. A t-shirt package is also available. Further, The Legion will drop their long-awaited sophomore Three The Bronx Way on February 1, 2019.
About Ready Or Not: “Ready Or Not” is Ambrosia For Heads’ platform for showcasing new videos and having you, the people, decide whether they are ready for primetime. Each week, AFH will showcase music from artists on the verge, looking for their seat at the table among Hip-Hop’s elite.
#BonusBeat: Catch Diceman and Molecules on a recent episode of The House List podcast:
Black Sheep burst onto the scene in the early 1990s and quickly found success and acclaim. This momentum led the group’s label, Mercury Records, to entrust Dres with his own imprint called One Love. The talented MC was then tasked with signing talent. The first act he inked was a Bronx trio known as The Legion. The crew consisted of lyricists Cee-Low (aka Diceman), Molecules, and Chucky Smash, and in 1993 they released their first 12” titled “Jingle Jangle.” Plenty of Rap peers—reportedly including Biggie Smalls—were admitted fans of the production and hardcore Hip-Hop style.
These boogie-down Bronx bombers served up their debut, Theme + Echo = Krill in 1994. While it was a solid introduction to the world, it was not met with the commercial response that the group likely hoped for. Like many artists feeling discarded by the label system, The Legion went the independent route. Later in the decade, they gave fans a 12” that had “Street Thing” on the A-side, and “Caught Up” on the B.
Since then, a bunch of the group’s unreleased material from that era finally saw the light of day through indie efforts. In 2017, Showbiz partnered with Molecules for A Bronx Tale. That was before The Legion returned with two brand new songs (“1980 Something” b/w “Heard We Quit”), on by Ill Adrenaline Records.
Recently, Diceman dropped solo material. “Denzel,” from the limited-edition vinyl release The Power OfNow, pops as a straightforward video in the neighborhood. Those that have been Legion fans since “Jingle Jangle” will know that while Sean Jennings’ official Rap moniker was Cee-Low, Diceman was his alias even back then. He shows his O.G. stripes with a flow in the pocket, checking receipts on feeble MCs as he pulls up at the curb.
Dice’ spits a quick verse over solid drums and a smattering of strings and piano courtesy of producer, J Depina. Dice is blunt about his stance on the comp, “See, I murder competition during intermission / And now I’m 10 steps ahead of them sucka moves, that’s intuition / I’m in the cut, givin’ the beat an incision / I poetically pound punks out with precision / That wack sh*t f*cked your ears up, impaired yourvision,” he commands. Moments later the confident MC touts, “I’m constantly consistent with conviction / And you? You just a constant contradiction / Never no facts in your diction / You’re spittin’ fiction / Even the DJs say it don’t blend when they mixin’ / I see the videos, n*ggas looking like vixens.” The delivery is confident, with compound rhymes and a nice display of cadence.
The Power of Now is available now on limited edition vinyl from King Of The Beats Records and comes with a bonus 45. A t-shirt package is also available. Further, The Legion will drop their long-awaited sophomore Three The Bronx Way on February 1, 2019.
About Ready Or Not: “Ready Or Not” is Ambrosia For Heads’ platform for showcasing new videos and having you, the people, decide whether they are ready for primetime. Each week, AFH will showcase music from artists on the verge, looking for their seat at the table among Hip-Hop’s elite.
#BonusBeat: Catch Diceman and Molecules on a recent episode of The House List podcast:
ANoyd dropped a handful of cuts with similar “ransom letter” graphics in the Fall of last year, including “Always Something,” “DelCobra,” and “Solid Gold.” Something is building between albums. Now the New England MC is back with the effect and filter-heavy video for “DelCobra” directed by Eli Taylor.
The droning horn loop courtesy of 2WO4OUR is fertile soil for Noyd to cultivate his clever bars. He spews napalm right from the onset, “I said, the Lambo doors put their hands in the air / And I wave ‘em like I just don’t care / What I’m drinking is clear / They was grillin’, now it’s more pan-seared / Less plastic and more Pam Grier / The GOAT, I’m damn near / I feel the bag lasts longer when you humble / But you get the bag quicker when you mumble.”
Then, as a warning to those hating, he asserts, “You gettin’ thoughts of dissing me? / Oh, you should disengage / I wish a brother would, you know I’ll get him engraved / And I ain’t even trying to be vain / While y’all building up some type of facade / ‘Cause the only people hyping ya, squad.”
About Ready Or Not: “Ready Or Not” is Ambrosia For Heads’ platform for showcasing new videos and having you, the people, decide whether they are ready for primetime. Each week, AFH will showcase music from artists on the verge, looking for their seat at the table among Hip-Hop’s elite.
ANoyd dropped a handful of cuts with similar “ransom letter” graphics in the Fall of last year, including “Always Something,” “DelCobra,” and “Solid Gold.” Something is building between albums. Now the New England MC is back with the effect and filter-heavy video for “DelCobra” directed by Eli Taylor.
The droning horn loop courtesy of 2WO4OUR is fertile soil for Noyd to cultivate his clever bars. He spews napalm right from the onset, “I said, the Lambo doors put their hands in the air / And I wave ‘em like I just don’t care / What I’m drinking is clear / They was grillin’, now it’s more pan-seared / Less plastic and more Pam Grier / The GOAT, I’m damn near / I feel the bag lasts longer when you humble / But you get the bag quicker when you mumble.”
Then, as a warning to those hating, he asserts, “You gettin’ thoughts of dissing me? / Oh, you should disengage / I wish a brother would, you know I’ll get him engraved / And I ain’t even trying to be vain / While y’all building up some type of facade / ‘Cause the only people hyping ya, squad.”
About Ready Or Not: “Ready Or Not” is Ambrosia For Heads’ platform for showcasing new videos and having you, the people, decide whether they are ready for primetime. Each week, AFH will showcase music from artists on the verge, looking for their seat at the table among Hip-Hop’s elite.
pic.twitter.com/Jb6NpqRD4E
(@DiamondsDose) October 15, 2019
