Riff Raff is one interesting character, among other adjectives. In a story that dropped last month, the Houston rapper’s use (at least in the past) of the N-word was revealed without much of a blip on the Hip-Hop radar.
Jody Highroller’s use of the N-word was detailed in a LA Weekly cover story. However, it seems like those around him while he was casually using the racial epithet (or term endearment, depending on who is saying it and the context), didn’t really care.
When Riff Raff figured that rap music was his best road to fame, he started “absorbing” all things rap, which allegedly means “talking Black” and using the N-word.
Reports LA Weekly:
He began absorbing the scene as much as he could, doing his best to get noticed. “I always saw him around, at Swishahouse events, or in the club parking lot,” says producer OG Ron C, the influential co-founder of Swishahouse.
Many folks were put off by his look, OG Ron C continues, but others were quickly won over by his jolly personality. “He never acted like he was a hard street person.”
It’s around this time, his dad says, that Horst began to develop his Southern street twang, which sounded affected in its infancy but now suits him. “When he started to get into rap, he started to emulate the black culture,” Ronald Simco says. After all, for white guys to fit into hip-hop, “You have to speak the language, do the hand maneuvers, you have to be black. That’s the way it is.”
Vaughns adds: “Riff used to hang with only black people. When you hang with all black people, you talk black.”
He also took to using the N-word, according to Vaughns and numerous people from the scene, though each adds that it didn’t bother them.
Oh word? At least one person took offense to Riff Raff dropping the N-bomb, though.
It did get him into hot water at least once, however. Vaughns remembers a night on Main Street downtown, when Riff Raff freestyle-battled a rapper who called him something like a “weak-ass white boy.” Riff responded by dissing the guy for his lack of jewelry and peppering his retort with N-bombs.
“Everyone was laughing, but the guy got in his face like he was gonna fight him. Like, ‘Say ni–a one more time!’ ” Vaughns says.
Through his publicist, Riff Raff did not respond to questions about his use of the word. He doesn’t use it in his songs. Last year, to hip-hop site VladTV, he said he wouldn’t pass judgment on other white rappers using it. “Just be appreciative that everyone can … from their vocal chords, express a noise and a frequency that you can even understand,” he added, in typically philosophical Riff Raff fashion.
Interestingly, in that aforementioned Vlad TV interview, which you can see below, Riff Raff never denies using the N-word. He just gives a long winded answer about not judging people.
On the next page is footage from a recent Riff Raff show at Ohio State when he was hit with a beer can while performing. To some, it sounds like he is fluidly saying the N-word at the :35 mark.
We can’t front, from what we see, we’d bet good money Riff Raff uses the n-word freely when there aren’t any cameras around. This writer doesn’t condone such antics from a white rapper (or any white person). Also, allowing this guy to run amok in the game unchecked sends a dangerous precedent, no matter who co-signs him. Just saying.
So why is there country for the Mad Decent artist in the rap game? Do y’all think he is really talented or is he a culture vulture getting over? Should he get an N-word pass? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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Photo: Amanda Lopez
