In the constant recirculation of the hip-hop media carousel, some reunions inspire applause, others a side-eye and a deep sigh. This week, it’s the latter. One of the most infamous clowns to ever grace DJ Vlad’s camera, Lord Jamar, is back at it again with VladTV. And let’s say the streets are chattering.
Now, if you’ve been keeping tabs on the hip-hop media game for years, you’ll know this is not just some coincidental link-up. Lord Jamar was part of the early bones of the VladTV identity. As a part of Brand Nubian, Jamar brought both opinions and culture, critique and controversy. He was a frequent presence, usually alongside the comedian Godfrey, and the two produced some of the most widely viewed, argued-over content on the platform. Then, it all blew up.
The reason? Crossed for good: Vlad’s refusal to apologize publicly to Minister Louis Farrakhan. Vlad paraphrased statements from Farrakhan in a manner that many considered disrespectful and even perilous speech. The backlash was fierce and loud. Artists spoke out, the community spoke out, and Jamar and Godfrey walked. They vowed to boycott VladTV and help rob the platform of its cultural currency.
On social media, users are letting off shots and accusing the loudmouth emcee of doing a silent U-Turn for a bag of loud. The move is widely regarded as hypocritical and a betrayal of the cultural position he once defended. It’s a return, they say, that legitimizes a platform they maintain and continues to profit from Black trauma while giving so little back.
But Lord Jamar? He is not exactly bowing to the backlash. He’s speaking, just not how critics wanted him to. He said the boycott wasn’t just about Farrakhan and was not a boycott in the first place. He is looking to see the bigger picture and even apologized earlier this year to justify his return.
Maybe it’s media fatigue. Perhaps the pursuit of relevance in a digital age devours voices urgently if you don’t consistently listen to them. Or perhaps it is all about getting the word out by any means necessary, including the way of a platform you once shook hands with (and everything else) on principle.
It isn’t very easy. Lord Jamar and Godfrey moved on, building their platforms and making noise. Godfrey’s out here going viral all the time. And Vlad? Still Vlad. You’re still getting numbers pulled, and you’re still getting pots stirred. So, it is 2025, and we are watching a cultural chasm re-emerge. For others, Lord Jamar’s withdrawal is a political move in the cutthroat entertainment business, but For others, it’s a backslide.
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