In hip-hop's breakneck news cycle, one day's news becomes the next day's old news in the blink of an eye, but for That Mexican OT, a few words of defiance led to a moment of reconsideration. Apologizing for his insensitivity in throwing the N-word around and not just sharing in a public backlash by clapping back like it doesn't affect his bottom line negatively, the Texas rapper issued a heartfelt apology on Wednesday night (June 25), attempting to repair the damage done to not just his character, but his community.
It started when footage of a recent interview dropped of OT doubling down on his use of the racial slur. Sharp in his tone, he went on: "You know what?... It just feels like I can say it. What the f### are you going to do?" That sentence was like a spark in a dry field, with social media erupting in criticism.
One such critic was Houston rap luminary Sauce Walka, who publicly checked OT, which led to others offering their two cents. The discussion took a minutes-long journey from one of lyric to one of cultural reckoning.
But a week or so of mounting pressure and a backlash of widespread disappointment later, OT responded not with another defiant take but with a form of vulnerability. When posting to his Instagram Stories, he referenced a post by fellow rapper and close friend Tr3fonc, in which the latter had shared his hurt and how he'd "lost a lot of respect" for OT.
"I'm sorry, cuz," OT began. "I gave a stupid answer to a silly question.
OT has opened up about the meaning behind his words – albeit expressed poorly and the hurt he's experienced since the fallout.
"I meant it more than the word, cuz," he went on. "I coulda said anything, and I would stand on it for my belief being strong. There's no hate or any negative at all in my heart." Then, in an uncharacteristically raw moment, the rapper bared something not always easy to find in the public eye: genuine remorse.
"I gotta alotta love for my brother and sisterhood man," he wrote. "Blessings and im sorry to do the community. I hope y'all can forgive me."
Everyone was asking me, you know, what's the beef with these guys, and why are you guys disrespecting each other?." A few hours later, OT sent me another chat that revealed the personal side of the controversy and how it impacted his friendship with Tr3fonc.
"Sh### f##### me up. I lost one of them," he said. "I'm sorry to anyone who is appalled by what's been written, I'm sorry to anyone I've offended of any race or any religion. Thank you to everyone who is still here."
In a culture where egos often dominate, OT's apology sounded a different note. It wasn't slick, and it wasn't flawless, but it was human. The Texas artist may have work to do in rebuilding trust, but he's taken a step toward accountability and healing.
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