The Metro: Separating the art from the problematic artist 

Content warning: The topic this hour includes mentions of sexual violence.

If you listen to rap and hip-hop, it’s hard to avoid hearing songs that P Diddy or Jay Z had a hand in making. But last week, both Sean Combs, aka P Diddy, and Shawn Carter, aka Jay-Z, were named in a civil lawsuit. They’re accused of raping a 13 year-old girl at an industry event in 2000. They both deny the allegations.

Combs is currently being held without bail at a federal jail in Brooklyn until May of next year. He pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, which include sex trafficking and racketeering. Several appeals to release him on bond have been denied.

The trial has not yet happened, but that hasn’t stopped people from reacting to the allegations, some calling for boycotts of Combs’ and Carter’s music.

Roula David, owner of Spot Lite and UFO Bar in Detroit, joined The Metro to discuss the cases and whether it’s OK to separate the art from problematic artists. She says character checks are a part of the booking process at both venues. 

“There are multiple local famous DJs that we have said no to. We actually canceled a show for one particular artist that had transphobic comments on social media, and people came and asked us to not have the show,” David said. “We ended up switching the show and turning it into a fundraiser for the Ruth Ellis center.”

The concept of separating art from the artist is one that has proven difficult for many, says hip-hop journalist and historian Kahn Santori Davison,  adding that people’s fandom and celebrity complicates this more.   

“From just a fan perspective, we all choose what celebrities we choose to forgive and still allow to entertain us,” Davison said. 

T Barb is a comedian now based in Los Angeles, but forever a Detroiter. She is concerned about people being presumed guilty before the standing trial.  

“Of course, I do feel like R. Kelly was completely wrong. He should be locked up, but what I didn’t like was the public prosecution aspect, because I feel like those are things that should be in a court of law,” T Barb said. 

In the second hour of The Metro, we asked listeners:

“Are you going to avoid music made or produced by P Diddy and Jay Z amid the charges against them?

Shawn in Royal Oak said: “I think that if an artist shows that they have remorse and understand they did something wrong — stop the behavior, apologize even — then, you know, there’s no reason to ‘cancel them.'” 

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

More headlines from The Metro on Dec. 18, 2024: 

• The Irwin House Gallery in New Center is hosting its 5th annual “Gifted V” art exhibit. Most art work costs between $40 and $500, allowing a lot of people to become art collectors. To discuss the art exhibit, and why art can make for a great gift, Irwin House Gallery Director Misha McGlown joined the show. 
• Now that Trump is returning to office, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over diversity, equity and inclusion programs all over the country. It has led to heightened concerns among the students and faculty at the University of Michigan. After rumors surfaced that the school would potentially defund DEI at the university, students rallied on campus to defend it. Here to give us an update on where the university stands and how its affecting students and faculty is WDET reporter Bre’Anna Tinsley. 
• Miss Eva’s is a brand new fixture to the Grandmont Rosedale Park community, which sits on Detroit’s westside. The owner, Jay Williams, wanted to make the venue special, honoring Detroit’s rich musical history and the artistic ancestors who helped make the music so great. Williams also chose the name Miss Eva’s to honor his grandmother, a lifelong Detroiter. Williams joined the show to discuss.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.