let's breathe & zoom out for a second. kendrick lamar sampled geraldo rivera in the song "DNA" saying the following about black men: "hip hop has done more damage to young African Americans than racism in recent years." the song was a black power anthem clearly rebuking the idea.

sampling a voice is not the same thing as agreeing with it. often it is ironic and used with specific context. if you don't think it's tasteful, that's your opinion. but given that j-m j0nes was notoriously anti-south korea, it's clear there is specific context to the sample.

so what is the content of the song? "what do you think?" is a song where he lashes out at nondescript enemies in the industry. it's a song where he, a korean person in a korean group, boasts his success and ruminates on dominating in western spaces which berthed people like jones

it follows "daechwita", a song where he claims pride in his korean origins by making use of traditional korean history and cultural ideas. "what do you think?" is a song addressing how people start rumors and speculations to sully BTS' good name and/or gain clout from it.

what was the purpose of y00ngi putting the sample in his song? no-one can know exactly for sure. i would have thought, in the months leading up where tons of ARMYs, who had already heard the sample, analyzed it and speculated on what it'd be used for, we'd realize the complexity.

right now is a very difficult time. we are struggling to put our weight together to support the #BLM movement. this is of utmost importance; direct action against unjust states. demonstrations of dissent. i can understand why people would be especially vulnerable to outrage.

i can understand, also, why someone would consider the sample distasteful, much like they did andres serrano's piss christ or kendrick's "DNA." but there is no rule saying art must be tasteful, or must be clear in its intentions.

if you are posting in outrage right now, be very honest with yourself and ask yourself how quickly your reflex became from learning vaguely of the situation and tweeting aggressively about it. this is the same way health tips for protestors with misinformation gained 100k+ RTs.

many people, esp stans, on social media do not realize that fighting for social justice requires a *balance* between knowing when to fight and when not to fight; when to speak and when to first learn context, verify info, and wait. they solely want blood.

the sample was likely used to stir uncomfortable reminders of what cult-like behavior, speculation, rushing to conclusions and mob mentality can do--as the song itself suggests. it's ironic that so many of us have taken the bait and demonstrated it in reality as a response.

and it follows in a storied hip-hop tradition of sampling the voices of people who represent evil; who represent your opposition. you can look up c. delores tucker for more examples, i.e. royce da 5'9"'s "c. delores"

no, i will not engage in mob mentality, i will not send reports or e-mails out, i will not angrily tweet because it seems clear to me this sample was not an intention of solidarity or agreement with the evil, anti-korean cult leader. instead, i will focus on #BlackLivesMatter .

and if this outrage is truly about a discourse regarding anti-blackness, then i expect all of you henceforth, as i will, to leave that to black people, rather than hurry to speak over them as if you are some sort of non-black savior. nothing could be more offensive.