How does Andy Mineo approach being a white rapper in the Black cultural artform known as hip hop?
The rapper got real about it when his friend, Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. asked him about his feelings on the subject during a recent Instagram live chat.
“I think when you appreciate and don’t appropriate, it’s a very different response. I know that I’m a guest in this whole [hip-hop] thing,” Andy said. “Hip-hop is formed from Black Culture and I get a chance obviously to honor the culture that I’m a part of, show respect, and also be able to get in and do my thing. Because of my respect for hip-hop and because I’ve been about it, it’s a very different response.”
These types of real conversations with NBA player and The Curious Mike Podcast creator MPJ have inspired the rapper’s latest song, “MPJ Freestyle.”
While the song is warming us up for his upcoming fourth studio album Never Land II, it also gives us some unique insight into Andy’s mind. According to the rapper, the song is inspired by conversations with Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr.
“I recently developed a friendship with Denver Nuggets/NBA player, Michael Porter Jr. (MPJ) and we have a lot of private conversations about the sports and entertainment industry and how it tests our faith,” Andy said in a statement shared with Five:22 Culture. “So I dropped a line in the song ‘Lord keep your hand on MPJ that he goin’ keep his pants on and behave. There’s a lot of married men in the NBA who got shorties in cities on NDAs,’ alluding to one of our conversations.”
Check the song below:
If you’re ready to see Andy hit the stage again on tour, you don’t have to wait too long. He’s dropping tour dates too. Check them out:
