If Taylor Swift was the typical country artist would Kanye West still have said “Beyonce has the best video”? Because, Taylor Swift isn’t the typical county artist. In previous country interviews she has said “When I was 16 I used to open my shows with a cover of Eminem’s ‘Lose Yourself,’” Swift said, “I was just this young girl playing a guitar so to get myself noticed I would come on and rap. And it worked – people remembered me.”

Taylor is still doing covers of urban music to “be remembered” and bring herself out of country music into mainstream pop…Regardless if she is doing it from a genuine love of urban music, or if it is way to set herself apart from the sea of country artists and pop artists (marketing strategy) is somewhat unclear. Because, when she was in front of these very artists that helped establish her career and versatility as a country artist, she didn’t say anything. And, when Beyonce gave her time to Taylor – the first thing Taylor did was launch into her thank you speech, she didn’t even really say Thank You to Beycone in the mic. I mean she gave her a hug, but how about some words??? It was almost like she expected it. Shouldn’t thanking Beyonce been the first thing out of her mouth? Beyonce didn’t have to give her time to her. Beyonce did it because she listens to her heart (you know where you soul come from – which is why Beyonce can sing like that).

Taylor Swift is a sweet girl, but she is still part of a group of people (white) who have a track record for using non-white culture to benefit themselves. And, once they are established, don’t give back. Some have even conveniently forgot where their inspiration came from and started thinking it came from them, and just stole ideas, identities and soul.

Why is this acknowledgment so important? Remember what Chris Rock said about his neighbors in his Kill The Messenger: “My only three black neighbors are Mary J. Blige, one of the greatest singers of all time, Denzel Washington, one of the greatest actors of all time, and Jay-Z, one of the greatest rappers of all time.” His white neighbor? “A dentist. And he isn’t like the greatest dentist in history either. I had to host the Oscars to get that house — a black dentist in my neighborhood would have to invent teeth.”

No one can deny that this is true. Things haven’t been fair for awhile, and until recently in music and in politics have we seen change. And, because of american history and these circumstances, it’s common heart sense to honor and pay respect.

Taylor Swift can easily be viewed as an icon for “having things easy” – and if she would have used the VMA awards to say some of the things she has said in other interviews, then it would have been easier to say if what Kanye West did was for the wrong reasons. But, she didn’t, not even the second time she was giving her thank you speech, and I have yet to hear anyone ask Kanye to explain himself. So, should there really be so many people “casting stones” at him?

Kanye does have a ugly huge ego, but he is also part of a movement that was needed. Hip Hop is sacred because of what it has done…it has restored some balance to an America that originally was suppose to be a beautiful melting pot of justice and culture. Posted below is a song I really love by snoop, Dre’s lyrics illustrate clearly what an impact Hip Hop has had – and just how sacred it is. These reasons alone, are every reason why an icon of “having it easy” (regardless if it has been easy or not) needs to acknowledge the very things that have made her country music not so nashville. That would be genuine, that would be respect and make it not seem like you were using it as a way to launch your career and have people remember you.

Dre’s Lyrics from Snoop’s song “Imagine”:

Imagine it never happened
Imagine no rappin’
Imagine niggaz trapped
Imagine it havin’ action
Imagine how niggaz could be actin’
If we never got this shit crackin
Imagine life’s so hard
You can’t imagine it’s like livin’ in city of god
You feel me
Imagine life on the yard
Or tryin’ to get that dollar on some shitty ass job
Imagine Biggie with his son
Imagine Pac gettin’ call pop by one
Imagine a mother struggling
Dealing with a system that don’t give a fuck about who shot her son
Imagine life when you can’t win
When you get out of the ghetto and go right to the pen
When you get out of the pen you go right to the jen
So if you get back to the streets you go right back in
Imagine Russell still strugglin’
No Def Jam just another nigga hustlin’
And aint no rocks on them fellaz
Just rocks on them fellaz
Just try and keep it bubblin’
Imagine niggaz just stuck
From the east to the west coast, everybody fucked up
I can’t imagine no less
But it don’t take imagination
To know niggaz been bless with
HIP-HOP