The so-called “glorification” of drug use in hip-hop has been a major talking point for years, a cause most recently taken up by outspoken rapper Russ. Since wearing an inflammatory anti-drug T-shirt in September, he’s seen himself become hip-hop’s de-facto anti-drug spokesperson. His sentiment is right, but his delivery isn’t always graceful – and could be considered rather grating at times. After the recent death of artist Lil Peep from a suspected drug overdose, Russ has more to say – but apparently, it’s not because of Lil Peep’s death. Whatever the reason, not everyone wants to hear it.
One major critique of Russ’ anti-drug message is that he’s insensitive to the plight of those addicted to drugs, which makes his name calling and simplistic solutions more ripe for ridicule than reverence. For instance, his t-shirt became meme fodder instead of the evocative conversation starter he may have desired. Recently, he delivered more tweets about rappers that “glorify” drug use and the perilous consequences:
Abusing xanax and other pills drugs etc in private cuz your depressed/other mental issues is one thing(still not good)..constantly recording yourself doing drugs and putting up pics and videos of doing it is when you start CHOOSING to publicly glorify it and make it an image.
— SANTIAGO (@russdiemon) November 18, 2017
I dont have a difficult time finding the correlation between bein depressed & abusing drugs. I do however find it difficult to find the correlation between depression & publicly promoting your drug use over & over again via pics/vids. I could b wrong but discussion should b had.
— SANTIAGO (@russdiemon) November 18, 2017
When you say you’re depressed and not tryna glorify drug use or pander to the public by making it an “image” that’s one thing. The second you start posting videos and pictures of you doing it is when your actions contradict your words. Period.
— SANTIAGO (@russdiemon) November 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/russdiemon/status/932027836159930368
Final tweet: For everyone saying I’m talkin about Lil Peep go look at my t shirt i got dragged for two months ago. Go look at my 2015 tweets and 2016 tweets about this same shit. I have been saying this needs to end. It has never been personal with anyone. RIP Lil Peep.
— SANTIAGO (@russdiemon) November 20, 2017
I’m off this shit tho. Y’all can continue to be destructive and delusional. Enjoy.
— SANTIAGO (@russdiemon) November 20, 2017
Those tweets (of which there are many more) have garnered mixed responses. Though many, including Peep’s own brother, agree with him that hip-hop artists are irresponsibly promoting drug use, there are others on Twitter making jokes like, “if you do one drug Russ teleports to your house and takes your Xbox for a week.” It seems like a notable amount of hip-hop fans feel that Russ’ anti-drug campaign is “self righteous and holier than thou,” as one fan tweeted.
https://twitter.com/MyFavsTrash/status/932441847183618049
https://twitter.com/bouvyworld/status/932402153922195462
https://twitter.com/CharlesDropout/status/932424221405405186
Despite the criticism, Russ doesn’t seem to be backing off or watering down his tone – which may continue to hinder him from reaching the people who most need to consider his sentiment. For now, though, he says he’s “off” the discussion, leaving those he criticizes to be “destructive and delusional.”
