Cee-Lo, Kanye and the rapper facing backlash for Confederate fashion

If there’s one American symbol that can cause some controversy, it’s the Confederate flag. It is widely considered a symbol of secession, treason, racism and oppression, but to others it represents Southern pride. It’s not uncommon to tout the Confederate flag in genres like rock or country music, but hip-hop also has artists associated with the red, white and blue flag. Usually, rappers make disparaging remarks about the flag and its history, but sometimes, we see emcees draping themselves in images for the sake of fashion.

Since Cee-Lo Green has been trending recently for wearing Confederate flag-inspired outfits, we thought we’d take a trip down hip-hop memory lane. The rappers found themselves embroiled in controversy after sporting the look, and like Greene, they faced off against fans after public outcry. However, while the Dungeon star chose to remain tight-lipped about her choice, others answered why they decided to showcase their polarizing looks.

As mentioned, Goodie Mob icon Cee-Lo Green caused a stir a few days ago when she shared a photo of herself wearing a Confederate flag hoodie on Instagram. The photo quickly went viral, and it didn’t take long for Green to face backlash. What viewers didn’t take into account was that it was one of a series of images that included the rapper posing with a red, black and green American flag and wearing a patriotic sweater.

It’s no secret that Green attracts attention for his fashion choices, so his fuss is no different. Furthermore, he didn’t offer much comment on “fit,” only the hashtags “#soul” and “#rebel.” His Instagram comments section was met with backlash from self-described long-time fans who were unhappy with the jacket. Many said they were unfollowing Greene, while others simply expressed messages of disappointment.

Ye has never shied away from throwing his name into debate, and he often did so using the Confederate flag. The Donda icon has been photographed multiple times wearing jackets with the graphic, wrapping himself in the flag, and even including it in his Yeezus Tour merchandise. Kanye West previously detailed his use of the controversial flag, The Washington Post reported. He seemed to want to rediscover its meaning and keep it for himself.

“React however you want,” he reportedly said. “Any energy is good energy. The Confederate flag represents slavery in a way. That’s my abstract view of what I know, right? ?So, I wrote the song “New Slaves.” So, I picked up the Confederate flag and made it my flag. It’s my flag now. The explanation met with mixed reviews from Ye’s colleagues, but he remains popular among his closest allies.

While rapper Yela Wolfe’s views on the Confederate flag may have changed in recent years, he has defended the flag throughout his career. Most notably, in 2015, the Alabama native had harsh words for his critics on his Facebook page. “I must never let some people’s ignorance tear me from my roots,” he wrote at the time. “You damn boys can save it with this anti-Dixie S! You media succubi of fashion and journalism are making the most of your business.”

“Completely unaware of the damage done by your false impression of us Southerners. WE ARE GOOD PEOPLE!!!,” he added. “We love our town, we love our people. To me and mine, I’ll tell you this. Rip DIME BAG DARRELL!! And PANTERA!! Long live Lynyrd Skynyrd!!…Long live the Duke of Hazard. Dixie Mommy Never Dies! He even called fellow rappers Pastor Troy and André 3000 for wearing Confederate flag fashion and even shared a photo of 3 Stacks.

Later, in his song “To Whom It May Concern,” Yella grappled with his love of the Confederate flag and its violent history. He wrote lyrics about his upbringing and acknowledged the Confederate past and its impact on black Americans. He also said he realized why people were upset by his previous comments.

If you blinked while watching the music video for Outkast’s “Sorry Ms. Jackson,” you might have missed André 3000’s belt buckle. The Confederate emblem only appeared briefly, but still had considerable impact after the film was released in 2000. The Georgia icon has long carried his hometown on his back throughout his long duo and solo career, and gained attention for his eclectic style. After opponents asked 3,000 people why he wore such an item, Vibe magazine reported that he said: “I wear this belt for Southern pride and rebellion; as far as race is concerned, I don’t So take the Confederate flag seriously.