Recently on TV, Fox news loudmouth Bill O'Reilly blasted Pepsi Cola for sponsoring Ludacris. He took portions of Luda’s song lyrics and exposed him as a highly sexual, violence inciting rapper who is not fit to be a role model for young kids who may not be old enough to understand all that he is saying.

I’m sure to may loyal Hip Hop fans, this seems like it might be another case of "the man" ruing things for a young brotha. I also want the world to be VERY clear that I do not support Bill O’Reilly in pretty much every other thing that comes out of his mouth. But I personally support his position on Luda.

While I really respect Ludacris as an artist, and I would never want to take away his right to free speech, he is a horrible role model for young, impressionable Hip Hop fans. Anybody who would be truly honest with themselves would have to admit that most of what he says is not for the ears of the youth.

So, that Pepsi shakes themselves free of Ludacris is not the issue. The REAL issue to me is "What is Pepsi’s commitment to the Hip Hop generation?" Who will they chose from the Hip Hop community now? Or, will they turn their back on us all together? In the next few months we will find out how expendable a market we are to the marketing heads at Pepsi, and other corporations. Don’t think they are not watching this closely as they begin to think about who they will support next year.

Will we see Pepsi and other big corporations bring on KRS ONE, Africa Bam, Zion I, Electric Boogaloos, DJ QBert, Vinroc, Encore, Bas-1, Mos Def, Common, Mystic, Jill Scott, Seek, N’Dambi, or the tons of other artists who love the community of Hip Hop? That's my challenge to Pepsi. If you wanna take down Luda, fine! But put up one of our artists who is redeeming to the image of our art. Don’t just bow down to Bill O’Reilly and then turn your backs on us as a "coveted market".

For those who love Hip Hop and do drink Pepsi, what will you do, if Pepsi turns their back on you as a culture? I hope you’ll be smart enough to walk away from their product. If they respect Bill O’Reilly’s opinions more than ours, we have some serious issues to deal with anyway.It makes you wonder though, if Bill has said he was tired of all the rap videos with ½ naked women in them, would BET and MTV have put more PE, PRT and Paris videos into rotation?

The fact that an outsider of the Hip Hop community can have so much influence on what we see, is something to think about. Where is a legit Hip Hop version of Bill O’Rilley that WE can turn to? Lots of Black people have been complaining for YEARS about the poor images in Hip Hop related commercials and videos. But those corporations never listened to us. Bill does one 12 minute segment and Pepsi left Luda in the wind with no apologies.

Again let me stress that if you don’t see a Hip Hop artist with integrity on the airwaves SOON..... One who you respect, and who also respects you as a fan, you’ll know Pepsi only saw all of the Hip Hop community as a quick sale.

Don’t allow yourselves to be used by artists, or record labels or corporations. Think for the long term in KRS ONES "Things is About to Change" he encourages Hip Hop artists to think beyond making the short term decisions they operate on "You can’t see, their gonna judge our poetry in 2023?/ where will your money be?/ Where will your Benz be? Your friends be?"

He’s got a point. Too many artists out there are willing to make us all look ignorant to make a few bucks. Too many corporations won’t even care about us in 2023 unless we’re still buying their product. So while were here, lets make sure companies like Pepsi show their respects now. Show us that you respect us NOW, by putting Hip Hop artists of integrity in your ads. That's my new challenge to Pepsi. Lets see if they take it.