If you are anywhere remotely involved in world of rap or even just an occasional passerby on Twitter, then at some point you’ve come across this mysterious hashtag: #freekodak. To many #freekodak is a trendy tag to express their support of well known Floridian rapper Kodak Black. However, not many people know what landed the famed lyricist 100,000 dollars post bail and a maximum of thirty years in prison. Since not many people understand the nature of FREEKODAK, and why it’s so problematic, let’s break it down:
1. Kodak has a history of robbery, possession, and more.
In late April of 2016, Kodak was arrested for weapons possession and marijuana possession. In mid-May of the same year, the rapper was arrested again for false imprisonment, robbery, marijuana possession and several other charges. And in October of the year before, Kodak was arrested on charges of robbery, kidnapping, and assault. His various run-ins with the law don’t seem to faze his fans, though. The kind of behavior that Kodak glorifies not only in his songs, “F*** my school and f*** my teacher, too,” but also in his day-to-day life is seen by millions of teenagers everyday. Kodak is not setting a positive example for teens that listen to his content. The influence pop culture can have on teens is scary. It can change the way teens define themselves, it can change their behaviors, and it can promote violence. Seeing malicious and illegal acts glorified in the media and pop culture can lead to teenagers perceiving these actions as okay.
2. Recently, Kodak was faced with several charges of sexual battery, or in simpler terms, rape.
On February 7th, 2016 Kodak Black allegedly raped a strip club worker in a hotel in Florence, South Carolina. According to the victim, Kodak not only forced the female to the ground and forcefully removed her clothes, but he also raped her, even in light of her explicit denial of consent. After the victim came forward, the sexual battery charges were added unto already existing charges Kodak faced for violating his probation while on the Tunnel Vision tour. Right now, if he is found guilty of rape, it could add two more years to his estimated sentence of six years.
3. Currently, the collective outcry of social media is to free Kodak Black, regardless of the fact he committed a felony.
On Twitter, fans blindly chant “Free Kodak,” showing no acknowledgement for the crime the young rapper committed.
#FreeKodak #FreeKodak #FreeKodak #FreeKodak #FreeKodak #FreeKodak #FreeKodak #FreeKodak #FreeKodak #FreeKodak #FreeKodak #FreeKodak
— unnoticed. (@bigjohnpopi) April 25, 2017
Some Kodak fans even went as far as to call the rape victim a liar. After an XXL magazine article was published claiming a second employee at the club never saw an assault, Kodak Black fans immediately took this as evidence that the victim was somehow lying.
Woahhh they tryna put bro away for 8 over false accusations… ?? #FREEKODAK https://t.co/DXhSAp1OjB
— Sean (@SeanCam4_DWMWY) April 25, 2017
She ugly asf….. she lying. #freekodak https://t.co/e5KewTUVev
— Treway? (@QUEENK_23) April 23, 2017
Regardless of the individual that commits the crime, a crime is a crime. Demanding that Kodak is freed doesn’t do much for the credibility of the law or for the girl who was raped.
Ignoring Kodak’s crime sends the message that raping someone is okay if you’re a celebrity.
Giving Kodak a pass, or asking officials to release him insinuates that raping someone is okay. It normalizes rape culture and suggests the idea that because he is a celebrity, he gets a pass on committing felonies. Instead of glorifying Kodak Black, our energy is better spent actively working to diminish rape culture and providing support to causes that genuinely need it.
