Should Gen Z influencers know about the legends that came before them? Well, comedian Deon Cole thinks so, and he’s calling out the popular, young streamers who failed to recognize two iconic Black musicians. Let’s get into it!
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In a recent episode of Revolts’ “Drink Champs” podcast, the actor and comedian sat down with hosts N.O.R.E., DJ EFN, and guest comedian Jack Thriller to talk about all things comedy, music, and TV. While on the topic of music legends, Cole spoke out about the current state of red carpet interviews and how it’s important for Hollywood events to hire people who know their pop culture history.
“I remember this network hired this really big, I don’t wanna say motherf****** names… hired this really big streamer, right? They hired this person to come to the awards shows and do backstage sh**,” right? “…And he was going up to people like, ‘I don’t know who that is.’ His excuse was, ‘Don’t blame me, ’cause I’m young.’ “
Though Cole didn’t mention Cenat by name, folks online suspected he was talking about 23-year-old Cenat. The streamer went viral after he didn’t recognize who the legendary music producer Babyface and rapper Wale were at different red carpet events.
In May, he didn’t know who Babyface was at a Met Gala after-party and asked the iconic singer and producer, “Why he looked so familiar?” before being told by a member of his team who Babyface was.
In June, on his way out from the BET Awards red carpet, Cenat bumped into Wale. Pretending to recognize the “LoveHate Thing” rapper, Cenat greeted him before getting into his car and asking who he was, even mispronouncing his name and again, being corrected by a member of his team.
After speaking about how Cenat had disrespected two iconic Black artists, the “Black-ish” star spoke about a time when he met Cenat and did not vibe with him at all.
“I met dude one time backstage, and he walked backstage, and I was like, ‘Hey, wassup man?’ And he was like this…” The comedian did a small head-nod to his hosts, “And then he walked off… To hire him to be your representation at an awards show that you got icons and you got younger people, I think it’s like disrespectful,” Cole said.
In the comments of the “Drink Champs” clip, users wrote that it’s time for the OGs to start giving the younger generation lessons on Black American pop culture.
“In my opinion, it’s time for some of the OG’s to start the conversation with these YNs, sort of like a mentor to give them the information. Who’s stepping up to do that? It’s gotta start somewhere, a happy medium,” wrote one user.
But user @kaliforniajones added that Kai Cenat is hired for Hollywood events not because he’s a good interviewer, but because networks know that his fans will tune in to see him: “They didn’t hire him to know other people, they hired him because the viewers know him PERIOD it’s business.”
But some others didn’t agree, writing how it doesn’t matter if you’re young; if you’re hired for a Hollywood event, you should know who you’re speaking with.
“These are supreme facts. Both BIG and Pac shouted out the rappers that came before them. Kendrick, Cole, and even Drake have as well. Not only do these younger artists not know, but they actively don’t care to know. Yet they want the game to respect them the same way it respects its icons,” added another.
“he’s 100pct correct. The world didn’t begin when you were born, and youth is no excuse,” wrote another.
“I’m 23,” added one user. “I’ve known about the OGs for 13 years, it’s called doing ur f*****’ homework.”
One user on X called out what they said was Cole’s hypocrisy: “in his same video he doesn’t know Druski’s name because……he’s older – same sh*t.”
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