Taylor Swift dropped “Shake it Off” with an adorning music video Monday night. The first single from the upcoming 1989 is a dance-centric cut that finds Swift crawling between twerking women. Critics claim it’s an instantly grating, post-Miley Cyrus and Iggy Azalea fit of cultural insensitivity.
Earl Sweatshirt, the brilliant 22-year-old Odd Future rapper, took to Twitter to voice his eye-rolling disdain in what’s been a summer of white people camping out in the R&B and hip-hop charts.
perpetuating black stereotypes to the same demographic of white girls who hide their prejudice by proclaiming their love of the culture
— EARL (@earlxsweat) August 19, 2014
haven't watched the taylor swift video and I don't need to watch it to tell you that it's inherently offensive and ultimately harmful
— EARL (@earlxsweat) August 19, 2014
for instance, those of you who are afraid of black people but love that in 2014 it's ok for you to be trill or twerk or say nigga
— EARL (@earlxsweat) August 19, 2014He’s got a point.
But back to Earl Sweatshirt, the artist. If you’re not familiar with his music it is sprawling and magnificent. “Sunday” is the centerpiece of Doris, one of 2013’s finest releases. Just listen to it instead.
Screengrab via Taylor Swift VEVO/YouTube