Entertainment
Black Twitter defends black professor after DJ Vlad threatens to expel her from Princeton for telling him to drop hip-hop thread because he’s white
Hip-hop media personality Vladislav Lyubovny, also referred to as DJ Vlad, discovered he wasn’t as popular within the rap community as he thought after an internet exchange with a Princeton professor after Black Twitter called for his dismissal.
It began on Saturday, May 4, when Kendrick Lamar dropped “Not Like Us,” his latest contribution to the countless diss tracks aimed toward Drake over the past week. While most listeners were impressed by the Bay Area influence on the DJ Mustard-produced beat and the catchiness of K. Dot’s lyrics, DJ Vlad turned his attention to other areas.
Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” needed a greater mix. This takes away from the song,” he wrote on Twitter.
Morgan Jerkins, whose X profile lists her as a school member in Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts creative writing program, responded to Vlad’s tweet by saying, “You are WHITE. This is a black people’s issue.”
Jerkins’ response outraged the DJ-turned-journalist, who then threatened to fire her.
“Wait, so a professor at Princeton is telling me that a white person shouldn’t be allowed to express their opinion on hip-hop?” Vlad stated before asking, “Is this how you interact with your students?”
Morgan didn’t budge. “I want to say that you put your opinion into a discussion that is not necessary. This conversation is and should be focused on Black people, not you.
DJ Vlad doubled down and wrote on Twitter: “Good luck being a professor at @Princeton again. I question whether the university supports its professors who tell non-black students to shut the fuck up about anything related to hip-hop because of their skin color.
While DJ Vlad suggests that Morgan Jerkins exclude him from the Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake conversation because he is white and she has prejudices, Morgan on the other hand believes that he only singled her out because she is a black woman and tries to use a gun in her words, trying to get her kicked out of the Ivy League.
“I find it funny that you chose to respond to me, belittling my education and threatening my job, while others responded to you in a much harsher way. Very interesting. And talking,” Morgan said after explaining that she never told him to “shut up” when it got here to anything hip-hop-related because of the colour of his skin.
The former DJ warned her not to change her words now, promising, “I’ll contact Princeton about this on Monday,” to which Morgan immediately notified him that she had accomplished each the semester and her contract at the college.
“But thank you for trying to get me fired from my job of centering Black people because your feelings were hurt. Very retaliatory, huh? Nice tactic,” she added.
This is known as a “persistent record”. Every university has one. I went to Berkeley myself. People publicly hurl ignorant and bigoted comments at you, and once they get a response, they act like they’re being persecuted. Typical victim mentality. Go ahead and take it @princeton outside…
— DJ Vlad (@djvlad) May 5, 2024
It didn’t take long for other X users to claim that DJ Vlad had passed out for a selected reason. One of the X users, following the conversation, quickly noted Morgan’s name and identified the university professor’s relationship with the outstanding producer, Rodney Jerkins.
Rodney Jerkins, also referred to as “Darkchild”, gave his biggest hits to stars resembling Michael Jackson, Brandy, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez, Toni Braxton, Lady Gaga and others. He was also interviewed by DJ Vlad.
“Morgan, Are You Related to Rodney Jerkins (Darkchild)” he asked Eagle-eyed user X. “I am culturally competent to know who he is in this culture. Vlad may not know. Vlad, do you know who Rodney Jerkins is? Do your research.
“Yes, that’s my uncle,” Morgan replied.
“DJ Vlad trying to dox and bully a black professor at Princeton is hilarious. but the funniest thing is that she is Darkchild’s niece lol,” one X user he was joking.
DJ Vlad’s decision went silent when Morgan’s connections were made public, but the rest of Black Twitter jumped in to defend her.
“You get accused of being a white person who needs to stay out of black businesses, and the first thing you do is…. *checks notes* …Threaten to call the manager,” one X user said.
You are WHITE.
This is a black people’s issue. https://t.co/BC2NbQcJ0W
— Morgan Jerkins (@MorganJerkins) May 5, 2024
The one person who can always come to the defense of hip-hop is rapper and Flipmode Squad member Rah Digga, who also rushed to defend Morgan.
“Damn, you calling her the principal for talking battle rap? Big right. I don’t read the room, man, she said he tweeted.
“Rah, consider it this fashion,” Vlad shot back. “If a black music blogger commented that a Taylor Swift song didn’t have a good mix and a Harvard professor responded to him and said, ‘You’re BLACK.’ This is a white people’s issue. Would you be okay with this professor teaching kids at a top university? Not me.”
The feminine woman in Flip mode spoke up, “You just described AMERICA. This is literally what they are screaming for Beyonce NOW. And it’s still MUSIC. Like many of your white hip-hop counterparts right now.
Digga Digga left him with words of wisdom, especially as a white man in hip-hop. She told him, specifically regarding Morgan’s message, “If you think you’ve earned your place. Sticks and stones, man…
Journalist Bomani Jones also spoke on the matter.
“And let me be clear: vlad… anyone heard the footage of this battle and was primarily talking about the mix? not like us. well, maybe like you. but definitely not like me. f*** it,” he said, stating that mixing a song is the very last thing a real hip-hop fan cares about during a battle.
“I understand and respect your position. But ultimately, Kendrick’s sound is heard by tens of millions of people – a rough mix equals a blurry image. Meanwhile, Drake is giving his all on the production and mixing level,” Vlad replied.
Bomani reminded Vlad that it is a diss track and it’s much deeper.
“He called Drake a slaver, and you called Kendrick to track him down.” not old. no, he replied, proving that after again Vlad was completely detached from reality.
“He went all out too, Karen,” replied an observer of the conversation.
Even comedian Kev on Stage mocked Vlad’s criticism, but he wasn’t personally attacked like Morgan was. However, she warned him that he might be next: “You higher take it off before the room monitor sends you to the principal’s office!!!”
You better take it off before the room monitor sends you to the principal’s office!!! https://t.co/gZ6v3VOjeg
— Morgan Jerkins (@MorganJerkins) May 5, 2024
The other professors also sided with Morgan, telling Vlad he could call their schools.
My friend 😭 Thank you https://t.co/dvEbBCLeKP
— Morgan Jerkins (@MorganJerkins) May 5, 2024
Vlad said he responded to Morgan’s post because he saw that she was a real person and not a “bot” hiding behind a fabricated identity. The college English teacher said it was much more than that, suggesting his comments were based on misogyny.
She he tweeted“He also didn’t think anyone would defend me because I was a black woman. So thank you to everyone who did this. I know why he responded to me, and it wasn’t because his other critics were “bots.”
If Vlad believed that, he was wrong.
Darkchild did not comment on the quarrel between his niece and DJ Vlad.