



Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Soldier Raps About Using Violence Against a Citizen

Apparently a rapper, Soulja Boy, released a rap that insulted those in the Army and the FBI. He later apologized, after being contacted by many angry servicemen. Apparently some are trying to get the rapper's music banned from military bases. One soldier, Stephen Hobbs, made his own rap in response and posted it on YouTube.

Mr. Hobbs is talented and his rap is true to the genre, filled with violence and chest beating. Unfortunately, however, Mr. Hobbs has chosen to encourage violence, perhaps merely artistically, against a citizen who exercised his free speech, and Mr. Hobbs paints a picture of squaring off against the rapper using an Army M-1 Abrams and a .50 cal. Says the soldier, "I've got a whole Army, homie, go on and bring your hood, and we can step toe to toe, I bet I win, go on and bring your boys, and I'm gonna bring my men." While the soldier is using his free speech, he is representing the armed forces while doing so, and his free speech is not the substance of an American system of civilian control over its military. Despite the emotional applause from those who no doubt consider themselves American patriots, this rap response contains a philosophy more closely aligned with China or the old Soviet Union. His response, while clever and well done, is quite simply un-American.

I see this attitude from those in uniform displayed to punish free speech not infrequently when the Westboro Church makes headlines. Support for violence against them, even support for using local law enforcement to unlawfully arrested them to prevent the church members from lawfully exercising their unpopular speech, etc. This type of popular "patriotism" erodes our country from the inside.

It's a frightening trend when those who take an oath to support and defend the Constitution cheer lead its destruction, and soldiers seek to punish citizens they disagree with using violence. In song or in reality.


  1. you are using westboro church as an example? true they are expressing freedom of speech but what patriot doesnt want them silenced? for them to protest is one thing, but to do it at a funeral when people are grieving is wrong. And as a service member myself i applaud stephen hobbs for his creative return. who says he is inciting violence? im sure all of the military would love to say some words to soulja boy, but few would want to harm him. You have the nerve to defend soulja boy and westboro but not a soldier expressing HIS freedom of speech. PATHETIC!!!

  2. I'm surprised that the author of this article didn't do his/her research Stephen Hobbs never once in the song represented himself as officially speaking for the united states army, in fact he never even uses the term united states army. All that this article is doing is supporting anyone who wants to bash on the troops whilst silencing those who want to stand up for them. What is frightening that citizen put up this attitude from celebrities and seek to punish uniformed service members for it. I mean holy shit good thing this men truly live up to the honor that they believe in or else they would throw down their arms and let this country be over run by her enemies and no one could blame them, fuck your troop hating rhetoric RAP ON STEPHEN HOBBS!!!!

  3. This dude said it for me^^ And he's right, I wasn't speaking for the US Armed Forces. I was speaking for MYSELF! And i'd do it all again if I had to! #Redcon-1 #StephenHobbs

  4. I see. You were speaking for yourself, not the armed forces, with a picture of you in uniform (flag on your shoulder), with your weapon, on the cover of your album. I guess you personally own the tank you reference in your "dope rhyme" too. Sorry for the confusion, Eminem.

  5. And before you make the point about my blog having a picture of me in uniform, my blog is done at the request of the military, and in accordance with their rules. I'm guessing that isn't the same in your case, public affairs didn't encourage you to rap for the military, and did not publish guidelines on how to rap for the military.

  6. Hey Sir, how about you let off the enlisted Soldier do his thing and speak for us? Fuck what the PA thinks of his rap. As long as what we say doesn't go against the good order and discipline of the Army, then we still have the RIGHT to say it. Not only is it right, it is NECESSARY. We need to speak out from the lower ranks and be heard.