Nipsey Hussle Addresses Cardi B's Gang Controversy

Nipsey Hussle has some advice for Cardi B.

The “Bodak Yellow” rapper, who’s claimed to be a Blood, came under fire recently, when she used the word “flue” instead of “blue” in a since-deleted Instagram caption, offending Crips in the process. During an interview with REAL 92.3’s “Big Boy’s Neighborhood,” the Crenshaw rapper, who’s a Crip, explained why this was a “delicate” issue.

“She’s from New York,” he explained. “There’s a different reality to gang bangin’ on the East Coast than there is in L.A. This is a 30-40 year culture out here. People died in the ’80s. Uncles and homies got killed behind this thing. So there’s a different level of sensitivity.”

He went on to explain how language can play a role and how rappers with gang ties have to be mindful of this. “That’s how Bloods talk amongst themselves. Crips [are] gonna say certain words also,” he said. “A Crip might say dead instead of saying red like a Blood might say flue instead of blue. But the disrespect happens when you go public and you not in the privacy of your hood or your homies.

“You never heard Game say flue or crab and you never heard Nip say dead or slob in a record, based on the respect,” he added. “What I realize too, and what we learned growing up, [is that] whatever you say in private, you gotta be able to say in public. So if you’re not gonna be able to walk into a room full of Crips and say that, don’t say it.”

Finally, Hussle explained how Cardi might go about resolving the situation, which has reportedly resulted in gang-related threats and amped-up security. “She’s a woman,” he added. “Everybody loving her wave, everybody loving her music. It’s just something she should probably correct, go public, and say, ‘Look, this is how Bloods talk privately. We ain’t mean no disrespect.’ It ain’t gon’ be no shot against her gangster or whatnot, but that’s a touchy thing, a delicate thing, and you gotta understand people are gonna be offended when you do that.”

Prior to this, Cardi B addressed the issue on Instagram. “NY is mix with bloods and crips and i deff know crips in the Pjs I came home that park shit,” she wrote. “We say these type of words all the time all of a sudden the world is mad .Now my thing is how was ni**as that soo call claim they ‘GANGSTA’ telling me they next move ? That’s how i figure it’s for clout !cause a real gangsta do shit in silence.”

Nipsey Hussle’s debut album Victory Lap is out now featuring Puff Daddy, Kendrick Lamar, YG, and more.