Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq film debuted in theaters last week, but people across the nation are still speaking about the movie’s controversial portrayal, mainly those who hail from the Windy City. One person in particular being Rhymefest.
The rapper called into Sway’s Universe to discuss the movie, and said that Kanye West and Common both turned down opportunities to be featured in the reel.
“I can tell you who wasn’t in the movie. The guy who was supposed to play Chi-Raq was named Kanye West,” Rhymefest said. “When Kanye West read that script—Why wasn’t Kanye West in the movie? Cause the sh*t was wack. Yo, then he went to Common. ‘Common, get in the movie, man.’ Why wasn’t Common in the movie? Cause the sh*t was wack. So, the people who are closer to the streets and closer to understanding where we are in Chicago, declined to be in the movie. Does Spike Lee want to talk about why? When Kanye asked Spike Lee ‘Yo, can we get some Chicago writers on this, so we can have some more authentic voices?’ Spike Lee said ‘Nah, I just want you to act.’”
Rhymefest also revealed that Chance the Rapper declined to appear in the movie, who’s another Chi-town native that spoke out against Lee’s production. “Let me be the one from Chicago to personally tell you we not supporting this film out here,” Chance said on Twitter. “That sh*t get ZERO love out here. Sh*t is goofy and it’s a bunch of ppl from NOT around here telling u to support that sh*t.”
Twista also joined in on the discussion, saying that he doesn’t agree with the satire approach Lee took to direct the film. “I felt like the city of Chicago deserved a good movie about something serious like that. Instead of something like a satire.”