Hip-hop artist and fan of wrestling culture, Westside Gunn, made a loud announcement that he is no longer supporting WWE and that the wrestling giant was guilty of racism and disrespect. The post, which is on social media, highlights the fact that one of the lifelong fans-turned-partners has hit a breaking point.
An Old Friend and Supporter of Culture.
Gunn elaborated that by the phrase YEAAAAAARS, I mean NOBODY w/ 2 feet has given the amount of money to support and push a brand I loved as long as I can recall. He explained how he sat in the first row at big events, how he added wrestling visuals in his songs and branding, and how he exposed people who had a biased view of wrestling as being nerdy.
As a beacon of hip-hop and wrestling through his own brand and way of life, his move to officially break his contracts is especially important.
From Tribute to Conflict
According to Gunn, this relationship deteriorated when WWE claimed trademarks over his use of wrestling imagery and samples in his music, even after he had demonstrated decades of loyalty to them. He wrote:
I have seen that same company put a million ppl next to me who have not even become fans fr and behave like I am not present at all … I was even threatened to empty the contents of my music … my entire catalogue would be destroyed.
It hurt him deeply that he was reported to be sidelined when he had paid high amounts of money to get seats and travel, and the others were favored. He had picked one person in the company, claiming that someone despised the presence of a young black successful entrepreneur in the company, with the ability to purchase premium seats and have the same culture.
The Breaking Point
According to Gunn, the incident that shattered his heart occurred in his hometown.
“Monday Night Raw starts at 8 pm. I was also kicked out of 803 after giving 5k to get a seat and travel to the city, and staying at a hotel, etc., in my home city of great nothing at all!
He says that that experience led him to the point of disillusionment over continuing to support what he now saw as a one-sided relationship. He added:
“I put the billboard up … I would have liked to challenge him on the culture since he should get it … I received a letter stating that I get a letter stating that I get a letter saying so. I told you that I am a show of love to the ppl that get my love back henceforth.
The New Chapter: 4TH ROPE and Own Culture.
Gunn has stated that he will not be focusing on WWE anymore, but rather he will be directing his energy elsewhere in his own company, 4THROPE, and that it is an underdog brand that will be committed to pushing culture. He stressed that it is not about money but respect and genuineness.
Why This Matters
- It highlights the conflict between the mainstream institutions and the creators who contributed to the creation of the culture surrounding them.
- It is a valuable concern regarding representation, equality, and balance of power in large entertainment corporations.
- It demonstrates how loyalty may become disappointed in the event that the value orientation collapses.
Final Thoughts
Westside Gunn has not simply made a personal protest by publicly withdrawing his support of WWE, but instead made a cultural statement. To be a person who has spent years promoting the brand that he was passionate about, it is a potent accusation to be considered an invisible and undervalued person.
As he turns to his own brand and to himself, as he turns independent, the message becomes clear: one does not necessarily receive respect with the kind of support. And loyalty, where ignored, may be the initiator of change.
