“Accidental Racist” by Brad Paisley (ft. LL Cool J)

Brad Paisley is a country singer based in Tennessee who identifies himself “as a white Southerner”. Historically, Tennessee is recognized as being one of the most racist states in America. And he designed “Accidental Racist” as a tool to confront that issue, i.e. racism. 

Moreover, due to possessing the above background, Brad understood that he didn’t understand the whole story or more specifically was not qualified to speak on behalf of African-Americans, the actual victims of that institution. So he enlisted LL Cool J to serve that purpose. And whereas the intention behind “Accidental Racist” reads noble, it’s as if something got lost along the way.

For instance, the song commences with Brad noting that he makes certain individuals uncomfortable by wearing clothing with the Confederate flag on them. The Confederacy was a conglomerate of Southern states. During the American Civil War, these states fought to keep slavery intact. 

But what Brad is saying is that the reason he rocks such apparel is because he’s a “[Lynyrd] Skynyrd fan”. Simply put, he is identifying with an old 1970s’ rock band that also utilized such imagery. And beyond that, the overall implication is that the vocalist is not the type of individual who bigs up the Confederacy due to being racist. Instead – for whatever it’s worth – he’s honored of his ancestry and isn’t afraid to show it. 

Or as Paisley puts it in the chorus, he’s ‘proud of where he’s from’. However, he is not proud of everything his forefathers, ‘have done’. 

Further Musings

Brad goes on to muse that, more simply explained, it’s not like he’s responsible for history, i.e. for what others have done before he was even born. Therefore, the overall implication is that he feels it’s unfair for others to judge him if he displays “Southern pride”.

Then, Brad seemingly proceeds to try to prove the point that no one, not even his racist forefathers, are all bad. Or, at least that’s one way of interpreting his mention of the Reconstruction era. But more to the point, what he appears to be saying is that even though slavery officially concluded so many years ago, still all of the associated emotional and societal wounds have not been fully healed. 

And it is also in the second verse where he rightfully acknowledges that as empathetic as he may be, he cannot speak on behalf of an actual African-American.

LL Cool J steps in

So as noted, this is where Uncle L enters the fray. It has been pointed out that the hip-hop community was amongst the groups that received this song unfavorably. And it’s understandable why. This is because basically Cool J comes off as a Blackman “living in the ‘hood” who is seeking sympathy and empathy from Whites. 

He feels that African-American ghetto residents are misunderstood and misjudged by mainstream society. But on a hardcore human level, he also acknowledges that many Blacks have the tendency to negatively and hastily categorize Whites. 

So it’s like what LL is basically saying is that both parties are guilty of racism. And without getting too wordy with this analysis, let’s just say that it’s comprehensible how certain people would have issues with the way that conclusion is stated, even if it is more or less true.

In defense of Cool J, he has long been a part of the privileged mainstream himself. Or another way of looking at it is that it’s been a long time since he’s lived in the ‘hood, truly surrounded by his people. Uncle L is very much Hollywood. So with that in mind, you can’t knock him for calling himself a “black Yankee”, giving a posthumous shoutout to Confederate general “Robert E. Lee”, etc.

Moreover, LL is generally understood as being a family-friendly, not gangsta, rapper. And what he is conclusively putting forth, as with his co-vocalist, is a desire for Blacks and Whites to open dialogue and really get to know each other’s perspectives better.

Takeaway

So again, the intent of this song may be righteous, as there is absolutely nothing wrong with propagating peace in the name of minimizing what appears to be a never-ending beef. But the execution is found wanting.

Brad Paisley’s perspective, as a man who is not willing to forsake his ancestral past due to his forefathers engaging in unethical acts, is understandable. Indeed, it’s safe to presume that all of us have ancestors who at one time or another had institutionally committed acts which nowadays would be considered human rights’ crimes.

But the way LL comes off is a bit too sappy, especially considering that he is in fact a rapper from Queens. It would have been better if it were specified that his lyrics are relayed from the perspective of a Blackman who has by and large been accepted, due to his celebrity, into the Whiteman’s world. But instead, Cool J implies that he’s speaking on behalf of the African-American masses which, all things considered, definitely is not the case.

Is this the first time Brad is collaborating with LL Cool J?

Yes. “Accidental Racist” marked the first time both artists worked together. However shortly thereafter, Uncle L featured Paisley on his track “Live for You” (2013).

Brad Paisley is a prolific musician, having dropped 12 studio albums between 1999 and 2017. Nine of them reached number one on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.

Meanwhile Cool J, who can be deemed the more popular of the pair, is one of the undisputable pioneers of rap music, on top of possessing a notable filmography.

When was “Accidental Racist” released?

“Accidental Racist” was officially launched on 9 April 2013. It is featured on Brad’s album “Wheelhouse”.

More Facts about “Accidental Racist”

“Accidental Racist”, a product of Arista Nashville, was written by Brad, Cool J and Lee Thomas Miller. Brad not only co-wrote it but he also produced it.

And this song was a very mild hit, most notably breaking the top 30 of the US Hot Country Songs chart. It also made into the Hot 100. On this chart, it reached number 77.

To note, the title of this track is never actually mentioned in its lyrics.

As implied earlier, there was notable backlash and controversy due to the lyrics of this song. Despite all that, Cool J’s support for Brad never wavered.

What genre is “Accidental Racist”?

It is both country and hip hop.

Brad Paisley’s “Wheelhouse”

Brad released the album, “Wheelhouse” on the 9th of April, 2013. This album, which is his 9th studio album, produced four singles. “Accidental Racist” wasn’t one of these singles.

Brad produced the majority of the songs on the album. Music producers Mike Dean and Marten Aston also hold production credits on a couple of the album’s tracks.

Sony Music’s Arista Nashville is the record label through which the album was released.

“Wheelhouse” sold a little over 100,000 copies within its first week in the US. It landed on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart at No.1, becoming the singer’s seventh album to do so. “Wheelhouse” peaked at No. 2 on both the Billboard 200 and the Canadian Albums Chart.

By June of 2013, “Wheelhouse” had recorded sales of over 200,000 copies in the US.