Lil Jon came to Oxford and defended using ‘butts in the video’

Rap sensation Lil Jon came to The Oxford Guild today and used his appearance to defend accusations that rap objectifies women.

He said: “You gotta have some butts in the video.”

The big man discussed TV, politics and his showstopping musical career.

Jon blasted reality TV shows, discussed his crazy touring experiences and said he thought Kanye was “a good guy, deep down”.

The Turn Down for What singer even praised Obama’s presidency, called out the Republican press and shut down critics that say rap music objectifies women.

On Love and Hip Hop Atlanta/Real Housewives

“I hate them shows: because they’re just not real, and they’re a bunch of mess. I don’t understand why people watch them shows.

“I don’t really like the way it represents black folks in general…We shouldn’t be on TV wilding out like that.”

Obama

“I look at it like if you found an old historic car, it takes time to restore that car. You can’t restore that car overnight. It might take you 10 minutes to get that car into the pristine condition it was when it first came out. That’s how I look at the administration before Obama came in. He’s taken that car, he’s got a new engine in it, he put new rims on it, a new paint job. I think he’s great.”

“Republicans like to criticise him, at the end of the day it’s because he’s black. It’s the truth – he gets a lot more flak.”

Touring

What's the craziest story you have from being on tour?

— The Tab Oxford (@TheTabOxford) May 11, 2015

“I can’t tell y’all! Hmm…I can’t remember.”

Question asker: “That’s a good thing though.”

LJ: *laughs* “I guess I spray people in the face with champagne sometimes.”

Fav place to do live shows? Vegas. It's the greatest place in the world to party. I've been all over, but nothing beats the energy of Vegas.

— The Tab Oxford (@TheTabOxford) May 11, 2015

Except Cancun in Spring Break.

— The Tab Oxford (@TheTabOxford) May 11, 2015

Sexism in rap

“[Nicki] didn’t get that much bad press [for Anaconda]. She knows what she doing. I don’t think hip hop gets as much flak as it used to, because I got it back in the day, for Get Low. ‘Oh you’re objectifying women!’ Am I telling her to shake her ass like that? If she wants to shake her butt, why can’t she shake her butt! When you’re a grown up, you do what you want.

“Like I say, Nicki knows what the effect was going to be of shaking her butt in the video…she knows what she’s doing! It got a lot of views, the song was a success…you gotta have some butts in the video! She was doing sex sells, we all know that…yeah, I’m done.”

Oxford

Q: “What was your initial reaction when you were invited to speak in Oxford?”

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“I thought someone was playing a damn joke. Am I being catfished? They want me to come to Oxford? Are you sure? Oxford in London – in the UK? Hell yeah!”

I was kind of speechless after I realised it was real. Thank you for having me, this is great. I've never been to a college and spoke.

— The Tab Oxford (@TheTabOxford) May 11, 2015

How long's this school been here, like 200 years?

~awkward silence~

— The Tab Oxford (@TheTabOxford) May 11, 2015

(It’s more like a thousand).

Kanye

Q: “Do you ever see a flipside to these people [like Kanye] and they’re just genuine blokes?”

Kanye, I've known the dude for a while. He's a good dude, stuff just happened to him throughout his life that's changed him a little bit.

— The Tab Oxford (@TheTabOxford) May 11, 2015

He's still a good guy deep down. People just misunderstand him, when he talks a certain way. He's just expressing himself, he's intense.

— The Tab Oxford (@TheTabOxford) May 11, 2015

I couldn't do the big spectacle thing. I'm on the road every day, I'm intoxicated some times, it'd take time to write a nice speech.

— The Tab Oxford (@TheTabOxford) May 11, 2015

DJing at Bridge tonight

“Do you want to come and do a DJ set at Bridge tonight, if you’re free?”

"You got like, $50,000? And some drinks"

— The Tab Oxford (@TheTabOxford) May 11, 2015

The fundamental question

Do you ever turn down, and if so, for what.

— The Tab Oxford (@TheTabOxford) May 11, 2015

I have two answers. Sleep, and the police.

— The Tab Oxford (@TheTabOxford) May 11, 2015

Read the full transcript on our Twitter feed, and watch the talk here: