| "Flatline" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Song by B.o.B | |
| from the album E.A.R.T.H. (Educational Avatar Reality Training Habitat) | |
| Released | January 26, 2016 |
| Recorded | 2016 |
| Genre | Political hip hop |
| Length | 3:29 |
| Label | No Genre |
| Songwriter(s) | Bobby Ray Simmons, Jr. |
| Producer(s) | B.o.B |
"Flatline" is a song by American rapper B.o.B, initially released on SoundCloud in January 2016. It is a diss track aimed at physicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, whom he had gotten into an argument with on Twitter, over B.o.B's stated belief that the Earth is flat. In addition to dissing Tyson and expressing belief in a flat Earth, the song's lyrics also include other conspiracy theories, including Holocaust denial, " mirror lizards", and the belief that Freemasons are indoctrinating young people. The lyrics to the song refer to science as a cult. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Reception
The song was panned by critics and music industry commentators for its support of conspiracy theories and its anti-Semitism. Vulture music critic Nate Jones commented, "It’s called 'Flatline,' which is both a reference to the horizon of the Earth and also a fitting description of B.o.B’s career." [5] Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, issued a statement saying that B.o.B's "lyrics are irresponsible and could potentially promote anti-Semitic beliefs, especially in those people who might already be infected by such notions." [6]
Online music database Rate Your Music has marked the single as Neo-Nazi content due to the anti-Semitic conspiracies promoted in the lyrics. [7][ better source needed]
Following criticism, B.o.B removed the song from his SoundCloud account, but it survives on YouTube and other sites where it was reposted. [8] In April 2016, B.o.B included the song on a mixtape titled E.A.R.T.H. (Educational Avatar Reality Training Habitat), but the song lyrics had been rewritten as titled as pt. 2. [9] [10]
In response to B.o.B's Twitter arguments with Neil deGrasse Tyson, the latter's nephew, an amateur rapper using the stage name Ellect, released a diss track of his own titled "Flat to Fact" which echoes several of his uncle's talking points and features Tyson himself providing spoken word interjections. [5]
References
- ^ "B.o.B drops 'Flatline', a rap about how the Earth is definitely flat". EW.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-08. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
- ^ Knapp, Alex. "The Lyrics To B.o.B.'s Flat Earth Anthem 'Flatline' - With Science Annotations". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2017-10-08. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (January 26, 2016). "B.o.B. Responds to Neil DeGrasse Tyson With Flat Earth Rap". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ "B.o.B Takes Flat Earth Theory to the Next Level with New Track". Archived from the original on 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
- ^ a b Jones, Nate (26 January 2016). "B.o.B Just Dropped an Anti-Semitic Neil deGrasse Tyson Diss Track; Tyson's Nephew Responds With Diss of His Own". Vulture. 'New York' magazine. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "ADL Troubled by B.o.B Rap Lyrics Promoting Anti-Semitic Conspiracy and Invoking Holocaust Denier by Name". Anti-Defamation League. Archived from the original on 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
- ^ "Flatline by B.o.B - RYM/Sonemic".
- ^ ""Flat Earth" rapper B.o.B has even more extreme, dangerous views: He promotes Holocaust denial". Salon. January 28, 2016. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ Hernandez, Victoria (2016-04-22). "B.o.B Releases "E.A.R.T.H." Mixtape". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
- ^ "B.O.B - Earth". Hotnewhiphop.com. 2016-04-22. Archived from the original on 2019-10-12. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
