Music

Soulja Boy made a cringeworthy rap video with contestants from 'The Bachelorette'

by Aaron Zorgel

Desiree Hartsock is a 26-year-old Colorado-born bridal stylist, best known for her roles on The Bachelor season 17, and the current season of The Bachelorette. DeAndre Cortez Way, professionally known as Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em, or simply Soulja Boy, is a 22-year-old rapper who’s best known for wanting to “Superman that ho.” When these two creative forces collide, the end result is a musical abomination so nonchalant in its ignorance, it makes “Accidental Racist” look like “Changes” by Tupac.

On last night’s episode of The Bachelorette, Desiree and her remaining wannabe suitors teamed up with Soulja Boy to record a rap song and video, as part of the episode’s weekly challenge element. Desiree sets the bar at ankle level with her opening rhymes: “I’m the Bachelorette, and I’m rapping to you poolside / here to find true life, one man for my whole life / Last time you saw me, I was crying in a limo / Sean sent me home and put my heart in limbo.”

The whole narrative of “Right Reasons” is a little murky (go figure!), but the contestants seem to be rapping as characters based on previously eliminated peers, with lyrics revealing that they’re there to get famous, promote singles, and “cry so much it’ll make you sick.” It goes from a goofy parody video to a questionable cultural caricature when this group of exclusively white entrepreneurs, accountants, and advertising executives start making it rain, gesturing to their fake jewelery, and borrowing dance moves from their ex-girlfriends’ Hip-hop Abs workout videos.

It’s all a bit of lighthearted fun until hip-hop culture becomes the butt of a joke. And as for Soulja Boy? Get money, get paid. It’s not like he had any credibility left to compromise.