Alicia's Conspiracy Theories
April 12 2008, Published 3:52 p.m. ET
may have won Grammy Awards for her melodic love songs, but the singer/songwriter wants people to know there's another side to her — a political side.
In the new issue of Blender magazine, Keys reveals some of her deep-rooted conspiracy theories that involve 'Gangsta rap,' and the Black Panthers. "'Gangsta rap' was a ploy to convince black people to kill each other," the singer says. "'Gangsta rap' didn't exist."
The 27-year old, who wears a gold AK-47 pendant around her neck to "symbolize strength, power and killing 'em dead," also has a few theories about the bi-coastal feud between slain rap legends Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G., saying she believes it was fueled by "the government and the media, to stop another great black leader from existing."
Keys says she wants to write more political songs in the future and feels that if black leaders like the late Black Panther Huey Newton "had the outlets our musicians have today, it'd be global. I have to figure out a way to do it myself."
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The AK-47 necklace Keys wears around her neck came as a surprise to her mother, who told Blender: "She wears what? That doesn't sound like Alicia."
(Sigh!) Parents are always the last ones to know!