Does an artist’s political & personal preferences matter to me? I never thought much about the question.

Yesterday, I read a well-written article by Joel Anderson about Ice Cube. The Slate.com story contrasted 90’s gangster rapper to the present-day individual, who recently sat for an interview with Tucker Carlson as the two rode through South Central Los Angeles and spewed anti-vax propaganda. I did not realize that O’Shea Jackson espoused conspiracy theories. Does my opinion about It Was A Good Day change?

I have not spent hours listening to Ice Cube’s tunes. There are no sentimental feelings concerning the man’s music. So, typically, I would not hesitate to cancel and classify him as a kook. But what if Ice Cube were Pearl Jam?

Eddie Vedder is the frontman of my favorite band, Pearl Jam. I began listening to their music when I was in the eighth grade. I have been to more than a dozen of the group’s concerts and hope to see them when they play in Philadelphia in September. Vedder’s politics are liberal, though those views do not infiltrate my continued affinity for the music. Or maybe, at least subconsciously, Pearl Jam’s political persuasions play into my proclivity.

And the compact disc skips…

Ice Cube’s politics and personal preferences should not tarnish my enjoyment of his music. Every human, including myself, is flawed. I don’t have to agree with every aspect of an individual before I can appreciate their art.

“I gotta say it was a good day.”