Ta-Nehisi Coates Explains Why White Lil Uzi Fans Can’t Say the N-Word

Lil Uzi Vert has become a rising pop star with his chart-topping hit single, “XO Tour Llif3." But for one white college student, Uzi Vert’s music is troubling because of his use of the N-word.

During Ta-Nehisi Coates’ book tour for We Were Eight Years in Power at Evanston Township High School, a white student told the author that she found it hard to sing along to Uzi Vert’s songs with her friends because they used the N-word.

Coates answered her cliche question so eloquently that it should be turned into a syllabus. Watch the video above and salute to Coates for breaking it down ever so gently to the student.

"When you're white in this country, you're taught that everything belongs to you," Coates explains near the end of his nearly four minute explanation. "You think you have the right to everything and you're conditioned this way... So here comes this word that you feel like you invented and here someone is going to tell you how to use the word that you invented... I think for white people the experience of being a hip hop fan and not being able to use the word n--- is actually very insightful. It will give you just a little peek into what it means to be black because to be black is to walk through the world and watch people doing things that you can't do. So I think there's a lot be learned."

Meanwhile, Lil Uzi Vert has teamed up with Urban Outfitters to release a limited-edition cassette tape of his debut album, Luv Is Rage 2. According to HotNewHipHop, the tape will arrive in stores on Dec. 8 with only 2,000 copies available. The new edition comes with four new tracks: "Skir Skirr," "Loaded," "Diamonds All On My Wrist," and "20 Min."

In addition, Lil Uzi Vert released the long-awaited remix to "The Way Life Goes" featuring Nicki Minaj.