If I had to guess I would say that Simmons made it a point to let the world know that Cosby cursed him out, hoping that readers would see this as hypocritical in the context of the admired comedian/actor’s previous “clean” crusade. And if I also had to guess I would bet most people think it’s just funny. Link
So there I was about to give the man of the hour his award but still I wondered where Bill Cosby was, the evening’s MC. I knew I had once said he was too judgmental of black folks and especially rappers, but I also knew for sure that he had dedicated his life to the betterment of our people and I have come to understand his feelings that we and the next generation had let him down. We didn’t march through the doors he, Harry Belafonte and the Civil Rights movement opened.
When I look back, I feel remorse for judging him. And it has been a source of a “rap beef” for years. He has been critical of the poets but I have maintained that the entertainment, especially most of the poets, are simple reflections of cultures of truth. Anyhow, I wanted to find him to apologize, to tell him I was sorry about my statements and to tell him that I loved him. Suddenly I turned and he was behind the curtain and I said “I love you” and he responded on some real hip-hop, “Get the f*ck out my face!”
