Lanez v. Stallion: Hip-Hop’s New Cultural Divide

On May 14, dedicated fans of Tory Lanez created a Change.org petition insisting that California Governor Gavin Newsom grant a full pardon to the Canadian rapper. This sentiment follows a long, highly publicized legal battle involving Lanez and Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion. Despite Lanez’s felony charges and subsequent sentence, there remains a strong surge of online supporters rallying behind him across social media. Thousands stand firm on his innocence and question Stallion’s credibility, while thousands of others support her and condemn him as a criminal. Support for Lanez has only heightened since his reported prison attack, leaving him with fourteen stab wounds. As the petition closes in on 300,000 signatures, it’s important to understand how one man’s conviction sparked such intense divide and discourse within the online hip-hop community.

How Did It All Start?

The inciting moment dates back to July 2020, when police arrested Lanez during an LA traffic stop after discovering a concealed gun. Stallion, who was present during the arrest, was transported to the hospital with clear injuries to her feet. According to an NPR timeline of events, she later confirmed that she underwent surgery for gunshot wounds that night. While the shooter’s identity remained a mystery, she received online scrutiny and mockery for being shot in the foot. NPR documents that it wasn’t until August 2020 that Stallion exposed Lanez as the shooter on Instagram Live. She accused him of trying to slander and silence her through media espionage, saying, “You shot me, and you got your publicist and your people going to these blogs, lying….”

Despite Lanez denying the accusations, the LA County District Attorney’s office eventually charged him with “felony assault with a semiautomatic firearm” and “carrying a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle.” Lanez received a protective order, prohibiting him from coming near Stallion. These charges marked a polarizing beginning to the case, as passionate online communities and fan bases began aligning themselves with either side.

The Unraveling of Lanez’s Character

As the incident gained notoriety, the larger culture received glimpses into what happened that night, and Lanez’s public image began to unravel. Stallion stands firm on the intention of harm behind her shooting, further illustrating Lanez as someone easily prone to violence. The NPR timeline cites an October 2020 New York Times op-ed piece by Stallion, aptly titled “Why I Speak Up for Black Women.” She writes, “I was recently the victim of an act of violence by a man…After a party, I was shot twice as I walked away from him.”

Stallion’s accusations weren’t the only concerning signs about Lanez’s behavior. In September 2022, singer August Alsina accused him of assaulting him outside of a Chicago show. According to Rolling Stone, the encounter was due to an initial misunderstanding. Alsina recalls that Lanez confronted him with a group of bodyguards to ask why the singer hadn’t greeted him and “dapped him up.” Alsina explained his avoidance of contact was due to ongoing health concerns over COVID-19 and monkeypox cases. Despite this, he claims that Lanez soon assaulted him without warning and ran back into the venue. A series of graphic, now-deleted Instagram posts show Alsina bloodied, bruised, and wounded all over his body.

These incidents began to paint a more vivid and troubling picture of Lanez in the wider cultural lens. Beyond legal orders and proceedings, segments of the online hip-hop community viewed him as dangerous. He was perceived as a volatile man whose actions reflected unchecked anger, insecurity, and aggression. Stallion’s emotional interviews surrounding the shooting and the photos of Alsina’s injuries sparked cultural discourse around masculinity and perpetuating violence in the rap industry, especially towards Black women. For many, it was a systemic lack of accountability.

The Charges, Trial, and Conviction

In the months leading up to his trial, the severity of Lanez’s potential sentence continued to pile up. He performed alongside rapper DaBaby at Rolling Loud 2021, just moments after Stallion had left the stage. According to Pitchfork, he violated his protective order by arriving unannounced at the festival. As a result, his bail was subsequently raised from $190,000 to $250,000. The NPR timeline notes LAPD detective Ryan Stogner, who revealed a key detail that pushed people’s disgust with Lanez to the breaking point. Allegedly, during the night of the shooting, Lanez yelled at Stallion, who was barely out of the car, to “dance” as he fired at her feet.

His encounter with Alsina also placed him under house arrest until his December 2022 trial. Prosecutors added a third felony charge: discharging a firearm with gross negligence. They argued that Lanez’s random act of violence stemmed from a hurt ego, as Stallion had allegedly insulted his rap career. Conversely, the defense argued that Stallion’s jealousy of his career is why she pinned the shooting on him, false or not.

After days of reviewing evidence, testimony, and deliberation on that night, the jury found Lanez guilty on three felony charges: assault with a semi-automatic firearm, possession of a concealed, unregistered firearm, and negligent discharge of a firearm. In August 2023, he was officially sentenced to ten years in prison.

The Growth of Online Support

On the surface, Lanez’s conviction was simple. Evidence pointed to his guilt, and justice was served for Stallion, a victim of violence. However, despite the verdict, various factors caused Lanez to maintain and grow support.

First, Lanez benefited from a loyal fan base, including influential figures in the rap, hip-hop, and influencer spheres. High-ranking celebrities such as Drake, Kanye West, Meek Mill, and Amber Rose have reposted the petition and called for his freedom across social media. Such endorsements contributed to the idea that his conviction and imprisonment were an unfair witch hunt, and Lanez was the scapegoat. 

Second, many framed Lanez as a victim of “cancel culture.” In their view, “cancel culture” is a toxic cycle of permanent punishment. The public rushes to condemn celebrities for moral wrongdoings and leaves no room for personal growth or redemption. Celebrities are stripped of everything and become an easy target. With this narrative, Lanez became a sort of underdog, a subject of unfair mob mentality and someone to root for against the larger public. 

Lastly, broader distrust in the criminal justice system only fueled skepticism around Lanez’s conviction. Several inconsistent aspects from the trial haven’t left people’s radar. According to a report by Entertainment Tonight, DNA experts informed the jury that his DNA was not present on the gun magazine, but it was inconclusive whether his DNA was on the gun itself. In other words, they couldn’t say with certainty that his DNA was on the weapon, and it could go either way. Kelsey Harris, Stallion’s former assistant who was involved with her and Lanez that night, hesitated to identify Lanez as the shooter despite previous statements. These apparent inconsistencies inspired alternative narratives and helped sustain his innocence in the eyes of many.

Misogynoir in Hip-Hop

It’s those factors that lend to the petition’s growing popularity. So what makes the support for Stallion the “morally correct” option to many? Many of Stallion’s supporters view Lanez as part of a much more dangerous threat in hip-hop: misogynoir.

Coined by feminist scholar Moya Bailey, misogynoir is the specific combination of racism and sexism that Black women experience. In the introduction of her book, “Misogynoir Transformed”, Bailey elaborates on the definition. She says that “their [Black women’s] simultaneous and interlocking oppression at the intersection of racial and gender marginalization” is the core of misogynoir. Black women’s dual identity makes them the target of especially harsh discrimination, even from their own communities.

Stallion is a prominent Black woman MC in the rap industry, yet many were quick to cast doubt. There was an impulse to deny the trauma she experienced from that night. Many also note her overtly sexual persona and music. To them, Stallion is simply a woman scorned, out for petty revenge due to jealousy or personal relationship drama. These sentiments are invalidating toward anyone who has experienced similar abuse stories. An attack on Stallion is an attack on the solidarity of Black women’s experiences.

The Fallout

This extends far beyond Lanez and Stallion. To many, it exposed a deep-rooted bias permeating within problematic sects of hip-hop culture and the rap industry at large. Toxic mentalities often dismiss Black women’s pain in the defense of powerful Black men. The fact that many were quick to accuse Stallion of lying despite evidence and testimony shows a cultural impulse to protect certain male artists. The ongoing debates around Chris Brown and Rihanna demonstrate a similar dynamic. Established influencers and media outlets continue to perpetuate that same doubt. Consequently, many people, especially Stallion herself, feel unsafe and unprotected within the larger hip-hop space.

For many, it’s not just about two celebrities. It can be about the emotional labor that comes with being a Black woman in America. They must constantly uplift their humanity when the larger culture seeks to suppress it. They must build their own spaces when double standards and violence threaten their safety. For others, it can be about a fight against a biased system. Lanez’s trial left many unresolved issues in the eyes of many. No matter the side, the Lanez v. Stallion case is no longer just about legality. It’s a cultural litmus test for one’s morals. One’s beliefs on the situation reveal whether we’re ready to confront the power structures that allow for discrimination.