Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images
Over the weekend, Hot 97 and ESPN radio host Peter Rosenberg shared on Twitter that he experienced “a pang of discomfort and offense” in response to a line from Jay Electronica on his new album, A Written Testimony. Rosenberg initially quoted one of Electronica’s old songs, 2014’s “better in tune with the infinite,” before later clarifying that he was referring to a line from “Ghost of Soulja Slim.”
On “Ghost of Soulja Slim,” Electronica raps:
And I bet you a Rothschild I get a bang for my dollar
The synagogue of Satan want me to hang by my collar
As Genius contributor Nkenge 1x points out, the first line is a reference to Electronica’s alleged affair with Kate Rothschild, the heiress of the Rothschild banking family. For more than two centuries, the Rothschild family has been the subject of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories centering around their wealth and power.
The second line—which offended Rosenberg—cites a phrase from the Book of Revelations.
Rosenberg’s Hot 97 morning show co-host, Ebro Darden, tried to explain the phrase was from the Bible, but Rosenberg correctly pointed out the Book of Revelations is New Testament:
Complex reports Electronica responded to Rosenberg in a series of since-deleted tweets by telling him to take issue with the writers of the New Testament:
We sat down in an interview before and talked about my stance in these matters and it’s there for anyone to go pull up. we’re [sic] you offended then? then you quoted better in tune w the infinite which was released in 2014 so what #AWrittenTestimony made you go back and listen to BITWTI and you were retro offended? if you have a problem w the term Synagouge [sic] of Satan, don’t take it up w me, take it up w the writers of the New Testament. Don’t play w me Peter, i ain’t the one. and you know this. i come in peace and i go in peace. let’s keep it that way.
The Roc Nation rapper continued tweeting by accusing Rosenberg of “clout chasing,” adding that he stands behind his lyrics.
Finally, Electronica invited Rosenberg to have a discussion on the term “Synagogue of Satan” in a public forum, and the host seemed happy to take him up on the offer:
Electronica isn’t the first rapper to be accused of using anti-Semitic lyrics. His Roc Nation boss, JAY-Z—who is featured prominently throughout A Written Testimony—received criticism for lines on “The Story of O.J.,” where he says:
You wanna know what’s more important than throwin' away money at a strip club? Credit
You ever wonder why Jewish people own all the property in America? This how they did it
In December 2018, 21 Savage apologized for lyrics on his i am > i was cut, “asmr,” where he compares his wealth to “Jewish money.”
Catch up on all the lyrics to Jay Electronica’s A Written Testimony on Genius now.
