Singer-songwriter India.Arie took issue with a viral video of Jack Harlow’s faux pas when he admitted that he did not know Brandy and Ray J are siblings, All Hip Hop reports.
As Blavity previously reported, Harlow had dropped by Hot 97 when hosts Ebro and Peter Rosenberg asked the “What’s Poppin” rapper to name the song they played during a game.
Harlow appeared stumped, and was unable to identify Brandy’s 1999 track “Angel in Disguise,” incorrectly guessing Aaliyah.
The hosts then tried to help the rapper by dropping hints, saying the singer has a brother with a famous sex tape. Harlow responded by asking, “Who’s Ray J’s sister?”
After learning Brandy and Ray J are siblings, Harlow revealed no one had ever shared that information with him.
After the video circulated online, India.Arie posted her thoughts on social media, saying, “Just because you make black music doesn’t mean you know black culture.”
“If U don’t know Brandy’s voice when you hear it …. WHO EVEN ARE YOU?”
India.Arie continued to defend Brandy’s influence on today’s music.
“When an Actual MUSICIAN! WHO MAKES BLACK MUSIC! Deduces one of the industry’s MOST IMPORTANT VOICES @brandy To Ray J’s SISTER? Who is famous (mostly) for his proximity to Kim Kardashians,” she wrote on Instagram.
“And WE HEAR @brandy Influence Eh-VER-REE-WHERE.”
“PLENTY of Non black singers. (Ask them),” she said. “Even MALE singers. Gospel singers. AND PEOPLE KNOW RAY J BETTER? The s###’s STUPID. STUPID. STUID. STUPID!”
.@indiaarie defends Brandy after Jack Harlow don’t recognize her voice during game in interview for HOT 97 pic.twitter.com/nPgLFsJprA
— Brandy Legion (@BrandyLegion) May 12, 2022
While some made the case online that Harlow is only 24 years old and would not have quickly recognized the song, another Twitter user countered that point.
Jack Harlow You Are Officially A Green Ass Dude In My Book To Refer To Brandy As “Ray J’s Sister” And Then Proceeds To Ask Who Is She. I Totally Agree With Everything India Ari Said But Its Ironic This Mf Know Who Fergie Is lol
— Khristian Bleu 🏦💎🧠♟🕰 (@FatSoGriffey) May 13, 2022
Twitter continued to debate the matter on Friday, with fans split on the topic.
Y’all are over blowing the jack harlow brandy thing out of proportion.
— WizKhalifasLaugh (@wetdishsoap) May 13, 2022
not y’all gushing over jack harlow and he doesn’t even know who brandy is??? lmfao don’t ever tell me nothing bout that white boy again.
— milah (@milahlovesmusic) May 13, 2022
Ok why is India.Arie so pressed that Jack Harlow didn’t know Brandy and Ray J are siblings? He’s 24.. gen z didn’t even know Missy Elliot? It’s not like he didn’t know they were musicians?
— ♔α (@thyysoo) May 13, 2022
Jack Harlow is 24, by the time he was 10 Brandy was irrelevant. Moesha went off the air 2 years after he was born. Her “Greatest Hits” album came out when he was 7.
India Arie showing her colors..that bitterness gonna eat y’all alive.
— Sherri Only Son™ (@iamDame2Cold) May 13, 2022
Black people on here slandering Brandy in defense of Jack Harlow?! Turn the internet off. https://t.co/wBpSvOpeBJ
— Alcoholic Unanonymous. (@yumyumyumninja) May 13, 2022