Russ Breaks Down The Reason Why He Wore The Infamous Anti-Drug Shirt

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Recording artist Russ performs onstage at MTV's 'Wonderland' LIVE Show on October 6, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.
"Who I was talking to was the white kids who don't really be having any problems."

Russ is a polarizing figure in the rap game. While many applaud his music and his business practices, he rubs people wrong with some of his commentary of hip hop and society. Last year, the rapper faced a whole lot of backlash after he shared a photo of himself wearing a shirt that read, "How much xans and lean do you have to do before you realize you're a fucking loser." The rapper had good intentions but the comments came across as insensitive. Nearly a year later, the rapper clarified exactly what he meant when he wore that shirt.

Russ joined the cast of "Everyday Struggle" yesterday and spoke more in-depth about the infamous anti-drug shirt that caused an uproar on the internet. The "Sore Losers" rapper explained that the message he wasn't aimed towards people who use drugs to cope with mental health issues but rather white kids who think it's cool to indulge in the same drugs they hear in rap lyrics.

"A lot of times my message, I be thinkin' that the ones I'm talkin' to, they know I'm talking to them so it's like a misunderstanding," he said. "Who I was talking to was the white kids who don't really be having any real problems. They be doing that shit recreationally... I grew up with a lot of kids who'd be doing that shit because at the party, you be thinkin' that's the cool shit to do and next thing you know, you're addicted because you heard that shit in a song."

He added, "That's who I was talking to. I wasn't talking to people [who have] PTSD."

Check the clip below with Russ' bit on the shirt starting at the 27:25 mark.


About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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