Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: The Verge

Andre Middleton, who also goes by the name Corn Tha Coon, will be performing at 10 p.m. today at Roc's Blackfront with 95 Mental. (Photo courtesy of David Cubberly)

Correction added in photo credit


Corn Tha Coon is an alias that is offensive, grotesque and disturbing on many different levels, and hip-hop artist Andre Middleton wouldn't like it any other way.

To dismiss Middleton's talents for uncanny rhythmic flows simply for his name's sake is the definition of ignorance.

Middleton says he can just do away with ignorant people.

"If you go into it looking at it like that, then you are missing what I'm trying to say," Middleton said.

Middleton will be performing at 10 p.m. today at Roc's Blackfront with guests 95 Mental.

Middleton was born and raised in Charleston.

In his upbringing, he learned to use humor as a vice to explain that black people and white people are not different from one another.

"I can remember when I was in fourth-grade, and I was spending the night at a friend's house in Paris," Middleton said. "His parents came out and said they didn't like it that I was staying there. By the end of the night I had them laughing out loud because that's just how I act. Comedy opened the door to make them ignore their ignorance."

Middleton's alias isn't the only thing offensive at first glance.

With some songs titled "Praise White God," "Real Gay My N****" and "Ginger," it is assumed that his music is not meant for virgin ears.

Genuine hip-hop lovers would agree that Middleton has a knack for technical word plays similar to KRS-One, with a raunchy humorous side comparable to Too Short.

"I was raised in an all black family in Charleston, and they taught me that you must know where you come from so you know where you're heading," Middleton said.

While the language Middleton uses might offend some, he said that if a person is going to use it, especially racial slurs, then they must take responsibility for it.

"I've heard many different racial slurs. I call myself the N-word so no one else has to. It all comes down to how people say things and taking personal responsibility after it's said," Middleton said. "Some people think that once that word is said it gives them an excuse to act a certain way ... I might be saying I'm this, but that is just proving my point. I may take it overboard, but I'm just here to have fun."

Middleton brings a casual, yet humorous, psychoanalytical outlook on race.

The same can be said about Middleton's outlook on his stage presence.

"I am the self-proclaimed 'Cornbread,'" Middleton said, referring to another alias he sometimes uses. "I like it to feel like me and the audience are just kickin' it. There have been other times where I made a bunch of cornbread at the barbeque restaurant I was working at in the day, and I threw them out during a performance later on that night. That was probably my favorite performance."

If those attending are still offended by what Middleton has to say, then he offers this piece of advise.

"When you want to cry, just laugh," he said. "If you can find comedy in tragedy, you're already doing better for yourself."

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