LaRussell Controversy: Rapper’s Mother Organizes Rally After “Heaven Sent” Backlash
Vallejo rapper LaRussell is selling merchandise related to his newly released and controversial song, “Heaven Sent,” while his mother organizes a rally in his support following widespread criticism of the track’s lyrics.
The song, which names Adolf Hitler, Jeffrey Epstein, and Donald Trump alongside figures like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. As “heaven-sent,” sparked immediate backlash after LaRussell shared a clip on social media March 14. He defended the song as an artistic expression intended to address difficult truths, stating, “The goal of an artist is to express the times and discuss, say all the things that nobody else wanna say or know how to say.”
LaRussell deactivated his social media accounts on March 20 amid the ongoing controversy, according to reports. Despite this, he has begun selling merchandise for “Heaven Sent” on his Good Compenny website. A brown T-shirt featuring the phrase “We All Heaven Sent” with a halo above the letter ‘A’ and a graphic of a faceless figure is available for purchase, utilizing a pay-what-you-can model similar to his music distribution.
Yvette McDonald, LaRussell’s mother, has also designed merchandise in support of her son. Her shirt reads “I SUPPORT LARUSSELL F— THE HATERS” and features an image of a raised middle finger. McDonald is organizing a rally for Wednesday, March 25, at 2 p.m. At M&M Liquors in South Vallejo, encouraging supporters to “make your signs” and “honk for LaRussell” from their cars.
The rally was initially scheduled for March 24 but was moved to accommodate the demand for McDonald’s support shirts, according to social media posts. In a video shared on Instagram, McDonald stated she had “no idea what’s going on” but affirmed her support for her son, saying, “I spoke to my son. He’s good, I’m good. That’s it.”
LaRussell, who recently signed with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, previously gained recognition for his song “I’m From the Bay.” The release of “Heaven Sent” marks his first major controversy since joining the label.