Here's the reply:
Thanks for bringing up your concerns about my lyrics with me directly, as opposed to just talking smack about me in social circles, out in the world, etc. I really appreciate your direct and honest approach.
The thought did cross my mind that someone might take offense to that lyric. You should know that I am absolutely not a racist in any way shape or form, and if you listen to my musical catalogue (which is pretty extensive at this point, since I've been making and releasing music for 12+ years) it is hopefully pretty clear that my philosophy is one of inclusion and acceptance, innovation, and freedom of expression for everybody, regardless of race, sex, political ideology, etc.
I left the lyrics in the song because I felt that, in the context of the song (which is a battle rap style song), those lyrics hopefully wouldn't have any racial connotation, since there is (again, hopefully) no racial bias in the rest of the lyrics, which in my estimation are pretty abstract and generalized. If you are interested in my honest interpretation of this lyric, I pictured the generic enemy MCs being dismantled like cars, and then the pieces being hung up in trees like wind chimes. There was absolutely no racial reference intended, although I can completely understand how one might interpret it that way. I guess this is a good example of the potential danger of using a shared language in the public sphere, where people are free to interpret more or less abstract poetics as they see fit.
I agree that hip hop began as a black art form, and I in no way mean to demean/disrespect/insult that extremely beautiful and powerful history, especially not with my own lyrics, which are in part a homage to all the hip hoppers and MCs that came before me, that I greatly respect (most of which are black). I only hope that you will accept my apology if my lyrics offended you, and hope that you will believe that what I have written here are my true feelings. I'm not sure what else I can do to remedy the situation (aside from changing the song, which has already undergone mixing/mastering), but please let me know though if there is anything else I can do. The last thing I want is to be perceived as a racist, and alienate listeners like yourself whom I respect and appreciate.
Sincerely,
Tyler aka Untytled