Posted on 04/29/2007 8:52:00 AM PDT by SirLinksalot
Russell Simmons, Al Sharpton, NAACP Urge Rap/Hip-Hop Censorship
What is it with everybody and rap/hip-hop these days? Russell Simmons and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) issued a statement (April 23) urging the recording industry and media outlets to censor misogynistic lyrics and racist terms from future recordings. The Rev. Al Sharpton announced steps in his battle against rap music and will take his fight into various corporations' boardrooms, by buying stock in companies that promote the music. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) recently announced that it has launched an initiative called 'The Stop Campaign' which will aim to end racist and sexist language, images and concepts in the media. Already, a few local hip-hop radio stations including New York's Power 105.1 and Mississippi's Hot 97.7 have taken action by refusing to play songs with degrading or sexist lyrics.
These are not the only political figures addressing the nation though regarding Hip-Hop. Presidential candidate 08' Barack Obama also spoke about Hip-Hop but in another light. "We are all complicit...let's not just single out the rappers," Obama said, noting that he had heard offensive words in many places other than rap songs.
Meanwhile, in light of Sharpton's actions, Universal Music Group withdrew it's $15,000 contribution to Sharpton's National Action Network, after Sharpton decided it was inappropriate to honor Universal Music Group executive and Island Def Jam CEO, Antonio "L.A." Reid.
It has gone so far that, reportedly, even an advertisement shown on many websites including MySpace which features a rapper who resembles 50 Cent and a photographer whose camera you have to move to "shoot the rapper" has people alarmed.
Meanwhile, over in Memphis, TN, Three 6 Mafia is now under the radar. A Commercial Appeal Columnist has criticized the Memphis in May board for refusing to remove Three Six Mafia from its line up and is calling for a boycott of the Oscar winning rap group.
While many feel that the recent Hip-Hop attacks are publicity based, and Hip-Hop publishers have been quite, others are jumping on board the 'bash train' of Hip-Hop, and now Director and Founder of MemphisRap.com, Hosea Mays, Jr "M Town Luv aka M Town," has responded with a written column in regards to the recent attacks by critics and others against Hip-Hop entitled "Rap/Hip-Hop: You Can't Censor the Truth."
In the column, Mays "M Town" speaks not only about and for the rap/hip-hop community, but also speaks to the parents of the hip-hop generation about their role in it as well and also addresses the latest attempt to boycott Oscar winning group Three 6 Mafia.
Campaign-finance reform wasn’t enough?
While I agree that many rap lyrics are degrading to both black women and blacks as a whole(Or African Americans if you prefer), I don't think banning it is the correct, or constitutional, way to proceed. These so called leaders should be putting pressure on the black communities to go back to family values, to have some pride in being educated, to pull themselves up by their boot straps. Bill Cosby had the right idea but of course they did their best to shut him up.
Go back to basics and quit trying to regulate and trying to keep blacks poor and dependent on the goverment.
A little late to the battle, huh?
Forget it — it’s far too late to save this generation, for the most part, they are already hopelessly lost.....
Self control is not censorship.
Yes, yes, tie up all your resources fighting one of the most influential cultural groups of modern times. *evil laugh* Hopefully they’ll wipe each other out
I guess it took a cracker to make them see the light.
"from FUTURE recordings??" Hold on a minute...is this the same standard these racial card con artists played with DON IMUS? "Please, Mr. Imus, please do not use racist terms in the future?"....
If Sharpton and his ilk are going to be CONSISTENT in their Stalinist ideology, they must demand for all rappers to be banned for their past actions and words! And all record executives who approved of this speech must be fired!
What's with this "future" crap?
Speaking of racial matters, have Jackson and Sharpton expressed regret or apologized yet for the comments about the innocent white Duke athletes? Waiting here..................................................................................................................................
So why is it then, there is so much outrage over Walt Disney wanting to release "it's a wonderful world"? It was made over 50 years ago.
I know the "reasoning" these so called "black leaders" use is that the black actor speaks too much southern getto, but compared to the ebonics of today, he was well spoken.
Are you refering to Song of the South?
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