House Panel Debates Hip-Hop Lyrics
By JIM ABRAMS
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Lawmakers, music industry executives and rappers disagreed Tuesday over who was to blame for sexist and degrading language in hip hop music but united in opposing government censorship as a solution.
``If by some stroke of the pen hip hop was silenced, the issues would still be present in our communities,'' rapper and record producer David Banner, whose real name is Levell Crump, said in prepared statements to a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing. ``Drugs, violence and the criminal element were around long before hip hop existed.''
At the hearing, music videos showing scantily clad women were played; music executives in dark suits testified on the uses of the ``B,'' H'' and ``N'' words, and black civil rights leaders talked of corporate exploitation.
``We have allowed greedy corporate executives - especially those in the entertainment industry - to lead many of our young people to believe that it is OK to entertain themselves by destroying the culture of our people,'' E. Faye Williams, chair of the National Congress of Black Women, said in prepared remarks.
``From Imus to Industry: The business of stereotypes and degrading images,'' was the title of the hearing, referring to former radio host Don Imus, who lost his job after making derogatory comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team. The Imus incident has sparked debate within the music industry about black artists using offensive, misogynist and violent language. more
By JIM ABRAMS
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Lawmakers, music industry executives and rappers disagreed Tuesday over who was to blame for sexist and degrading language in hip hop music but united in opposing government censorship as a solution.
``If by some stroke of the pen hip hop was silenced, the issues would still be present in our communities,'' rapper and record producer David Banner, whose real name is Levell Crump, said in prepared statements to a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing. ``Drugs, violence and the criminal element were around long before hip hop existed.''
At the hearing, music videos showing scantily clad women were played; music executives in dark suits testified on the uses of the ``B,'' H'' and ``N'' words, and black civil rights leaders talked of corporate exploitation.
``We have allowed greedy corporate executives - especially those in the entertainment industry - to lead many of our young people to believe that it is OK to entertain themselves by destroying the culture of our people,'' E. Faye Williams, chair of the National Congress of Black Women, said in prepared remarks.
``From Imus to Industry: The business of stereotypes and degrading images,'' was the title of the hearing, referring to former radio host Don Imus, who lost his job after making derogatory comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team. The Imus incident has sparked debate within the music industry about black artists using offensive, misogynist and violent language. more
Like I said, 