In a bid to enforce corporate social responsibility, HSAN--headed by Russell Simmons and Benjamin Chavis--has called for radio to bleep out the n-word, the b-word, and the suddenly despicable h-word (as if those words aren't already being bleeped out on airwaves).
Simmons insists, however, that HSAN's recommendation is not about censorship. "Our discussions are about the corporate social responsibility of the industry," says Simmons, "to voluntarily show respect to African Americans and other people of color, African American women and to all women in lyrics and images."
Unfortunately, therein lies our problem. How does bleeping out three words, while leaving in other rhymes that degrade women, for instance, show respect to people of color? Let's not forget that there are hundreds of uncensored variations of "ho" and other so-called harmful words. Russell and his corporate cohorts are sending the wrong message by playing it safe here. Label execs and artists make millions from toxic rap lyrics and videos, and the manufacturer will always stand by his products. That economic motivation resonates the dichotomy between hip-pop--promoted by a few artists--and what the rest of us truly embrace as hip-hop.More on Russell Simmons: Image © Daniel Ortiz
Comments
You speak the truth. Of course the labels aren’t going to do anything real to stop this.
But how do we solve the problem? The labels will keep putting out stuff with toxic lyrics as long as the public demands (and pays for) it.
So how do we stop demand? How do we convince the public at large that this stuff isn’t worth buying? I don’t have a clue.
It’s like the war on drugs. Even if a lot of people want drugs out of their neighborhoods, as long as there’s some group of people willing to pay for it, it’ll keep finding its way in.
We can start by educating people. If consumers make better choices, we’ll definitely witness a revolution in the music industry.
to DC
not quite like drugs, this stuff is protected by the constitution (1st amendment) and should still have a market if someone wants it, while drugs are killing our communities and should totally be banished
also to everybody who doesnt like this music (i dont really like music like it either) you forget you have the choice to not listen
i listen to all kinds of music and going from country to R&B or rap and rock or what ever it is it shouldnt matter what a song says, just because some people are weak minded and have to do what a song says doesnt mean the rest of the U.S. (or the world) should have to suffer. Personally i think that people have nothing to do so they attack things they know nothing about, people need to stick to their life and leave things alone that have nothing to do with them
MAN i THiNK THAT THEY SH0ULD LET THEM SAY H0Ez 0N THE RADi0 AND TV……ALL THE EXCiTMENT HAS LEFT THE MEDiA AND N0W N0THiN HAPPENz…LET THEM HAVE SPACE…