April 19, 2007
Hip Hop's Secret Meeting
On Tuesday "The Oprah Winfrey Show" became a platform for the Hip-Hop community to respond to the Don Imus controversy with a panel discussion featuring Russell Simmons, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Kevin Liles, Common and more.
Should musicians lose their jobs or their contracts for using words that are considered racist and sexist? As seen in the video clip below, the former EIC of Essence Magazine thinks so. She is met with many who disagree, however, one of which is Russell Simmons. He thinks actions like this will only make the artists more popular, stating "Pointing at the conditions that create these words from the rappers...should be our No. 1 concern."
He goes on to say that "We're talking about a lot of these artists who come from the most extreme cases of poverty and ignorance ... And when they write a song, and they write it from their heart, and they're not educated, and they don't believe there's opportunity, they have a right, they have a right to say what's on their mind." Conversely, many believe Don Imus's comment came from a place of racist and sexist tendencies.
After the Oprah appearance, these and other high-powered music-industry executives met privately yesterday at the New York home of Lyor Cohen (chairman and chief executive at Warner Music Group) to discuss the state of rap lyrics. Many of Imus' critics have been pointing towards offensive language in rap music, and with his recent fall - what kind of across-the-board standards should be set when it comes to dealing with freedom of speech?
The summit, essentially a gathering to "discuss issues challenging the industry in the wake of controversy surrounding hip-hop and the First Amendment," lasted several hours. Originally a news conference was scheduled at a Manhattan hotel to discuss initiatives agreed upon at the forum, however, it did not result in any specific initiative. The conference was postponed and Simmons' publicist released a statement that described the topic as a "complex issue that involves gender, race, culture and artistic expression. Everyone assembled today takes this issue very seriously." Simmons and Chavis, who called the meeting, lead the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network with the motto: "Taking Back Responsibility," and while this looks good on paper - it's clearly proving to be a much more complex issue.
Rev. Al Sharpton also has the rap community on his radar. After being a key figure in protesting Imus, he announced he has suspended his plans to honor L.A. Reid during his National Action Network convention in New York this week. Reid's label Def Jam has several artists who use racist and sexist lyrics in their songs.
More video available here.
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"We're talking about a lot of these artists who come from the most extreme cases of poverty and ignorance ... And when they write a song, and they write it from their heart, and they're not educated, and they don't believe there's opportunity, they have a right, they have a right to say what's on their mind."
that may have been the case at one point, and may still be for some, but now people do it because they know it will sell
"And when they write a song, and they write it from their heart, and they're not educated, and they don't believe there's opportunity, they have a right, they have a right to say what's on their mind." Conversely, many believe Don Imus's comment came from a place of racist and sexist tendencies.
So what I'm seeing is that, if you're sexist and racist but poor and uneducated and saying it "from the heart", it's okay?? What a load of crap.
The problem here, and the reason I assume they came out of this meeting without a single message is that it's just blatant hypocrisy. Okay, Don Imus MUST be fired for his comment... But Dr. Dre who, I'm sorry, at this point is far beyond "speaking from the heart/uneducated/poor" can still degrade women and his own people, and get lauded for it?
Bitches ain't shit, indeed.
"... they have a right, they have a right to say what's on their mind."
So does Don Imus.
[3] : Don imus has every right to blather on like a bigoted ignoramus using whatever words he so chooses, just as his employers have ever right to fire him for whatever reasons he sees fit. It's not a question of legal rights, It's a question of whether or not media companies should be promoting (and profiting from) the use of bigoted and racist language.
They do have a right to say whatever is on their mind, and their employers have every right to fire them for it.
"discuss issues challenging the industry in the wake of controversy surrounding hip-hop and the First Amendment"
ahh, this is why we're fucked.
the first amendment covers government interference with speech. not just any old kinda speech.
what moronic commentary by simmons. a huge majority of the public is for once standing up in unity with a minority group, and russell simmons ruins the moment by suggesting that the more uneducated one is the more right they have to express themselves. i guess it would be wildly offensive for me to suggest the opposite should be true
The sad part is that there is an audience for this product -- if there was no demand, the supply would dry up.
russel simmons is not very polite.
"platform for the Hip-Hop community to respond"
That was a platform for four rich black men to respond. They do not represent the hip hop community, if such a thing can even be said to exist. They represent executive level interests in hip hop music and that's all they represent.
Folks within hip hop are taking all sorts of stands and many of us clearly weren't represented at Oprah's meeting of the famous people.
In any case, glad you're posting on this topic and I'm glad to see people putting their views out there. I hate to be naively hopeful about such things but I really do hope something positive can come out of this dialogue.
Just please don't assume that Russell Simmons speak for the people. He does not.
Maybe they should speak with Camron:
PLATINUM SELLING RAPPER TELLS '60 MINUTES': WOULDN'T HELP POLICE CATCH EVEN A SERIAL KILLER BECAUSE IT WOULD HURT HIS BUSINESS AND VIOLATE HIS 'CODE OF ETHICS'
Thu Apr 19 2007 12:47:1 ET
Rap star Cam'ron says there's no situation -- including a serial killer living next door -- that would cause him to help police in any way, because to do so would hurt his music sales and violate his "code of ethics." Cam'ron, whose real name is Cameron Giles, talks to Anderson Cooper for a report on how the hip-hop culture's message to shun the police has undermined efforts to solve murders across the country. Cooper's report will be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday, April 22 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
Do you think rappers and record companies produce this crap out of the goodness of their hearts? They're making obscene amounts of money from bigoted and racist langauge. Does that not bother you, or are you only concerned with white people being "bigoted and racist"?
Vast majority of rap music consumers in America= young white men under the age of 25.
Lesson from the Imus situation:
The way to have an impact on hip hop would be for women (perhaps predominantly women of color) to put pressure on the companies that subset of hip hop that is vulgar. Corporate America does not want to be associated with racists; they will also stay away from misogynists - so long as pressure is applied.
For example, 50Cent has an endorsement deal with Reebok - if Reebok's HQ was picketed by women carrying signs denouncing 50's "music" - with enough media coverage, they would drop him like a stone.
There are no constitutional rights to free speach at issue here - the hip hop "artists" are free to include as much vulgarity in their music as they please.
This is all about economics.
Be real.
The vast majority of these rappers words are owned by white executives. That's who makes the money. Not black people.
Fuckin please.
Also, and I know this is impossible for the white yuppies who post here, but try to think a bit beyond your own experiences with women. Think hookers, strippers, and women who would sell you their bodies OR their babies for a hit.
Maybe it's your mother, your sister or your girlfriend.
Now, if I didn't have a dime, never knew anyone who graduated from college, and watch well-meaning people of color work hard only to die poor and miserable all around me...I might exploit my own reality and that of my environment. In this context, some of these lyrics make sense as a description of some rappers' personal experiences.
I'm not defending their words, but some of you are so sheltered that I wonder how you can make it through each day on your own.
If I were a black person interested in making a difference in my community, I'd be more concerned with 70% of black kids being born to single parents and 50% HS drop out rates.
If you had educated children from good homes listening to hip hop, they probably would just listen to it as entertainment (as I do) rather than listening to it as a guide as to how to live their lives.
Have you people seen Snoop's statement about the Imus situation?
"It's a completely different scenario. (Rappers) are not talking about no collegiate basketball girls who have made it to the next level in education and sports. We're talking about hoes that's in the 'hood that ain't doing sh**, that's trying to get a ni**a for his money. These are two separate things. First of all, we ain't no old-ass white men that sit up on MSNBC going hard on black girls. We are rappers that have these songs coming from our minds and our souls that are relevant to what we feel. I will not let them muthaf***as say we are in the same league."
Maybe Don Imus should start a rap career? By Snoop's rationale, he could then say whatever he wanted!
Why does it take the firing of a white racist to have people confront problems in their own community?
according to simmons, imus is responsible and should be held accountable and punished but not rappers. ha! I just wonder how far sharpton will go in FOLLOWING THROUGH with his campaign against rappers.
miquel - I think you missed my point re: economics.
It is not about the color of the people making the money, it is about corporate support for misogyny.
By attempting to put the spotlight on such corporations - put Maya Angelou in front of Reebok with a plackard asking why they hired a guy (50) who spews hatred towards women. That is the type of PR that the C-suite will actively avoid. It worked with Pepsi and Ludacris and it could work in many other instances.
**Rap star Cam'ron says there's no situation... that would cause him to help police in any way, because to do so would hurt his music sales and violate his "code of ethics."**
Since the emergence of the "Stop Snitchin'" movement 2003-04, black violent crime has exploded in the US.
**Vast majority of rap music consumers in America= young white men under the age of 25. **
Overly simplistic. The majority of people in this country are white, and the majority of people buying rap music are male-so inevitably, the majority of people buying rap music are white and male. And it's not the "vast" majority. Further, bear in mind that record deals go to rappers who can generate a buzz in the mix-tape industry, which is outside the conventional market and not measured by conventional statistics-but certainly overwhelmingly black. The assumption that black men are bystanders and white men caused the bad words to happen is pretty naive.
**I know this is impossible for the white yuppies who post here**
Miguel, you have no idea who posts here. Everything you've said is built on baseless assumptions.
Imus slurring others on a nationally syndicated radio show with big corporate sponsors, which regularly hosts important public and private figures , and is on the public airwaves is an apples and oranges comparison to song lyrics that appear in music that is sold privately. It is a common fact that these types of lyrics are edited out for radio cuts, therefore it is intellectually dishonest for anyone to make this comparison unless that person is so uninformed that they are unaware of this, ie have never ever heard a rap song on the radio. Imus has never had a nap in his hair and never seen a ho on his corner and has no frame of reference for these comments except prejudice. Rappers however have personal experience in these matters in most cases, if a comparison is to be drawn lets focus on all similarities and differences not just the ones that are convenient to your argument.
justin
Oprah has nothing to do with Hip hop ! She railed against Ludacris for his inflammatory lyrics . When she routinely speaks her mind . I see the horizon in the distance people and it's not going to be pretty . It's popular now for there to be a set standard of free speech in this country . Some speech is praised, While others are scorned .
Oprah has nothing to do with Hip hop ! She railed against Ludacris for his inflammatory lyrics . When she routinely speaks her mind . I see the horizon in the distance people and it's not going to be pretty . It's popular now for there to be a set standard of free speech in this country . Some speech is praised, While others are scorned .