Saul Williams’s letter to Oprah touched a nerve, so thought you’d be curious to hear Russell Simmons’s take on the situation: tipping towards Tipper, replete with proposals for “guidelines” and “good corporate social responsibility.”
Recommendation to the Recording and Broadcast Industries:
A Statement by Russell Simmons and Dr. Benjamin Chavis on behalf of the Hip-Hop Summit Action NetworkApril 23, 2007
The theme of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) is “Taking Back Responsibility.” We are consistent in our strong affirmation, defense, and protection of the First Amendment right of free speech and artistic expression. We have recently been involved in a process of dialogue with recording and broadcast industry executives about issues concerning corporate social responsibility.
It is important to re-emphasize that our internal discussions with industry leaders are not about censorship. Our discussions are about the corporate social responsibility of the industry to voluntarily show respect to African Americans and other people of color, African American women and to all women in lyrics and images.
HSAN reaffirms, therefore, that there should not be any government regulation or public policy that should ever violate the First Amendment. With freedom of expression, however, comes responsibility. With that said, HSAN is concerned about the growing public outrage concerning the use of the words “bitch,” “ho,” and “nigger.” We recommend that the recording and broadcast industries voluntarily remove/bleep/delete the misogynistic words “bitch” and “ho” and the racially offensive word “nigger.”
Going forward, these three words should be considered with the same objections to obscenity as “extreme curse words.” The words “bitch” and “ho” are utterly derogatory and disrespectful of the painful, hurtful, misogyny that, in particular, African American women have experienced in the United States as part of the history of oppression, inequality, and suffering of women. The word “nigger” is a racially derogatory term that disrespects the pain, suffering, history of racial oppression, and multiple forms of racism against African Americans and other people of color.
In addition, we recommend the formation of a music industry Coalition on Broadcast Standards, consisting of leading executives from music, radio and television industries. The Coalition would recommend guidelines for lyrical and visual standards within the industries.
We also recommend that the recording industry establish artist mentoring programs and forums to stimulate effective dialogue between artists, hip-hop fans, industry leaders and others to promote better understanding and positive change. HSAN will help to coordinate these forums.
These issues are complex, but require creative voluntary actions exemplifying good corporate social responsibility.
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russell russ def ain’t a poet……
and i’ve never heard the word ‘nigger’ used…..
it’s always ‘nigga’…..
big difference, right?
on a seperate note…..what’s the best hip hop album of the last few years?
fuck that shit.
Russell Simmons is definitely misguided (and strangely repetitive for someone in an executive level position). And as an example of his direct oversimplification of the issue as well as the hypocritical behavior he participates in on a regular basis, he suggests that the solution to the problem is not to censor musicians, while simultaneously forming a Coalition on Broadcast Standards. That’s just plain stupidity considering that the entire industry already has one of those and it’s called the PMRC!!! No one needs to censor hip hop music, because as Saul Williams so eloquently pointed out – the problem is not the music, it’s the social attitudes that exist within the black community. And if you believe as I do that art is a direct expression of your surroundings and your very existence, and that art doesn’t inspire social attitudes, mass media does; then it seems that social attitudes need to be changed not the product of the artist.
I’m off of my soapbox now, I promise…
i got fat bass lines like russell simmons steals money!
anyone ever look at phat farm clothes and say “hey this shit is the same as tommy hilfger. Dude ripped off Tommy Hilfiger. Also BAPE is a rip off of Phat Farm. So BAPE is basically a japanese guy ripping off wigger clothes from a black guy who’s ripping off nigger clothes from a upstate NY white guy.
this is all very troubling. i am heartened by the knowledge that lindsay lohan will flash her vag somewhere and we’ll forget all about this, as will the people who are supposed to enforce it.
please also see this article: “EU agrees breakthrough hate-crime law.” (http://euobserver.com/9/23902?rss_rk=1)
it reports on efforts in the EU to curtail speech in certain contexts. it’s where we’re headed.
instead of censoring the albums (unless “bleeping” isn’t censoring to you, in which case you’re wrong), maybe try understanding why those albums do so well. then let’s all get wasted and listen to the temptations. it solved all my problems.
i get wasted and listen to daft punk… and it keeps me alive.
Interesting question, Maya! In my opinion, the finest hip hop album of the last few years is “Bitch Ho Nigga” by Tha’ Nappy Headed Hoez.
Though I fear if that seminal classic were released today, the response might be less than positive.
you know…there are people in the world who really like porn (not me, of course) and they manage to find it and support a massively profitable industry with almost no help from broadcast media.
i don’t see anything wrong with encouraging broadcasters to be a little more discerning and responsible with what they put over the public airwaves, and i don’t see anything wrong with letting rappers rap about whatever they want to rap about.
@ JOJO, you are a damn fool! Bape is not ripping off Phatfarm! You don’t know anything and you’ve filed to show any examples of this. The only thing I can really see that you might have a problem with is that Phatfarm stared in 92 and Bape in 93…. which might support your argument. JoJo do some serious reading and before you say anything!