Head of Def Jam Records Calls for Racist Lyric Ban

The man behind the legendary record label, Def Jam, has made a call for racist and sexist lyrics to be banned from hip-hop music.

Russell Simmons has stood up to try and get rid of racist and sexist lyrics that give hip-hop music a bad reputation. Simmons said that many words including "nigger", "ho" and "bitch" should not longer be allowing in hip hop music lyrics.

Simmons said that these racist and sexist words have caused a lot of anger with the public and the growing public anger is a sign that this must stop. To put an end to this extreme language immediately, Russell Simmons is asking radio and TV companies and record labels to either take the offensive words out of the lyrics or to delete or bleep them. Even though this request would be voluntary carrying it out would be a showing of responsibility by the music industry.

Some of the biggest names in hip-hop music owe their success to Russell Simmons. Simmons and his record label, Def Jam, have made bands such as the 'Beastie Boys', 'Public Enemy' and Run DMC famous.

To ensure that racist and sexist lyrics stay out of future hip hop music, Simmons has also suggested that a group that would monitor the industry.

Speaking about his beliefs and suggestions Simmons said, "It is important to re-emphasise that our internal discussion 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 colour, African-American women and to all women in lyrics and images."

Russell Simmons pointed out that the words that should be banned, "bitch" and "ho", are extremely offensive, they show great disrespect and promote, "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" Of the word "nigger", Simmons said " it "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 colour."

To begin implementing the voluntary ban on racist and sexist words in hip-hop music Russell Simmons organised a meeting last week. The meeting invited some of hip hops most influential executives in hopes that an agreement could be achieved. The announcement about the voluntary hip-hop lyric ban was made yesterday, but the only name being openly associated with it so far is Russell Simmons.

Sources
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/04/24/freetime/doc462d4b64c8177060490747.txt
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6586787.stm
http://www.gigwise.com/news.asp?contentid=30853