perhaps i'm being a bit naive in only checking the idm list about once a
week & frequently hitting delete i'm in no way connected with chuck d &
not always 100% behind his views, but
i subscribe to rapstation which is chuck d's mailing list. he'd surely be
laughing at the recent posts on this list!
there are a lot more serious issues out there to argue about than whether or
not someone on the warp site wrote the five best sentences about prefuse 73
or anticon this week...
i'm really glad this list generally ignores my other favorite label
(ninjatune & big dada ) when you pick your fights, but check this out altho
i think it might have been posted already...
From: "Rapstation Mailing List" <mailinglist@rapstation.com>
Subject: This Week at Rapstation.com - July 2, 2001
the new Rapstation ISP at www.rapstation.com
****************************************
In Today's Issue: Monday July 2, 2001
*MORE FCC ATTACKS ON HIP HOP LYRICS
*HOW HIP HOP SHOULD USE ITS POWER
*DON'T MISUNDERSTAND REDMAN by Cedric Muhammed
===================================
MORE FCC ATTACKS ON HIP HOP LYRICS
by - Davey D
Hip Hop continues to come under attack from folks who are
fed up with content. The latest salvo involves spoken word
artist Sarah Jones and Miami based rapper Trick Daddy. Ms
Jones who is an incredible poet had done a song called 'Your
Revolution' with DJ Vadim back in 1999. The FCC decided to
fine KBOO-FM in Portland for playing the song, stating that
it had overt sexual references. The song actually equates
political revolution with promiscuous sex. In the song Ms
Jones says; "Your revolution will not happen between these
thighs". It was these opening lines that led to the FCC
handing out a $7,000 fine. What's so chilling about this
latest attack is the fact that Sarah Jones is a positive
artist who has long made strong political statements. This
song was no different. Many feel the FCC was being heavy
handed and is attempting to stifle progressive thoughts and
conversation. To quote a recent article..
"The move has, of course, forced other non commercial and
otherwise progressive radio broadcasters to ban their
programmers from playing the song. Thus, permanently
silencing one of the most important feminist hip-hop songs
of the last decade from ever reaching FM listeners.
This is a heavy-handed blow from the FCC against the First
Amendment rights of the citizens of the United States,
positive hip-hop artists, and anyone striving for increased
equality for women in this country or worldwide.
Listeners of the song will note that Jones in no way
endorses or promotes any "patently offensive sexual
references." Quite the opposite. Hear the song for yourself
www.airbubble.com/your_revolution.html and read the FCC
filing and lyrics at
http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2001/db0517/da011212.txt
People are being asked to call FCC Chairman Michael Powell 1-
888-225-5322 or drop him an email at mpowell@fcc.gov
Here is a great example of a letter written by one listener:
------------------------
Dear Mr. Michael Powell:
My name is Cindy, I live in New Jersey. I just read
an articlestating that you (FCC) fined KBOO-FM $7,000.00 for
playing the song "Your Revolution" because you felt "that it
had overt sexual references."
I have never listened to KBOO-FM but I did some
research to find out what type of music is played on the
airwaves. I thought maybe this radio station didn't play
rap/hip-hop and "Your Revolution" caught listeners, as well
as the FCC, off guard. I found out that KBOO-FM plays many
different types of music; Folk, Blues, Soul, Jazz, World &
Ethnic, Spiritual, Women's Programming, RAP/HIP HOP, Rock &
Roll, Reggae, Latino/Latina, and others. Rap and hip-hop
are a part of this radio station's music varieties so I
don't know why anyone would be so shocked about "Your
Revolution."
I listened to Ms. Jones' song "Your Revolution" today
for the fitime on a website. I would like to explain to you
my feeling about this situation. I believe that it is
absurd to fine a radio station for playing this particular
song. I think that Ms. Jones expressed herself in a
positive way. She explained how other artists and our
society feels about sex, women, drugs, and violence. I
believe she is one of the few who has described how, today,
everything we hear consists of sex, violence, and drugs.
I don't know if you ever listen to the radio, and if
you do, whastations you listen to but I would say that 98%
of the songs played on the radio are based on sex, violence,
and drugs. Not to mention the fact that many of these songs
refer to women as BITCHES and HOES, and men as NIGGERS.
These words are not only on the artists' CDs and tapes, but
are played over the radio!
Artists will always have their 1st Amendment right to
freedom ofspeech. That is why I believe that fining a radio
station $7,000.00 and not playing a very talented artist's
song, in this case "Your Revolution," is not going to teach
anyone a lesson. I think the FCC should concentrate more on
the artists and songs that praise killing, raping,
disrespecting women, and using drugs and alcohol. I AM NOT
SAYING THESE ARTISTS AND SONGS SHOULD BE BANNED; maybe these
songs should be played on certain stations and/or certain
hours of the day so that people who disapprove of them do
not have to hear them if they don't want.
Thank you for taking the time to listen to my opinion.
Very truly yours,
CINDY
--------------------------------
This latest incident has serious implications because it
sets a precedent more things to come. Since the fine many
college and community stations have ceased playing the song.
There are reports of DJs around the country getting
suspended or fired for playing the song in defiance. Even
more disturbing is the fact that the last two high profile
fines handed out by the FCC have been directed at Hip Hop
artists. Remember not too long ago Eminem was the target.
One has got to wonder why such fines are being issued when
it comes to Hip Hop records. There have been all sorts of
songs including Prodigy's 'Smack My Bitch Up' which didn't
get slapped with FCC fines. The Hip Hop Community has got
to stay up on the political moves being made on Capitol Hill.
The other incident involves Trick Daddy who is being sued by
a Maryland woman because the clean album she purchased for
her son contained references about having oral sex. It's
ironic that this lawsuit happened, because during the Hip
Hop Summit, I had a spirited exchange with Russell Simmons
about the industry being more responsible for alerting
parents about content found on albums. My contention was
that many parents were getting increasingly upset that what
is being played on radio and shown on video shows was way
different then what appeared on albums. It would behoove
the industry to simply let folks know what they are getting.
Either set up a website that includes lyrics, or make it
clear somewhere in the cover what folks are getting into.
Another attendee made the point that even though the
industry legally erases the dirty words in album, it doesn't
address the issue of offensive content like drug use or
sexual acts.
Chuck D spoke after I spoke and noted that Trick Daddy was
one such artist where kids see the 'fun loving' video for
his hit song 'Take It To The House' which shows basketball
players and cheerleaders. It suggests lots of fun, he noted,
however, when parents purchase the album and are blown away
by the overwhelming 'street' content. Apparently this
Maryland woman fell 'victim' and now she's suing Trick Daddy
and the record company Slip-N-Slide.
Russell felt strongly about giving the artists the space to
express themselves and not to fall into a trasp of reacting
to folks who don't particularly care for Hip Hop. He felt a
line should be drawn in the sand and we stand our ground on
the basis of free speech. He felt that today it will be
labels and tomorrow it will be some other ban being
resurrected in legislation and that we should deal with this
issue head on before it gets to a more serious point.
Now there are all sorts of folks who will argue as they did
at the Hip Hop Summit, that parents should be more
responsible and listen to any album purchased by their kids.
While on the surface this sounds reasonable, the fact of the
matter is that many parents don't do what they are supposed
to.. But these same parents are quick to get on the phone
with their elected officials and launch complaints, which is
now resulting in pending legislation. Like Senator Joseph
Liberman's Media Marketing Accountability Act.
This legislation if passed will restrict the marketing of
offensive material to juveniles and will result in an 11
thousand dollar a day fine for those who are guilty. It
will impact everyone from artists to street teams who may
intentionally or inadvertently market music that carries a
parental advisory sticker. There is no doubt this latest
scenario involving Trick Daddy will add more fuel to
Liberman's crusade.. There is no doubt that we will
probably see more lawsuits with upset parents or consumer
groups using the false advertising laws to sue artists and
labels..
Folks may wanna take time to read some of the highlights to
the Media Accountability Act..
http://lieberman.senate.gov/~lieberman/press/01/04/2001426632.html
You may also want to see the letter he sent to George Bush
asking him to support the bill support. Thus far Bush has
given two thumbs up..
http://lieberman.senate.gov/~lieberman/press/01/06/2001621727.html
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