Russell Simmons Ask For Removal Of, “Bitch, Ho, N*****,” From All Clean Songs
April 23, 2007–The following is a statement from Russell Simmons and Dr. Benjamin Chavis on behalf of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network:
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.
More below, thoughts on the statement?
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.
Suggestion Box
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:28 am
Why reccomend? These suggestions need to be enforced! Altought it may not be the rappers’ intent, or ulterior motive for the youth to react to their music in a negative way, but they have to admit that it is happening. They also need to stop trying to justify what they do and start taking responbility for their actions; pointing fingers at movies and rock music. We must face it….These hip-hop artists are the leaders of our community whether they want to be or not, and they need to make a decision to lead our youth in the right direction!!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:45 am
I can’t stand when people attack Hip hop for it’s art. Hip hop is no different than a newspaper; it reports tha news. The only difference is that hip hop reports the news to the Youth, (which is something the newspapers aren’t doing). Don’t blame Hip hop for reporting society’s problems. For all the talk about censoring Hip Hop and the degrading music it creates, I say blame us (meaning society). Hip hop doesn’t degrade women, we do in society and hip hop reports it. For all the people that want to see the music change, change the fucking society, when you do that, the music will change. Same with the “n” word. If you are truly offended by hearing it because of what it can mean (depending upon tone and context) then change the people that have that mindstate. Attack the people that believe in that racist ideology, but don’t blame Hip hop because they were instrumental in making a positive out of a negative….
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:12 am
BULL SHIT AKA NO SOLUTION.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:33 am
Benjamin Chavis kinda erks me for some reason…i don’t know what it is about him. but he just seems to involved with hip hop artist to be critical of them. The guy was in a dip set video, and in belly. i wonder how much they paid him…
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:23 pm
I get sick of people blaming hiphop for the mind state of our youth….when you got these mass murdering simulators like Grand Theft Auto, where anybody can murder 100+ people in less than 30min like its nothing…we got our priorities screwed up as a whole in America
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:31 pm
@ C.A.S.H
Listen, I’m not trying to have a bar fight with you. You do have a point, society does have a lot to do with the usage of “N” word and also the degragation of of females, BUT if the change has to come from society, or start with society, who has a bigger affect on society than the hip-hop artists?
And as far as believing in racist ideology, you are just as brain-washed as you can be! We’re following the plan they made for us hundreds of years ago. They’ve undermined us to think that if we change the meaning of the “N” word, it’s okay to use it, and not only do they refer to us as such, but we also refer to ourselves as that! How clever was that!
It is what it is…..I’ve even tried to justify the use of the “N” word because it was a part of daily vocabulary, I mean I’ve used the word my whole life, But as I think about what our ancestors and our leaders went through not to be called this word, FOR ME to continue to use that word would be to trample over everything they fought for and to count it as NOTHING!!! WAKE UP AND WISEN UP MY PEOPLE!!!!!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:17 pm
I’m not brainwashed….i know what my ancestors went through…..and they were being called nigger….When someone uses that word (other than to describe a historical fact or to make a point) then i take offense, but the word nigga is not the same. Yes it changes the word, just as “to” and “too” mean different things. If we are following any plan, it is the fact that they continually pit are race against ourselves and other minorities who have been oppressed. East vs West coast, crips and bloods, whatever it may be, we still haven’t learned to stick togetha. Instead we constantly claw and bicker at a fellow brotha/sista’s to try to get ahead individually. The word isn’t trampling their struggles, that’s what their and our oppressors have been doing since we have been brought to this country….and still continue to this very day.
As far as hip hop artists, you have to realize that they are exactly that, artists. You can’t force art. Well, true art can’t be forced. the so called “artists” that rap for the sole purpose of making money may not be the best thing for our society, or hip hop, but true artists are only able to create what’s within them. Life has never been all smiles and sunny days, and neither should the art. I agree that artists should take some more responsibility, but that the responsibility should be shared amongst all artists…not just hip hop
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:18 pm
i respect russel simmons but he could suck a dick 2, he’s givin in 2 what middle age white america thinks
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:09 pm
OH HELL NO!!!…Do u hear his ass cursin a storm on Run’s House…..He’s contradicting himself.
April 23rd, 2007 at 8:11 pm
freakin lame but whatever…..just do it to make everyone happy for a little bit cause either way its not gonna go away
April 23rd, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Nigga is a desensitized derivation of nigger, therefore to argue that the word is different doesn’t make sense. They are forever connection. Honestly, if you use the n word everyday, you shouldn’t be offended if someone else uses it. We in our communities have desensitized the word. Therefore, we can’t get offended with someone uses it that shouldn’t. We brought all of this on ourselves. We spit the word out in front of other cultures, our children. Shit spreads. We need to openly adknowledge that nigger is a offensive word even in today’s society. Once we do that, we can make a step.
Majority of us can’t say that we have been called a nigger. If you have, you’ll never use that word again in your life.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:57 pm
the lost generations, yes with an s. . .i wish i was born when being black or afrikan is valued.
April 24th, 2007 at 6:49 am
Well I think it’s a small step in a positive direction the problem’s African American communities are confronted with are to deep to settle in a day or one year.. Many years of oppression cannot be erased in an instant. Most people want this to occur but it cant especially when you have someone like Camron showing just how ignorant and uneducated some hip-hop artist (who represent blacks and what is viewed to major audiences) and African American truly are. I think Russell Simmons is making a strong offensive that will cause a defensive playback by all media genre’s. Explained: if rap artist have to remove derogatory language from performances and records every other entertainment entity must do the same.. Sex and the city will need to play out a little differently… The word bitch will have to get removed from television and movies as well.. The thing is why would it be enforced on only Hip-hop and not the entire entertainment industry…. Strong move Russell….
to re-iterate the African American community is so lost that all the problems cannot be vanquished with one twinkle of a magic wand. Its not like creating a hot beat and placing a catchy hook over it….
April 30th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
to C.A.S.H.
I tried my best to read your statements without responding, but I couldn’t. I just want to make you aware of the fact that you said “nigger” and “nigga” are not the same word. Yet, throughout the rest of your blog, you used words such as “brotha,” “sista,” and “togetha.” Please help me to understand the meanings of those words. My guess is that “brotha” is brother, “sista” is sister, and “togetha” is together; however since you’ve explained that “nigga” and “nigger” are two completely different words, I simply remain lost in a contradiction.
Also to reply to the statement about being called a “nigger.” I can say that I have been called that, and I consider myself to be in the younger generation (just turned 26). I was surprised that I was called that, and in Miami of all places, which was even more surprising to me. My reaction was that the people that called me and my friends that were racists that sadly live in ignorance. Because I see most racists as such inferior beings in society (somewhat like cavemen), I usually don’t find it worth my time to respond to them. Yes, it bothers me, but it only makes me want to educate our youth even more. I will say that I do continue to use the word “nigger” as I am working to educate others.
July 10th, 2009 at 5:02 am
Umm whatever happened to him being stuck in some sort of a Yoga Matrix? Why the fukkk is he attacking Hip Hop?