RUSSELL SIMMONS AND HSAN ISSUE RAP GUIDELINES: Wants industry to voluntarily remove "'bitch' and 'ho' and the racially offensive N-Word.'"

received a statement from the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) that outlines its recommendations to the recording and broadcast industries in light of the recent discussion of derogatory words in rap lyrics. The statement comes from Russell Simmons and Ben Chavis on behalf of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network: 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 "n-word." We recommend that the recording and broadcast industries voluntarily remove/bleep/delete the misogynistic words "bitch" and "ho" and the racially offensive word "n-word." 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 N-Word" 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. _______________________________________________________________________________ HOUSE OF GLTIZ: "WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT" BUT AT LEAST THERE IS TALK OF A CHANGE!!!