VIDEO: Russell Simmons Defends the Use of Certain Words in Hip-Hop
PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE
During a panel discussion hosted by Congresswoman (and St. Louis native) Maxine Waters (D-CA) at the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. last weekend, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons made a surprise visit and jumped into a discussion about the use of words like “nigga,” “bitch,” and “ho” in urban music.
Simmons, the co-founder of Def Jam Records and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, talked about his recent appearance on Oprah Winfrey’s show, where he discussed the same topic. He said that appearance may have been a mistake because the audience already had their minds made up and weren’t hearing what he had to say. Simmons soon found some panelists and audience members in D.C. also had their own strong opinions on the subject.
Simmons received some opposition from some of his fellow panelists, including a spoken word artist and actor Hill Harper, who was recently in St. Louis at a St. Louis American Salute to Excellence banquet.
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About This Author: Antonio D. French is a writer, political consultant, and newly-elected Democratic Committeeman living in north St. Louis, Missouri. Have your own opinion about this story? Go ahead and leave a comment. But be respectful to others and show you own a pair by actually using your real name. Anonymity is cowardice. And don't forget to subscribe to our feed and get PubDef stories delivered right to your feed reader or email inbox.
People said the same thing about rock. Tipper Gore tried to censor the industry and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister tore those house frau’s a new one.
Let artists do what they want. Don’t like it then don’t buy it or listen. This is a market economy not some dictatorship.