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Rev. Al Rebukes Rappers
by Zenitha Prince
Afro Newspapers
BALTIMORE (NNPA) � Civil rights leader Al Sharpton has proposed a disciplinary ''rap'' on rappers whose hands are tainted with violence, fanning the flames on an already smoldering industry.
Sharpton on March 8 said such artists use violence to sell records and should be denied airplay on radio and television for 90 days, alluding to an incident involving the meteoric rapper 50 Cent.
''There's a difference in having the right to express yourself and in engaging in violence and using the violence to hype record sales and then polluting young Americans [with the idea] that this is the key to success -- by gun slinging and shooting,'' he was quoted as saying in an Associated Press article.
Sharpton's rebuke came mere days after bad blood erupted between the notorious 50 Cent and former G-Unit member The Game. A member of Game's clique was wounded during a shooting outside of New York radio station Hot 97, where 50 was announcing his prot�g�'s ouster from the label.
Both artists are known for their hardcore image: both were drug dealers and were shot several times.
Since its inception, the rap industry has been plagued by an image of violence and crime, with feuds like those between Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls and that between Death Row Records CEO Shug Knight and former colleague Dr. Dre, as well as violent incidents involving the likes of Sean ''P Diddy'' Combs, Ja Rule and Li'l Kim dominating media coverage of the industry.
Newsweek recently reported that the industry has now come under intense federal scrutiny and one arrest has already been made. Irv Gotti, head of the former Murder Inc label, known for backing artists like Ashanti and Ja Rule, was arrested earlier this year on charges of money laundering. The label is also charged with a number of assassinations associated with an alleged crack and cocaine enterprise.
Ja Rule, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, was another rapper with whom 50 had ''beef,'' a feud which reportedly began when 50 made disparaging remarks about the artist in his song ''Life's on the Line.''
Ja Rule publicly apologized to the city of Toronto on March 7 after pleading guilty to assault in a 2004 incident that had overtones of his feud with 50. Ja said a crowd had gathered around the nightclub where the altercation occurred, shouting ''derogatory'' comments about his public war with the rising star, and that he hit a bystander while he was trying to leave.
Though Ja Rule apologized, and 50 Cent and The Game have since kissed and made up, such gestures will likely do little to assuage or change the minds of a public that may view the industry as beyond redemption, though that does not stop people like Sharpton from trying.
''Black kids are expected to shoot each other, and nobody cares?'' Sharpton questioned. ''Well I care, and I think somebody should do something about it.
by Zenitha Prince
Afro Newspapers
BALTIMORE (NNPA) � Civil rights leader Al Sharpton has proposed a disciplinary ''rap'' on rappers whose hands are tainted with violence, fanning the flames on an already smoldering industry.
Sharpton on March 8 said such artists use violence to sell records and should be denied airplay on radio and television for 90 days, alluding to an incident involving the meteoric rapper 50 Cent.
''There's a difference in having the right to express yourself and in engaging in violence and using the violence to hype record sales and then polluting young Americans [with the idea] that this is the key to success -- by gun slinging and shooting,'' he was quoted as saying in an Associated Press article.
Sharpton's rebuke came mere days after bad blood erupted between the notorious 50 Cent and former G-Unit member The Game. A member of Game's clique was wounded during a shooting outside of New York radio station Hot 97, where 50 was announcing his prot�g�'s ouster from the label.
Both artists are known for their hardcore image: both were drug dealers and were shot several times.
Since its inception, the rap industry has been plagued by an image of violence and crime, with feuds like those between Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls and that between Death Row Records CEO Shug Knight and former colleague Dr. Dre, as well as violent incidents involving the likes of Sean ''P Diddy'' Combs, Ja Rule and Li'l Kim dominating media coverage of the industry.
Newsweek recently reported that the industry has now come under intense federal scrutiny and one arrest has already been made. Irv Gotti, head of the former Murder Inc label, known for backing artists like Ashanti and Ja Rule, was arrested earlier this year on charges of money laundering. The label is also charged with a number of assassinations associated with an alleged crack and cocaine enterprise.
Ja Rule, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, was another rapper with whom 50 had ''beef,'' a feud which reportedly began when 50 made disparaging remarks about the artist in his song ''Life's on the Line.''
Ja Rule publicly apologized to the city of Toronto on March 7 after pleading guilty to assault in a 2004 incident that had overtones of his feud with 50. Ja said a crowd had gathered around the nightclub where the altercation occurred, shouting ''derogatory'' comments about his public war with the rising star, and that he hit a bystander while he was trying to leave.
Though Ja Rule apologized, and 50 Cent and The Game have since kissed and made up, such gestures will likely do little to assuage or change the minds of a public that may view the industry as beyond redemption, though that does not stop people like Sharpton from trying.
''Black kids are expected to shoot each other, and nobody cares?'' Sharpton questioned. ''Well I care, and I think somebody should do something about it.
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