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... pro-homosexual lyrics. Other states including Virginia have followed suit by passing the same law. This means that millions of dollars in stock could potentially be removed from companies such as Time Warner if the state decides it doesn't approve of any one album produced by that company. This gives the government a huge amount of power and control over the artistic content of a company's label. Local governments practice censorship even more often than the federal government.
In Detroit, Michigan for example, the Pontiac Silverdome hosted its first rap concert ever, only to have fights break out among the spectators throughout the concert. Concert-planners admitted they were not prepared to handle the large numbers of people they allowed inside the dome, yet the state attempted to pass a bill banning all rap concerts from the area. In Oxford, Mississippi, the home of the University of Mississippi, two club-owners were arrested for purveying lewd and explicit acts after booking rap-group Two Live Crew. At trial, the Honorable Glen Anderson refused to hear from a single witness for the defense, or to watch a videotape of the concert itself. Then, against even the prosecution's wishes, the judge sentenced each man to six months in prison, for simply allowing Two Live Crew play at their club. Finally, in an extreme example of the war between disputing groups, was the episode occurring on December 1, 1995 when Boston radio station WBCN played the newly released "Hempilation" album.
The album was a compilation by numerous musicians and the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws. By mid-day, Georgette Wilson, the ex-director of the Governor's Alliance Against Drugs, along with several DEA agents called in by Wilson, stormed the station and confiscated the albums. The private sector, most notably in the form of super-retailer Wal-Mart, has joined the government in the censorship war. Wal-Mart, a largely Christian-based discount chain centered in Bentonville, Arkansas, reportedly sells 50 million albums per year and is the largest retailer of music in the nation.
Many of Wal-Mart's customers may not realize however that the chain refuses to sell any album they find offensive, including those with a warning label. Being the largest music retailer in the nation gives Wal-Mart the power to muscle a record company into editing their musical releases. In some cases Wal-Mart doesn't even let the consumer know that they " re buying albums that contain altered words or artwork. If someone walks into Wal-Mart and wants to buy Nirvana's "In Utero" album, they will see the album, but they may not be told by the store that one track named "Rape Me" has now been changed to "Waif Me. " Rap groups like Busta Rhymes, Junior M. A. F.
I. A. , and Da Brat have all been edited. One of today's leaders in censorship, especially censorship of rap, has become C. Delores Tucker. Working with former Drug Czar William Bennett and assorted congressmen, C. Delores Tucker has made strides to block America's access to "vulgar" music, especially rap.
C. Delores Tucker has a colorful past. As early as 1966, the Philadelphia Inquirer named Tucker as one of the Top 10 Worst SlumLords in the city. She was later named Commonwealth Secretary of Pennsylvania until Milton Shape fired her for "misuse of public office." Today she is the leader of the National Political Congress of Black Women. Ms. Tucker and William Bennett successfully raided a board meeting by the leaders of Time-Warner, and used their might to get the company to drop Interscope and Death Row records, two major sources of rap music.
Afterward, Tucker bullied Suge Knight, the now former CEO of Death Row Records, into handing the label over to her. Both companies sued Tucker for extortion. During the fight, Tucker threatened Suge Knight, via her attorney, that if Death Row was not turned over to her Suge would spend the rest of his life in jail. Suge Knight is now in jail. C. Delores Tucker also has sued Tupac Shakur for his "All Eyez On Me" album, which she described as "ruining her sex-life." Tucker then sued Newsweek Magazine for running a story about her lawsuit against Tupac.
Does rap music get an undeserved bad name? Although rap is different from other bands such as Marilyn Manson, their fights are the one in the same. Yes, some rap does promote violence. But as far back as Shakespearean plays murder and deceit have been common in entertainment. But the worries parents and legislators have are not unfounded. What can one do to guide their children in this world we live in? "Listen to them, " says Dana Wilson, one of the leaders of the Crime Prevention Resource Center of Fort Worth, Texas.
I contacted Mr. Wilson after seeing a description of his group on a website. The CPRC advises parents and teachers in the Fort Worth community about how to help their children in a world of increasing violence, both in life and media. "Parents need to understand where their kids are coming from, " advised Dana Wilson. In America, one man's opinion is supposed to be just that, an opinion. And with nearly 300 million opinions in this country alone, why should a select few get to choose what the public in general should be able to access?
Rap music and all other forms of media have their places in this world. While some may argue strongly about whether certain types of music are beneficial or even safe for society to witness, their arguments remain their personal opinions. The true fight for free speech lies not in fighting for the right to hear what you agree with, but in fighting for the freedom of those with whom you disagree. When you take away the public's right to voice a differing opinion, either through their music, their writing, or their art you strike at the very heart of freedom for which America is supposed to stand. References ACLU News. May 31, 1996.
Online. Biafra, Jello. "If Evolution is Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Evolve." Alternative Tentacles Records. 1998. Massachusetts Music Industry Coalition Newsletter. Volume 1, Issue 2. February, 1997. MMICN.
Volume 1, Issue 3. September, 1997. MTV News. September 2, 1998. Online.
Rock Out Censorship. Online. Rock and Rap Confidential. Issue # 4. August, 1983. Rock and Rap Confidential.
Issue # 7. December, 1983. Rock and Rap Confidential. Issue # 118. September, 1994. Rock and Rap Confidential.
Issue # 130. January, 1996.
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