Russell Simmons Calls For Ban Of 'Extreme Curse Words'

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NFS4

NFS4

No Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
72,636
47
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Hip-hop fore father, Russell Simmons, released a statement Monday (April 23) calling for an elimination of the words "bitch," "ho" and "******" from the entire recording industry, calling them "misogynistic" and "racially offensive," and that they should be considered "extreme curse words."

The call comes less than two weeks after radio personality Don Imus' nationally syndicated and televised radio show was canceled amid a public outcry over Imus calling a women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos."

Simmons, co-founder of Def Jam Records and Phat Farm, called for voluntary restrictions on the aforementioned words, but did they the ban of the words was not about censorship, but responsibility instead.

"There should not be any government regulation or public policy that should ever violate the First Amendment," said Simmons and Dr. Benjamin Chavis, co-chairmen of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN), said in a statement. "With freedom of expression, however, comes responsibility.

"We recommend that the recording and broadcast industries voluntarily remove/bleep/delete the misogynistic words 'bitch' and 'ho' and the racially offensive word '******'," they continued. "These three words should be considered with the same objections to obscenity as 'extreme curse words'."

The statement is different from what Simmons and Chavis said back on April 13, a day after Imus' show was canceled, where they said offensive references in hip-hop "may be uncomfortable for some to hear, but our job is not to silence or censor that expression."

The Imus controversy has been the topic of the moment in the U.S. since it took place. While black leaders say that the words should be suppressed, artists argue it's their right, citing freedom of expression.

"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," the statement from Simmons and Chavis said on Monday.

The network recommended the formation of a Coalition on Broadcast Standards that would consist of leading executives from music, radio and television.
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http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/news/2007/04/2460/
 
dbk

dbk

Lifer
Apr 23, 2004
17,685
10
81
Sounds pretty significant in that it's coming from one of the pioneers of hip-hop
 
Y

yankeesfan

Diamond Member
Aug 6, 2004
5,922
1
71
Tough subject, I think.

The connotations that the words evoke are terrible, but banning the words isn't going to do much but alienate some artists from joining the established record scene. They will probably believe that this is constricting their intellectual freedom, or some sh!t like that. A change of this sort can't be made from the top. It needs to start at the bottom with the lifestyle that encourages such language to be used in the first place.
 
NFS4

NFS4

No Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
72,636
47
91
Originally posted by: yankeesfan
Tough subject, I think.

The connotations that the words evoke are terrible, but banning the words isn't going to do much but alienate some artists from joining the established record scene. They will probably believe that this is constricting their intellectual freedom, or some sh!t like that. A change of this sort can't be made from the top. It needs to start at the bottom with the lifestyle that encourages such language to be used in the first place.
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Not exactly the same thing, but hasn't it helped somewhat with the NBA as far as trying to eliminate the "thug" image? Don't they have to show up wearing suits and stuff for games and look all purdy? I thought they pretty much eliminated the thuggery surrounding the players.

The players bitched and moaned, but I think they've gotten used to it by now AFAIK
 
W

Wuffsunie

Platinum Member
May 4, 2002
2,808
0
0
Hahaha

Ha ha ha ha ha

HA HA HA!!

Now that is some funny sh!t! Had it been 3 weeks earlier, I would say it's a wonderful April fool's joke. This will go down like a lead balloon amongst that industry. No way see them removing such core words from their current lexicon.
 
J

jr22jess

Member
Sep 5, 2006
53
0
0
First off.......Good Luck Russel.
I 100% agree with RS but it will never happen. I can see it happening in the east a little and maybe a tid bit in the west but never ever in the south. I'd love to see it happen but c'mon if southern hip-hoppers choose not to mention those three words then they'll only have like ten words left in their arsenal. Dubs, cadillacs, and platinum chains being 4 of those 10. I'm not trying to get into a racial combat but the discriminated can only blame themselves. I can guarantee you that 10 minutes after the girls heard what was said on Imus' show they were talking about a girl and called her a b*tch or ho because she was sleeping with the next girls' man.
 
palswim

palswim

Golden Member
Nov 23, 2003
1,049
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www.palswim.net
I don't know no Russel Simmons, but I would certainly pay attention if Richard Simmons made the same demands.

(Insert "any" in place of "no" if you'd like to be a grammar nazi.)
 
P

puffff

Platinum Member
Jun 25, 2004
2,374
0
0
and the rappers will just make up another word to take the place of the old. 'hey, let's just call all them hoochies'. same idea, different word, problem remains.

it should be illegal to sing about committing felonies, or glorifying them.
 
cKGunslinger

cKGunslinger

Lifer
Nov 29, 1999
16,408
57
91
Originally posted by: puffff
and the rappers will just make up another word to take the place of the old. 'hey, let's just call all them hoochies'. same idea, different word, problem remains.

it should be illegal to sing about committing felonies, or glorifying them.
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I say, shall we goose-step on down the local library and torch some books while we're at it?
 
Bateluer

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
They've been trying to limit the use of profanity in the Air Force for years, hasn't worked in the slightest. Go into any maintainer's shop you'll hear equally foul language from the guys as well as the ladies.
 
brandonbull

brandonbull

Diamond Member
May 3, 2005
6,365
1,223
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I wonder if he will give back millions of dollars because it was made due to those words?
 
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