Russell Simmons on Imus and hip-hop

Russell Simmons is one of the most important figures in the pantheon of hip-hop. He co-founded the record label Def Jam, guided the rise of Run-DMC, LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys, and has been an outspoken voice for social justice in recent years.

But he sure is wrong on this one. In a statement e-mailed to reporters this morning, Simmons and Dr. Benjamin Chavis disavow any similarity between fired shock-jock Don Imus and hip-hop:

Hip-hop is a worldwide cultural phenomena that transcends race and doesn't engage in racial slurs. Don Imus' racially-motivated diatribe toward the Rutger's women's basketball team was in no way connected to hip-hop culture. As Chairman and President of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN), respectively, we are concerned by the false comparisons some in the media are making between Don Imus and hip-hop. We want to clarify what we feel very strongly is an obvious difference between the two.

Later, the statement concludes, "Comparing Don Imus' language with hip-hop artists' poetic expression is misguided and inaccurate and feeds into a mindset that can be a catalyst for unwarranted, rampant censorship."

Oh, please.

It's true that Imus' repugnant comment has no connection to hip-hop culture, and it's true that hip-hop is a worldwide cultural phenomenon that has produced brilliant lyrical poets.

But it's ludicrous to assert that hip-hop "doesn't engage in racial slurs" because it's simply a form of "poetic expression." Nice try, but claiming poetic expression does not equal absolution for the violence and misogyny that have become increasingly common in rap lyrics. To wit, from "Real Gangstaz" on the The Game's 2004 debut, "The Untold Story":

Real gangstaz stand up, hold they dick
Bitch niggaz sit down to piss, what type of nigga is you?
I'm the type to pack a gat or few
Pull out and pop, simply cause I'm mad at you

Maya Angelou it's not.

Context is important, naturally, but the race or gender of people using terms like "nigga," "ho" or "bitch" in their music is immaterial: The words are most often used to demean, which is exactly what Imus did in his comment about the Rutgers women's basketball team.

Public Enemy leader Chuck D once called rap music "the CNN of the ghetto," and it was. It was a counter-cultural uprising, offering unvarnished social commentary on crime, poverty and racial disparities. Some hip-hop music still does that. But too much rap music has transformed from CNN into reality TV: A collection of skewed fantasies about wealth and power that bear little resemblance to actual reality.   

Comments

[Tony Benjaminz]

Imus would still be on the air were it not for advertisers pulling out from under him. Which brings me to the current issue with Hip Hop. The problem isn't a younger audience, nor a younger generation of rappers per se, nor (despite many complaints) Southern rappers. It's the marketing. There used to be a wider variety of rap songs marketed to listeners. "Gangsta" rap happened to start selling (very) heavily, so companies market it more aggressively, since they have a better chance of turning a profit with a proven commodity that can push units on it's own (case in point: 50 Cent/G-Unit; earlier example: Master P/No Limit Records).

Labels these days tend to no longer develop artists, they are simply looking for established "brands" or "movements" to throw a couple dollars behind and reap big benefits. Not all labels but a vast majority. Of course, the extra marketing dollars put into these brands by the bigger labels/distributors come at the expense of other acts. So it really breaks down to economics. Young Black men coming up want the money and respect, and see that this overly "hood" image is what's selling, so they tap into that.

If there was a bigger demand (actual demand for records, not just complaining about what's on the radio mind you) for acts like Common, Talib Kweli, and Pharaohe Monch (whom I listen to as well), and the profitability were equal to again, 50 Cent, a lot more rappers would be trying to tap into that area as well.

And of course, unless you are totally independent, most of these labels fall under the umbrella of the few large companies (Universal, Sony/BMG, EMI, etc.) and independents also need distribution, so guess who dictates what gets pushed? The big labels? Not quite. The dollar. And I won't even get into radio. So if enough dollars are spent supporting (artist name here) as opposed to (artist name here), the check writing powers that be are sure to take notice. So instead of arriving like torch wielding barbarians at the gate, put your money where your mouth is. Selling "gangsta" rap will continue until it is no longer profitable to do so. I find it ironic that as I write this I am staring at and old ARTS section front page written by Eric R. Danton, about myself and my former rap group.

Eric replies: I remember that article, which struck me then and now as a story of redemption, of transcending gangsta cliches to try something different.

[Josh]

I don't even know where to behin with R.A. and Jim's remarks.

- Did Jim actual compare Don Imus to Rodney King, who was beaten half to death for -- at worst -- resisting arrest while dozens of those sworn to protect and serve him watched?

- Did R.A. really offer conditions for why or under what condiditions I (a caucasian) should respect black people? Isn't their humanity reason enough?

[Richard]

The point is that the Hip Hop genre isn't to blame. That would be like blaming country radio for divorce.

There are individual artists that need to be held accountable as there are individual talk radio hosts.

Talk Radio and Hip Hop have one thing in common: Both media forms sold out long ago to Shock Jocks that pander to the lower and most base desires. Gangsta rap is collectively worse than Imus/Rush/Stern?

All are a blight on culture. People didn't stand up quick enough.

Eric replies: I like the country-radio analogy -- well put!

[Jim]

This whole thing is the biggest bunch of garbage I have seen in years. To say one is art and one is not is purely prejudicial. I find what Imus said offensive but not nearly as offensive as most of the rap artist's music. I would like to live in a world where you can take children to a public place and not have them exposed to the type of language that has become acceptable anywhere. Yes there is oppression and prejudice against African Americans still in this country. I find there to be just as much against Caucasian Americans. Don Imus is a victim of a hate crime. Rodney King did not deserve to be beaten half to death for whatever it was he had done. The police went too far. Don Imus doesn't deserve the treatment he is getting either. Many of the people mixed up in this claim to be Christian. Christ was about forgiveness. These so called Reverands are stirring up hatred, not Christ's message of love and forgiveness. I think they thrive on this stuff for their own aggenda. Good honest people of all races don't want this stupid race war.

[R.A. Atkinson]

A picture is worth a thousand words. If the black community wishes to be respected it should police itself and stop promoting trash and calling it entertainment. We cannot have it both ways. We must talk and act as we wish to be treated. Unfortunately, the innocent are punished along with the gulty( in fact, the innocent are often punished INSTEAD of the guilty.
If Mr. Imus was a black commentator, I wonder what the reaction would have been?