Master P and David Banner have spoken at a congressional hearing on hip hop lyrics.
A hearing on offensive themes and language in hip hop called "From Imus to Industry: The business of stereotypes and degrading images" took place yesterday in Washington D.C.Subcommittee chairman Bobby Rush (the '60s founder of Illinois' Black Panther chapter and now Democratic representative) said, "This hearing is not anti-hip-hop. I am a fan of hip-hop." But he also specified that the nation needs "to address the issue of violence, hate and degradation that has reduced too many of our youngsters to automatons."
Among the politicians and music industry representatives were rappers from two sides of the ideological spectrum. No Limit Records founder and rapper Master P was clear in regretting his misogynist and violent lyrics. "I want to apologize to all the women out there," he said. "I was honestly wrong."
Southern rapper and producer David Banner was less conciliatory, proclaiming "Drugs, violence and the criminal element were around long before hip-hop existed." He said, in what was reported as profanity-laden testimony, "I'm like Stephen King: horror music is what I do" and explained "Change the situation in my neighbourhood and maybe I'll get better."
