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// Hearing criticizes sex, violence in hip-hop  // // By: Associated Press  // ~Lawmakers, music industry executives and rappers disagree over who is to blame for sexist and degrading language in hip-hop music ~They do agree that government censorship is not a solution ~David Banner, a rapper and record producer (real name Levell Crump) said “Drugs, violence and the criminal element were around long before hip-hop existed” ~the title of this hearing was “From Imus to Industry: The business of stereotypes and degrading images” ~Don Imus was a radio host who was fired after making derogatory comments about the Rutger’s women’s basketball team ~A debate began after the Imus incident about black artists using offensive, misogynist and violent language ~Master P (real name Percy Miller) told the panel he is committed to producing clean lyrics because he doesn’t want his own children listening to the music he used to make ~Subcommittee chairman Bobby Rush, DIii, said there was a need to “address the issue of violence, hate and degradation that has reduced too many of our youngsters to automatons” ~Record company executives defended the systems in place now (parental guidance labels and edited versions of music); they also stressed universal standards/censorship won’t work ~President of Viacom (which owns MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and BET ) said his company works to edit obscenities, gang symbols, or portrayals of violence from music videos but he believes it is not the company’s role to censor the creative expression of artists ~CEO of one of the largest media companies that primarily serves African Americans said they review the contents of a song before broadcasting them and they comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines