It's not censorship when the market does it, only when the government does it. Sharpton, for all his angry rhetoric, is finally doing something high profile that is positive. If the money dries up to make violence praising gangsta rap, it will no longer be made. And I'm not so sure that we will all be poorer for it.

Dejah: first of all, I didn't call it "censorship." My only point is that protesting artistic content is a troublesome (and more often than not, losing) proposition. With gangsta rap specifically, it's difficult to tell the difference between "promoting" violence and depicting it; can you let me know where the line is? While I tend to agree with Sharpton on a whole variety of other issues, and of course sexism, homophobia, violence and drug dealing are bad things, I have to say that much of gangsta rap is hilarious in its exaggeration, shocking in its violence, and brutal in its honesty: all things that often characterize great art. If you want to stop war, you don't protest Guernica.

Times must really be rough if Big Al is going after fellow Blacks.

I dunno- why is nothing being done about equally violent, homophobic and sexist lyrics by heavy metal bands such Guns N'Roses, Megadeth, Poison , Slayer and Anthrax? Is it because rappers are black and heavy metal singers are white?

On this I agree with Sharpton rap and hip hop lyrics have taken on a misogynistic tone that's blatantly anti-girl. Whore, Ho, Slut, Bitch, Pole Dancers. Is this a "true depiction" of what women actually ARE? This is ART? Have you watched the BET videos and listened to the lyrics? They are far more offensive than those shown on VH1 or CMT. Blinged up men throwing cash at the crotch of a barely dressed woman with her legs spread? ART?

They are crossing major lines that aren't artistically depicting reality so much as reducing girls and women to objects to be purchased, screwed and abused. Sharpton is not alone in calling for a stop to these types of lyrics and "entertaining" videos that costs our girls their souls - Oprah, Maya Angelo, Essence Magazine and myself, at So Sioux Me and Blog Fabulous, are also calling for a stop this type of degrading depictions of women.

It's a problem when girls believe they should be imitating "art" like this and it's costing them their self esteems and souls.

Obviously, it's not the government's place to censor art, but it absolutely is the media, cultural leaders and the market's place to speak out against this kind of "art."

Tracee Sioux
So Sioux Me
Empower Your Self
Empower Your Daughter
http://www.sosiouxme.com

Blog Fabulous
http://www.blogfabulous.com

That's the best defense of gangster rap I've ever read (your comment in response to dejah), Party Ben, well done!