Bennie Muhammad, executive director of the group, said he was inspired to host the seminar after learning about the “Clear the Airwaves Project,” led by Gary activist Kwabena Sadiki Jijaga Rasuli.
“I chose to put this together in an effort to help shield the ears of our black youth,” Muhammad said. “While I am not trying to launch an assault on the rappers and artists who perform these songs, I believe theses artists are manipulated into producing and performing these songs from the music industry and record labels.”
The college’s multipurpose room was packed with students, parents, community activists and leaders as they listened to and shared opinions with the panelists on how hip-hop and some R&B songs feature lyrics that either degrade women or celebrate violence and drug abuse in urban communities.
Rasuli has been leading protests against radio stations in Chicago and Hammond that air what he deems offensive and obscene music, as well as businesses that purchase advertising space on the stations.
Rasuli did a presentation on the history of rap and hip-hop music, beginning with 1979’s popular, fun dance rap, “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugar Hill Gang, conscience and educational rap in the ’80s, the birth of gangsta rap in the ’90s to today’s rap and hip-hop music.
Often referring to hip-hop artists Jay-Z and Niki Minaj as “Slave-Z” and “Niki Garbage,” Rasuli blasted urban Chicago-area radio stations for “constantly killing” youth 24 hours a day with raunchy music that promotes gun play, self-hate, murder and stripping. “This music is constantly dehumanizing our youth,” Rasuli said.