Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Moves in Support of Spoken Word Artist Sarah Jones' Lawsuit Against the FCC.

Entertainment Editors

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Feb. 6, 2002

Despite the Federal Communications Commission's recent reversal on it's decision to fine Pueblo, Colorado radio station KKMG-FM for broadcasting Eminem's rap song, "The Real Slim Shady," they are moving forward with a fine against KBOO-FM, a Portland, Oregon community radio station that played the Sarah Jones song, "Your Revolution."

And Hip-Hop Summit Action Network founder Russell Simmons and President Minister Benjamin Muhammad, who had many discussions with the FCC about Eminem's situation and hip-hop on the radio in general, have announced today that the HHSAN will support Jones in her lawsuit against the FCC.

The HHSAN is backing Jones' art and her right to it, and it should be noted that the song in question, "Your Revolution," distinguishes itself from other hip-hop songs because it is a spoken-word piece that uses references from male rap lyrics to denounce misogyny and the degradation of women in a lot of popular hip-hop songs. "I'm glad she addresses misogyny in hip-hop lyrics," says Russell Simmons. "It's one of the issues being discussed by the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network when we ask rappers to 'Take Back Responsibility.' And this fine against the radio station is a perfect example of the lack of understanding of hip-hop music by our government."

According to West Coast radio personality (and HHSAN member) Davey D, "The fact that they came after Sarah Jones' song which spoke to the type of rampant indecencies often aired on mainstream, commercial radio seemed to suggest that the FCC had a double standard."

"I'm an independent artist, a black woman, trying to stick up for myself in a culture that has all kinds of mixed messages, especially IN the hip-hop world," Jones states. "I'm grateful to the Hip-Hop Summit (Action Network) for stepping to the plate making sure that people know we are a large community with a lot of different voices, and that mine is one of them."

As to Jones' lawsuit, it is moving forward in the courts right now. Minister Muhammad says the HHSAN is currently investigating the possibility of filing its own legal action to back Jones' against the FCC, and is looking into other options as well, including further talks with FCC's head, Michael Powell, who Simmons had invited to the Hip-Hop Summit in New York last June.

"Sarah Jones has taken the position, both creatively and now legally, to advance the cause of the freedom of artistic expression," said Minister Muhammed. "The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network stands with Sarah Jones in her suit against the FCC 100 percent."