A Muskegon radio station has received national attention for its decision to ban music by rappers Rick Ross and Lil' Wayne from its rotation.
Rapper Rick Ross, who has recently faced criticism for controversial lyrics.AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
The Muskegon-based radio station 103.7
The Beat WUVS-LP released a statementThursday, March 28 indicating that it would no longer play those artists' music.
The move, said the self-described urban educational public station, was a way for it to take a stand against disrespectful music.
"We pride ourselves on playing music that is non-degrading and non-violent," the announcement read.
"We pride ourselves on playing music that is non-degrading and non-violent," the announcement read.
"While we believe in freedom of speech, creative writing and individualism, we refuse to be part of the problem by spreading messages that could harm or end someone's life."
Ross and Lil Wayne were singled out because of recent lyrical controversies.
In February, Lil Wayne faced criticism for rapping that he would "beat" a woman's genitalia "like Emmett Till" during a cameo of the song, "Karate Chop (Remix)" by another rapper called Future.
Till was a black teen who was kidnapped and violently killed by white men in 1955.
His death was one of the events that helped spark the Civil Rights movement.
Ross began receiving public outcry earlier this week for a lyric that suggested he had slipped crystallized MDMA and then had sex with her.
Ross and Lil Wayne were singled out because of recent lyrical controversies.
In February, Lil Wayne faced criticism for rapping that he would "beat" a woman's genitalia "like Emmett Till" during a cameo of the song, "Karate Chop (Remix)" by another rapper called Future.
Till was a black teen who was kidnapped and violently killed by white men in 1955.
His death was one of the events that helped spark the Civil Rights movement.
Ross began receiving public outcry earlier this week for a lyric that suggested he had slipped crystallized MDMA and then had sex with her.
Critics, like the station, charge that the lines celebrate and encourage the behavior.
Since posting the message Thursday, the radio station has been mentioned for its stance in several publications, includingThe Hollywood Reporter, the International Business Times and Billboard Biz, the online extension of Billboard magazine.
But the radio station has always stayed away from music that "promotes drug use, gang life and criminalistic behavior," said 103.7
"We just didn't do no press release," he said.
"We always took the road of trying to do what is best for the community, what is best for our listeners."
Since posting the message Thursday, the radio station has been mentioned for its stance in several publications, includingThe Hollywood Reporter, the International Business Times and Billboard Biz, the online extension of Billboard magazine.
But the radio station has always stayed away from music that "promotes drug use, gang life and criminalistic behavior," said 103.7
"We just didn't do no press release," he said.
"We always took the road of trying to do what is best for the community, what is best for our listeners."
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