Hip Hop War

"White people love seeing blacks with gold teeth in their mouths, big bootys, and hear them talk crazy. I want to stop that because it hurts too many of us."—Conrad Muhammad.

For now, Muhammad is sticking to his "anti-defamation campaign," which will evolve into his Campaign for Dignity Meeting with hip hop executives and rappers at the National Urban League in Manhattan. "There is a crisis in the African American community that requires immediate attention," he declared in a statement he is distributing to music industry playas. "The degradation of the African American community through the media and music industry, particularly rap, is rampant. The bombardment of . . . negative images has contributed to . . . destructive behavior. . . . It is our responsibility to make a difference and implement change. Action must be taken now as tomorrow will be too late."

Muhammad said that despite what Simmons and other critics believe, his objective is not to embarrass hip hop producers. "I could have disrespected them by going to their white parent companies and talking about them," he said. "But I am coming to them as their brother. I believe that when I sit in a room and expose the role that they are playing in helping to lead young people down the road that Shyne has gone, I can touch something inside these brothers and sisters who come from the black community. I don't want them to continue to allow money to make them deaf and immune to the suffering of their people. Why would anyone attack that? Maybe somebody does not want that suffering to stop because it is too profitable. White people love seeing blacks with gold teeth in their mouths, big bootys, and hear them talk crazy. I want to stop that because it hurts too many of us."