Constitutional Rights, Free Speech, Hip Hop, 2 Live Crew?

Exclusive Los Angeles Sentinel Interview (permission to reproduce)
by Francis Taylor, Staff Writer

The Bill of Rights became part of The United States Constitution in 1791. These first 10 amendments protect basic liberties and rights that one may take for granted and the first among these rights guarantees freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and press, and the right of people to petition the government. The Hip Hop group, 2 Live Crew has been at the center of the free speech controversy for some time and this summer they, along with some of the most notable icons in the industry will kick off the 2006 Summer Free Speech Tour.

In 1990 a Florida state court judge declared that their third album, As Nasty As They Wanna Be was legally obscene. That ruling was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1994 the Supreme Court decided that the 2 Live Crew version of Pretty Woman isn't plagiarism but parody.

No rap group has stirred more controversy with their lyrics and riveting on-stage performances or provoked more heated debate than 2 Live Crew, a group that had its beginnings in Los Angeles, California.

Following the controversy surrounding 2 Live Crew's obscenity battle in Florida, six states including Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin passed legislation declaring the band's album legally obscene. Following the Supreme Court's favorable ruling, in which they cited First Amendment rights, the hit song went on to sell three million copies, thanks in part to the expert witness testimony of, esteemed Harvard University Professor, Henry Louis Gates and others.

Despite their long-standing link to Miami, the 2 Live Crew actually started out in California, with a membership of Fresh Kid Ice (born Chris Wong Won in Trinidad), DJ Mr. Mixx (born David Hobbs), and Amazing V. The trio released their debut single, "Revelation,"in 1985 and its popularity in Florida led the group -- sans Amazing V -- to move to Miami. After the second single "What I Like," they were joined by Brother Marquis (born Mark Ross).

Today, the Founder of 2 Live Crew, Fresh Kid Ice (China Man) has teamed up with Miami's hottest rapper, Fish'N'Gritz, to kick off the 2006 Summer Free Speech Tour with a showcase in Los Angeles Thursday, March 23, 2006 at the World Famous Century Club in Century City, California. This event is the showcase for the Summer Tour and will feature 2 Live Crew and Fish'N'Gritz, DJ Jam (The Official DJ for Bigg Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre), DJ Mark Luv of the Zulu Nation, Jamaica Gold, and several other local Los Angeles DJs and R&B performers.

In an exclusive interview with the Los Angeles Sentinel, Fresh Kid Ice AKA "China Man," was asked about the significance of this upcoming showcase and tour.

"This showcase and tour is about Free Speech and the Constitutional Right that protects it." China Man said. "With the negative stories and press surrounding Hip Hop/Rap music, clubs and culture in Los Angeles and America, I think the public forgets that Hip Hop artists are just that- artists, musicians, poets and that Hip Hop music reflects the times we live in."

In response to the assertion than one cannot deny that violence, gang activity, profanity and exploitation of women have a lot to do with that perception, he said.

"You can't deny that violence, gang activity, profanity and exploitation of women have a lot to do
with America, right? Hip Hop is reflective of the current culture we live in, everybody's culture. The economy is moved by the Hip Hop generation. Like the spoken word artists and poets of African American society, Hip Hop artists express the conditions of Black and urban life." He continued. "The real conversation we should be having is about changing urban culture, developing effective schools, youth activities; addressing empowerment issues, economic inequality, ethnic and cultural relations, disintegration of Black families, and unity of people."

To explain how the tour is going to help the state of Urban America, China Man offered the following:

"Fish'N'Gritz and I are not trying to provide a panacea for all the ills in Urban America. We are
working with producers and community builders like Diem Van Groth in Los Angeles who is producing the tour, artists like Victor-Hugo down in Miami whose home was trashed because someone didn't like his art, musicians that are being censored because someone doesn't agree with their lyrics, poets that struggle to keep important issues facing Black America and Urban America on the table, and supporters who believe that musicians and artists must have a voice and have been the voice of change throughout history."

"The Free Speech Tour and this showcase in Los Angeles on March 23," he added, "are uniting artists and musicians to keep 1st Amendment Rights, a major cornerstone of our Republic, in the limelight.

And when asked, "why are you doing this and what is your motivation to openly confront this issue, one that is sure to spark major controversy and garner the attention of major media outlets nationwide," He offered this description.

"I am an artist who started in Los Angeles. Our group went in front of the Supreme Court of the United States of America and won rulings twice to protect the right to free speech. This is not about me; it is about the artist and musicians having a voice and the ability for Americans to use their voice. It is about art and music as a positive voice for social change. Come see the show at Century Club on Thursday, March 23, and you'll see for yourself that Los Angeles can have a safe Hip Hop show that's about the music. And we appreciate that the Los Angeles Sentinel the Voice of Our Community has always supported the voice of Black People, and the arts and music community on the West Coast. Keep Music and Art Free!"

The Free Speech Showcase will be held March 23, 2006 at Century Club in Century City. Doors open at 8 PM.

Tickets are available through www.groovetickets.com. More information can be found at www.FNG2livecrew.com. To contact the showcase and tour, call 323.292.0200 for more information.