Twista Calls Out Congress!

[greasybugsy]

Twista is not a happy camper these days. In light of Congress' decision to hold its first hearing regarding “stereotypes and degradation” of women in hip-hop lyrics and videos, the Chi-Town Emcee had quite a bit to say.

“All the subjects we rap about aren’t made up, they come from somewhere and that somewhere is our lives,” said Twista to the Chicago Tribune. The rapper also spoke on Democratic Representative Bobby Rush of Illinois, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection on his blog with Red Eye of the Chicago Tribune. “I don’t know what kind of life Rep. Rush has had, but if I were to ask him to write a story about anything for people to read, his story would have certain things in it that are things he’s been around in his life. In that same way we rap about what we’ve been exposed to.”

Rush, who is organizing the meeting to hear from key players in the industry, said “I want to look at not only the problem caused by misogynistic content in some hip-hop music but also some of the pain that emanates form this degradation,” says Rush. “I respect the First Amendment, but rights without responsibility is anarchy, and that’s much of what we have now. It’s time for responsible people to stand up and accept responsibility.”

In response, Twista questioned Congress' priorities: “If Congress is worried about rap music, it’s time for them to go to the ghettos in this country and fix the problems so that the kids don’t have the see the things that they see and live through all of them...We’ve got troops still dying in Iraq, global warming, gas prices going way high and Congress is worried about hip-hop? These are more examples of our own President saying stupider things than you could ever hear in any rap song. Maybe it’s time he took a little trip to Congress and was asked a few questions as well then.”