WHAT A BUNCH OF DOPES!



DR DRE, JAY-Z and CYPRESS HILL have been targeted by DAY ONE, a CALIFORNIAN youth group, campaigning against what they see as favourable references to marijuana use in hip-hop.

Fifteen members of the collective picketed a Target shop, part of a large US chain, in Pasadena on Friday (November 17) asking the chain to stop selling albums by these artists and any others carrying parental advisory stickers.

Diana Robles, a 19-year old claiming to be a 'youth advocate' for the group, issued a statement saying "We have had enough, and we need to send a stronger message: 'Keep the drugs out of our culture'."

A Target spokesperson bounced away the call saying: "We don't feel it's our job, but the parents' responsibility, to monitor what their children are buying. The stickers were designed as a tool for parents, and we feel any additional action would be akin to censorship."

The group had earlier written an open letter to Dr Dre through The Hollywood Reporter, saying: "Many young people, who see you as a role model, do what you rap about. Some even believe it's okay to get high. Some of your music is sending the wrong message to kids."

And civil rights association NAACP (National Association Advancement of Coloured PeopleDay One.

According to www.sonicnet.com, the group feels NAACP, one of the oldest civil rights organisations in the US, acted wrongly in nominating Jay-Z and Big Punisher for their Image Awards, claiming the pair "promote negative African-American imagery".

Reports from the US last week claiming the group planned to undertake hunger strikes to make their point remain unfounded.

HOME | NEWS