Director Spike Lee Criticizes Rap Lyrics, Videos

(Toronto, Canada) On Monday night, film maker Spike Lee told a student audience at Ryerson University that "gansta rap craziness" in lyrics and video images has convinced young blacks that being smart equals white so they fail school on purpose. Instead, black students are lured into believing it's cool to be a pimp or a ho.

"These artists talk about 'ho this, bitch this, skank this' and all the other stuff. They're talking about all our mothers, all our sisters. They're talking about their own mothers, grandmothers."

"You have to have knowledge of self and knowledge of history. Because if you had that you would not use that terminology. You would not even be in that mindset. And we're in a time when young black boys and girls want to be pimps and strippers, because that is what they see. . . . Something is definitely wrong."

Lee received standing ovations at the start and end of his monologue which was scheduled to help mark the International Day For the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21. Lee joins entertainer Bill Cosby in being a prominent African-American speaking out against the current rap music culture and he encouraged consumers to send a message to the gansta rap industry by not buying its products.