NATIONAL LEGAL AND POLICY CENTER
"Promoting Ethics in Government"
103 West Broad Street, Suite 620
Falls Church, Virginia 22046
703-237-1970, Fax 703-237-2090
www.nlpc.org, nlpc@nlpc.org



 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 15, 2002
CONTACT: Pat Chisholm or Ken Boehm, 703-237-1970
 

 
Jesse Jackson Asked to "Disinvite" Controversial Rap Star From His Wall St. Conference
 Slick Rick Sings "Treat Her Like A Prostitute"
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Legal and Policy Center has called on the Reverend Jesse Jackson to disinvite controversial hip-hop star "Slick Rick," who is currently scheduled to appear this Wednesday afternoon at a youth-oriented panel discussion during Jackson's "Wall Street Project" convention at the Hilton New York in New York City.

"We fail to see how Slick Rick can contribute anything positive to a conversation regarding our nation's young people given the graphic and vulgar nature of his music career," writes Ken Boehm, chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center, in a letter to Jackson.  Boehm cited Jackson's past condemnation of offensive lyrics and called on the Reverend to"act according to your stated convictions and withdraw your organization's invitation to Slick Rick."  The full text of the letter is available at http://www.nlpc.org/gip/020115sr.htm.

Gangsta rap artist and convicted felon "Slick Rick" burst onto the hip-hop scene in 1989 with a provocative album, "The Great Adventures of Slick Rick," that featured several vulgar and offensive tracks including "Treat Her Like a Prostitute," "Indian Girl," and "Lick the Balls." His music career was soon interrupted by a felony conviction of attempted murder, sending him to prison for six years. The lyrics of his recent album, "The Art of Storytelling," gives little evidence that the controversial rapster has changed his ways.

The National Legal and Policy Center, an ethics wathdog group based in Northern Virginia, is no stranger to Jesse Jackson. In March of last year, NLPC filed a formal complaint with the Internal Revenue Service concerning Jackson's Citizenship Education Fund. In response, Jackson amended his tax forms, but left many questions unanswered.  The matter is pending before the IRS.  A copy of the complaint can be found at http://www.nlpc.org/gip/010228ir.htm.

--30--
NLPC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit foundation promoting ethics and accountability in government through research, education and legal action.
 


Link to Slick Rick's Lyrics

Read NLPC's Letter to Jesse Jackson

Read NLPC's IRS Complaint Concerning Citizenship Education Fund

Return to Media Release Page
 
Return to Home Page