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What is 'hate music'?
Music intended to hurt and intimidate someone because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability. Similar to hate speech.
"While it is an anti-censorship organisation, Freemuse does recognise that there may be occasions on which free speech can legitimately be restricted. In general we judge on a case by case basis and are guided by international conventions such as the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Such documents themselves tend to recognise that there are occasions where speech may legitimately be restricted. For Freemuse to be anti-censorship is not to say “anything goes”."
Dr. Martin Cloonan, Chair of Freemuse executive committee |
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Read The United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: click on icon |
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| More on hate music: |
| Dr Martin Cloonan: About Hate Music |
| Politicians and police have accused rap music of encouraging gun violence, while musicians say deeper social problems are to blame |
| 04 February 2003 |
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| The Hot Sound of Hate |
| Hundreds of bands in America and Europe produce Hate Music. In September Panzerfaust Records launched Project Schoolyard, a plan to snag kids 13 to 19 by distributing 100,000 free CDs of such bands as Day of the Sword, H8 Machine and Final War. |
| 29 November 2004 |
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| City demands 'anti-gay' music ban |
| Brighton will be the first UK city to demand that retailers ban albums with "anti-gay" lyrics. The City Council voted unanimously to write to the managing directors of Virgin Megastore, HMV and MVC condemning the music. The council do not have the power to force the stores not to sell the music |
| 27 November 2004 |
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| Germany targets neo-Nazi music |
| German police have raided the homes of more than 300 people suspected of posting neo-Nazi music files on the internet |
| 24 March 2004 |
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| Pop lyrics and their censors |
| "Political correctness has imposed a new restraint on free speech." Interview with Freemuse co-chair Martin Cloonan on explicit lyrics and music censorship today |
| 15 January 2004 |
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| Reggae stars 'help to spread HIV' |
| International Development Minister Gareth Thomas fears that discrimination against homosexuals is deterring people from being tested for HIV. "A number of artistes are effectively contributing to the spread of HIV by producing reggae and rap songs actually encouraging discrimination" |
| 22 November 2004 |
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| 'Anti-gay' lyrics inquiry starts |
| The government is considering banning reggae star Sizzla from the UK. Meanwhile detectives are investigating claims that lyrics penned by eight leading reggae artists incite violence against homosexuals and are therefore illegal. |
| 03 November 2004 |
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| Reggae stars dropped because of 'homophobic' lyrics |
| A collection of articles and background information on Hate Music and the current debate, where Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel, the two controversial reggae acts accused of inciting violence against homosexuals, have been dropped from the UK Mobo Awards show |
| 08 September 2004 |
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| Middle East: Hip-Hop on the frontline |
| The rap form allows a powerful voice for political invective, and is being used on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict. But for Arab countries and the Middle East, the influence and performance of hip-hop lights a few fuses |
| 02 November 2004 |
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| Eminem censors himself |
| Despite the liberal use of expletives in the average Eminem sentence it appears that Slim Shady draws the line at playing his music to his young daughter... |
| 31 May 2002 |
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| Canada: 'Gangsta rap' seeked banned |
| A Toronto activist has filed a complaint against Canadian music store chain HMV selling 'gangsta rap' that glorifies the mistreatment of women |
| 27 September 2006 |
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| City seeks 'anti-gay' album ban |
| The first UK city-wide boycott of albums with "anti-gay" lyrics is being considered in Brighton. Councillors want music retailers like HMV, Virgin Megastore and MVC to stop selling albums with homophobic lyrics in its Brighton branches |
| 23 November 2004 |
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| FUN^DA^MENTAL |
| Interview with Aki Nawaz of Fundamental. Music and limits of expression |
| 01 January 2001 |
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| Canada: Jamaica-boycott called off |
| The Canadian group that called for a boycott of Jamaica unless the country's government take action on homophobic violence has called it off after recieving an official letter |
| 22 May 2008 |
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| Denmark: Teenager arrested for 'death rap' |
| A 17-year-old teenager was arrested for sending death threats in the form of a rap song to the Danish politician Naser Khader, reports the news agency Reuters |
| 08 May 2006 |
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| Rèda Zine |
| During Morocco trial rock and heavy metal musicians were accused of Satanism, "acts capable of undermining the faith of a Muslim" and "possessing objects which infringe morals". Interview in French |
| 15 November 2005 |
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| List of banned songs in Zambia 2004 |
| A few Zambian artists gained further popularity in 2004 by releasing controversial songs, but several artists learned a tough lesson when songs with “vulgar language” were banned by local radio stations and condemned publicly. “Opinion” in Times of Zambia supported the censorship |
| 05 January 2005 |
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| Pride and prejudice: 'anti-gay' stars refuse to apologise |
| Their gigs have been cancelled all over the world and their names withdrawn from awards. But Jamaica's dancehall stars refuse to apologise for - or even stop singing - songs that encourage the murder of gay people. Extensive article from The Guardian |
| 10 December 2004 |
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| No apology from 'anti-gay' singer |
| Reggae star Sizzla has refused to apologise for his lyrics advocating violence against gay men, despite his UK tour being cancelled after protests. Sizzla is not allowed into the UK while the Home Secretary examines concerns raised by gay rights group OutRage! |
| 25 November 2004 |
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| US school talent show draws Secret Service |
| The band, named Coalition of the Willing, was to perform Bob Dylan's song "Masters of War" – but some students and adults who heard the band rehearse called a radio talk show Thursday morning, saying the song the band sang ended with a call for President Bush to die. So the Secret Service was called |
| 12 November 2004 |
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| 'Kill Bush' rappers rapped by US |
| Gatans Parlament - a Norwegian rap group that criticised US President Bush by setting up a website whose name means "Kill him now" is in trouble with US authorities. Gatans Parlament, or Street Parliament, has defended the exercise as a satire |
| 04 November 2004 |
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| La Rumeur: accused of inciting violence |
| The French group from the Paris outskirts helped to redefine the hip hop scene in France.... but faced crippling legal court cases as a consequence |
| 11 October 2004 |
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| United Kingdom: Reggae concert banned over lyrics |
| Jamaican singer Buju Banton has been banned from playing a concert in Manchester after protests over his allegedly homophobic lyrics. Greater Manchester Police cancelled the gig as previous performances "suggest a likelihood of public disorder" |
| 23 September 2004 |
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| Beenie Man banned from MTV gig |
| Reggae star Beenie Man - recently accused of "lyrics that are an incitement to homophobic murder and violence" - has been banned from performing at an MTV concert after gay activists planned a protest over the singer's past lyrics |
| 04 September 2004 |
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| French minister warns 'hate' rap bands over lyrics |
| The band Sniper has outraged deputies in the governing UMP party with "La France," a foul-mouthed anti-society rant that taps the deep sense of alienation of disaffected French youths |
| 05 November 2003 |
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| Killer "acted out" Eminem song |
| A teenager who acted out the brutal lyrics of a song by controversial rapper Eminem has been jailed for life |
| 28 January 2003 |
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