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NEWS
10 December 2004

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Their gigs have been cancelled all over the world and their names withdrawn from awards.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. The Guardian's Alexis Petridis travels to the Caribbean and discovers a culture that can't see a problem, let alone a solution.

Story from The Guardian
What can you sing?
Read more about 'Hate Music' and the limits to musical expression

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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
'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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Censor and be damned? The link between violent music and violent behaviour
"The UK Home Office has decided that Sizzla cannot come to the UK to play at this time." Scotland on Sunday about the current debate on homophobic lyrics
14 November 2004
Jamaica: Ban on violent and explicit sexual lyrics
A government-led crackdown on violent and explicit sexual lyrics seems to have stalled reggae music’s 20-year slide into what has been dubbed “murder music”
04 October 2010
Jamaica: Dancehall artist banned for his 'gangsta lyrics'
In January 2008, a performance by Jamaican dancehall artist Mavado was banned by authorities in St. Vincent because his lyrics which are considered to be violent
28 April 2008
UK: Tory leader calls for ban on violent lyrics
On 4 July 2007, David Cameron renewed his call for the music industry to "show leadership" by banning violent lyrics from songs, reported The Guardian.
04 July 2007
New Zealand: Controversial American hip-hop group's concert cancelled
The Big Day Out festival removed the American rap group Odd Future from the festival's Auckland lineup due to objections from locals over the group's homophobic lyrics
15 November 2011
Denmark: Activist campaigns against online sales of 'murder music'
Online music stores that sell so-called 'murder music' (reggae with lyrics inciting to violence against homosexuals) receive complaints from Danish gay rights activist
22 May 2008
Canada: Reggae shows cancelled after protests
Jamaican reggae stars Elephant Man and Sizzla have been forced to cancel two concerts in Toronto, Canada, after locals protested against their homophobic lyrics
02 October 2007
France: Jamaican reggae star’s concerts cancelled
Six French music venues have axed scheduled performances of Jamaican reggae singer Capleton because of his lyrics against homosexuality
09 June 2005
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
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
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
South Africa: Controversy over whether ‘hate song’ should be banned
The Irish singer Bono’s defense of a controversial song has triggered heated debate. Supreme Court in South Africa is considering whether the song should be banned
25 February 2011
South Africa: Old anti-apartheid song banned on hate speech charges
On 26 March 2010, a South African high court prohibited the singing of a controversial anti-apartheid song, ‘Ayesab'amagwala’ (‘The cowards are afraid’)
19 April 2010
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
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
Hate music: Music With a Heart Full of Hatred
VH1 special on how music is used to promote racism
18 February 2002
USA / Jamaica: Buju Banton has US tour canceled by promoters
US concert promoters canceled shows by Buju Banton after protests from gay rights advocacy organisations over the singer's homophobic song lyrics
07 September 2009
Kenya: Are musicians composing "dirty" songs just to please listeners?
Editorial from The Nation on explicit lyrics: “Many people have accused the media of contributing to moral decadence by glorifying music with raunchy lyrics and giving minimal airtime to those with positive messages”
12 November 2004
Turkey: Convicted for having lyrics by Grup Yorum on computer
On 22 September 2011 union official Berivan Doğan was convicted to ten months imprisonment for having the lyrics of Grup Yorum's songs on her computer
05 October 2011
USA: College bans national anthem because of too violent lyrics
A 1,000-student college in Indiana State has banned ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at all sporting events because the national anthem’s lyrics are too violent and glorifying war
31 August 2011
Sweden: Hip-hop performances cancelled because of controversial lyrics
The hip-hop group Labyrint from Uppsala was stopped from performing in Växjö and Värnamo after a notice from police authorities saying their lyrics glorify drugs
09 May 2011
Turkey: Song lyrics prompt legal action against university students
A trial against 16 members of the Beyoglu Troupe of Actors started on 21 January 2011. The university students are charged with "insult" in connection with the lyrics of a song
02 February 2011
Germany: 11 Jamaican 'hate music' albums blacklisted
An official German authority has blacklisted 11 dancehall albums in the period between 2008 and January 2010 due to violent and homophobic content
20 April 2010
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
Canada: Silencing Jamaican musicians fuels censorship debate
A Canadian coalition calls for a boycott of Jamaica by 12 May 2008 if the country's government doesn't take action on homophobic violence.
08 May 2008
Mozambique: City authorities called rapper in for questioning
The rap artist Azagaia was summoned before prosecutors to explain the allegedly violent lyrics of a song he has written about the February 2008 riots in Maputo
06 May 2008
USA: Controversial lyrics lead to concert cancellation
British punk rock band Gallows were removed from the bill of The House Of Blues in California due to offence taken to their lyrics by the owner of the venue, the Disney Company
29 January 2008
Jamaica: Dancehall star signs the Reggae Compassionate Act
Reggae and dancehall star Buju Banton is the fourth artist to sign the 'Reggae Compassionate Act' which is part of the gay rights campaign ‘Stop Murder Music’
09 August 2007
Sweden: Explicit lyrics cause heated debate about women’s sexuality
After being banned on two regional radio stations, the lyrics of a song by Frida Muranius are debated in newspapers, radio, web forums and court yards all over Sweden
11 July 2007
Tobago: Religious call for ban on gay pop star ignored
Christian church leaders in Trinidad & Tobago demanded the British pop star Sir Elton John be banned from performing in their country because he is gay. The call was ignored.
28 March 2007
Sweden: rap band taken to court for 'hate speech'
Two members of a rap band from the south of Sweden are taken to court accused of ‘hate speech’ after a concert in Landskrona in 2006
25 January 2007
Mexico: Musician killed for his drug related lyrics
Singer Valentin Elizalde was murdered on 25 November 2006 after a concert. His death is said to be related to his lyrics about a mercenary force employed by Mexican drug cartels
14 December 2006