Ice-T: Is the Issue Social Responsibility or Free Speech?

ICE-T:Is the Issue Social Responsibility or Free Speech?

      In today’s world all types of music artists are expressing their feelings and

views in their works about what they see and what they know. Songs are best way of using

freedom of speech right while expressing all feelings and emotions. The question is , are they

really free to express their feelings wholly? Unfortunately they are not really free even though

First Amendment says they are. In 1992   the song "Cop Killer" angered   police support

groups, cost Ice T his record deal with Warner Bross and had to be removed from   the

album. In the article, according to M.Kinsley ‘Ice-T has right to say what he thinks but that

doesnt require any company to provide him an outlet’.(2) . And Barbara Ehrenreich touches

on social issue such as that police sees ‘blacks are potential killer’.(5) . Songs like Cop Killer

deserve to be tolerated because American Constitution protects the song , that song reflects

reality of   blacks in America , Cop Killer is not the only work with violent images and

cencoring this song would not protect children at all.
      Firstly compelling reason that Ice-T’s Cop Killer should be free from censorship is that it
is a First Amendment right to be able to express oneself freely. Specifically ‘‘Congress shall
make no law . . . prohibiting . . .or abridging the freedom of   speech’’
(www.nara.gov/exhall/charters/billrights). This amendment is not restricted to any specific
class of people, nor does it limit free speech.

Whether you like the music or not in any case, I think an artist shouldnt be censored.Myself
if I dont like it, I dont listen to it.In one of his interview Ice-T says "If you do not like my s--t,
just don't buy it, just walk away. I do not knock on people's doors and make them listen to
my records. I'm into free choice. That's my thing." His words exactly explain what is art all
about. Warner Bross’ defence of Cop Killer is the...