Pioneering bluesman Bo Diddley had some choice
words to say about hip-hop music last Thursday.
Speaking to high school students Dunnellon High
School near Diddley’s home in Archer, Florida, the 74-year-old Diddley labeled
rap "disgusting" and said that it would not last as long as his 50
year career has.
"The lyrics are very disgusting because
you are a person, and a person deserves respect," he said. "I have
daughters, my mother was a woman, and I don’t like what I’m hearing."
Diddley did stress the importance of hard, legal
work, no matter what way the students decide to earn their living.
"You’ve got to hustle, man," he said.
"There’s a legal way to hustle."
Diddley played a crucial role in the birth of
Rock & Roll. Diddley was the recipient of the National Academy of Recording
Arts and Sciences prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award (1998) Grammy.
Diddley recently released a CD single, "We
Are American, We Aren’t Scared Of You."