Howard University officials ruled that the prestigious school’s marching
band could not appear in “We Bout to Blow,” a new video by rapper
DMX.Franklin Chambers, Vice Provost of Student Affairs, said
the
school’s General Counsel did not have enough time to review the
contract, due to the timing of the request.Chambers also
said
the historically black college did not want to commercialize their
learning institution.”In the end, we decided that it
wasn’t in
our best interest to commercialize what
we do educationally,” Chambers told the Black College
Wire.The
band had worked out a dance routine, planned to form the letters “DMX”
and was prepared to play the music to the song.Some students
opposed the decision, alleging the university officials were operating
on double standard.”Concern has been expressed over the
potential offensive nature of the video,” student Jahdai Dawes said.
“I
find it more offensive when my friend is assaulted at a university
function and the assailant[s] are allowed to remain and enjoy themselves
the rest of the evening. Where is the administration
then?”DMX’s
representatives are looking to use the marching band concept at another
university, including Morgan State in nearby Baltimore, where Def Jam
President Kevin Liles attended college.