The Source and Russell
Simmons continue to feud. The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network recently pulled out
of an event scheduled to take place over the weekend before The Source Awards.
Simmons and The
Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) pulled out of speaking duties at Saturday’s
(October 9th) "Join the SIPHA: Hip-Hop Voter Education Rally."
"Russell Simmons
has been exploiting Hip-Hop for years,” The Source’s Dave Mays and
Ray Benzino said in a statement. “We invited, and expected him to participate
in the largest annual Hip-Hop weekend of the year, and he bailed from the event
because he is afraid of the authenticity and influence of The Source Magazine,
and our weekend.
“Russell
is further from Hip-Hop, the community and struggle it represents than he has
ever been. Russell is a serious threat to the advancement of the black community,
and Hip-Hop culture because he exploits the perception in corporate America
that he represents the views of the Hip-Hop community when he does not."
Mays and Benzino
said Simmons’ call for unity with Eminem after the magazine produced a
tape of the rapper using racial slurs against black women, downplayed the seriousness
of the issue.
"The true
cause of disunity in Hip-Hop is the lack of open dialogue regarding the state
of the Hip-Hop music industry, and the role of corporate interests in the destruction
of black owned companies and black artists. We invite Russell, Jimmy Iovine,
Eminem and Paul
Rosenberg to a debate to discuss the future of Hip-Hop and those things that
divide us. The Hip-Hop Summit, and Russell Simmons may represent the Hamptons
and his rich friends, but they don’t represent the Hip-Hop Community.”
Thousands are expected
to attend the rally, which takes place at the Miami Arena on October 9th. Minister
Louis Farrakhan, Al Sharpton, Ja Rule, Ludacris, Fat Joe and other are expected
to speak.
Simmons reply to
The Source’s comments and allegations were simple: “God bless them,”
the mogul told AllHipHop.com.