RAP

Rap is an extension of African-American genius. What bothers me is that the local black weekly newspapers have failed to give rap the coverage it deserves.

Ice T, Dr. Dre, Malcolm, et al., have yet to receive proper respect for cultural achievement. Why should Times writers Hilburn, Hunt, Hochman and Marlowe have to author such when the local black weeklies should have been in the forefront?

TOM REED

Los Angeles