POP/ROCK - Nov. 18, 1991

Ice Cube Gets Rapped: Billboard, the music industry’s trade magazine, has strongly criticized rapper Ice Cube in an editorial in its current issue for advocating violence in two songs on his latest album, “Death Certificate.” The editorial condemns the lyrics that suggest burning down Korean-owned stores and the murder of the rapper’s Jewish former manager. Such an editorial is rare for the magazine, which has opposed censorship and limits on artistic expression. But Billboard editor Timothy White explained the editorial in a statement: “We don’t feel any form or individual style of music is important enough to excuse racism, anti-Semitism and hate-mongering stupidity.” L.A.’s Simon Wiesenthal Center called for a boycott of the album on Nov. 1. Billboard urges retailers, record companies and others in the industry to protest the sentiments expressed on the album.