Rap Responsibility

To Andre Young (Dr. Dre) and O’Shea Jackson (Ice Cube): You should be ashamed of yourselves for putting out “Natural Born Killaz” (“Is America Ready for ‘Natural Born Killaz’?,” Oct. 20). Are you both so bereft of feeling for your fellow man that you don’t care how much additional pain your record causes the families of Nicole Brown Simpson, Ronald Goldman and Sharon Tate--to say nothing of the deleterious effects it has on our already too violent society? Are your lives so money oriented that you so flippantly shirk your responsibilities as creative people?

You think that through your raps you “uncover” and “report” the problems of the inner city, gang warfare, violence, etc. But, in reality, you add to the problem. Instead of constructively developing solutions to the complex problems in our society that we all face, you offer no suggestions. You only exacerbate a bad situation.

It’s bad enough that you are a negative influence on society. You also hurt the innocent victims of these atrocious crimes. Should they have to suffer any more than they already have or will (through long drawn out trials)? You hurt the young adults who listen to your records. I can only imagine the inner hatred you must feel about yourselves.

SETH SWIRSKY

Beverly Hills