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Russell's Blog: Calling Out Bill O'Reilly

Posted by: 2/3/2009 | 5,421 Views

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Russell Simmons

REACTION?

As Editor-In-Chief of Global Grind, I am calling out Bill O' Reilly. If you really want to speak to the hip-hop community, even with your consistent targeted comments that take issue with what some hip-hop artists and other cultural leaders have said about America and about the world in which we all live, then I invite Bill O' Reilly to write a blog directly to the hip-hop nation. I will post it on the front page of Global Grind.

For far too long Bill has used The O' Reilly Factor on Fox News to spew inaccurate statements and ideological taunts about hip-hop. Rather than speaking indirectly to us using the code of right wing rhetoric, I am giving Bill O' Reilly a straight-up opportunity to come out of the Spin Zone and speak to millions of hip-hop supporters and leaders about whatever he may feel is important.

We believe in dialogue, but it should be a real dialogue face to face, blog to blog.

Yesterday O' Reilly even attacked the NY Times, George Soros, ACLU and Move On.org claiming that there is a left wing attempt to take over America. Well, in case Bill has not noticed, there is in fact a change going on in America. It is a positive change from the regression of the last eight years. The majority of Americans voted for change.

O' Reilly appears to want to hold on to the good old days of a past era. Hip-hop has helped immeasurably to bring about the current cultural and political transformation of America. Thanks to the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, the Hip-Hop Caucus, Rock the Vote and many other organizations, we had the largest youth voter turnout in American history on November 4, 2008.

President Barack Obama reflects the values and aspirations of the hip-hop generation.

It is time for Republicans, Democrats and Independents to all work together for the common good of all. In these hard economic times we do need an economic stimulus package to help the economy to recover.

It looks as if that some of the same bloggers and commentators that supported George Bush for eight years are now trying to block Obama from fulfilling the mandate of the democratic vote that our new President received. We refuse, therefore, to stand on the sidelines in silence.

Bill O' Reilly, you are at the top of our list. Blog now or stay in the Spin Zone. Don't worry about Rush Limbaugh because he is next on the Global Grind list.

-Russell Simmons

60 comments

Hey Russell--Thanks for calling out O'Reilly. Thought you'd be interested to see Gory Bateson's new music video "The Worst Person in the World," an homage to Keith Olbermann's segment and to several of his "Worst Persons in the World," featuring of course Bill O'Reilly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sw54ccNiQI

gory bateson 9/11/2009 | reply
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Why give these clowns another forum to berate Hip hop culture? I think simmons is missing the mark. Instead of granting these talking heads an opportunity to address the culture I would rather see him give lesser known journalists the opportunity to blog about the complex political economy of Hip hop culture.

C the streets schola 2/12/2009 | reply
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I respect both sides of this debate there is no doubt about that. I can honastly see both points of view. Though after reading some posts I had to just interject my comment to hopefully gain a different perspective.

A healthy debate about this issue is well deserved and has been a long time coming. I'm sure if Mr. Simmons wanted to sit down with Mr. O'Reilly that it would happen.

I do find it somewhat contradictory though reading some of the point of views/posts. Some...not all...claim Mr. O'Reilly to be a far right activist and racist. For those, are you picking a side or looking at the whole issue, or are you being racists on the other side?

I've heard Mr. O'Reilly and his comments which do bear some weight, he does usually backs his comments with facts as well.

My favorite artist of all time and genre is Notorious...but if you listen to the lyrics could you honastly say that is the way you would want your child to come up and live their life. I think everyone can agree that young children are very impressionable and think that this is "cool" and the path they should follow.

Also please dont be fooled. Mr. Simmons is a very educated and savvy business man, no arguing that. In the hip-hop world Mr. Simmons is an icon, but outside of that, what exactaly is his popularity. Mr. O'Reilly has a large following, whether liked or disliked he is more known then Mr. Simmons. So again dont be fooled for this supposed "call out", but recognize this as a way to use the hip-hop community as a means to gain media coverage for Mr. Simmons's personal endeavours.

d25294i 2/6/2009 | reply
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- Ehhh, hang on there buddy. Just like you, I see both sides of this, and I agree. Bill O'Reilly's arguments against hip-hop do have some validity. However, I feel that he ONLY focuses on the negative sides of the hip-hop culture. What genre of music doesn't have positives and negatives? What culture doesn't have it's ups AND downs? Yes, O'Reilly has a larger following, and it's because of that popularity that he should feel obligated to provide a more well-rounded view of such a major subculture in America instead of just a biased, one-sided opinion formulated from lack of understanding and an even bigger lack (so it seems) of the will to understand.
  
  I completely disagree with you that this is a ploy to increase Russell Simmons' media coverage or popularity. But let's say that it is... does that make the issue any less relevant? Motives aside, O'Reilly has a powerful influence on a large part of the nation, so if you're gonna talk about hip-hop, learn about it first. Do your homework Mr. O'Reilly.
  
  2/6/2009 | reply
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It is really interesting to see "rap" grow up. I know we as a hip-hop nation have a long way to go, it isn't until we see a blog like this to realize how far we've come.

Let the face-to-face debate begins, I hope O'Rielly accepts.

k9hogan 2/5/2009 | reply
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- Me too, this will be really interesting. Like how would he even start? Especially since he wouldn't be talking to an audience that's not already his own.
  
  The Blackspot 2/5/2009 | reply
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Oh yea, I forgot

Support your local music and athletics underground, buy a street cd and love someone........

WWW.BIGROG.ORG

bigrog505 2/5/2009 | reply
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WOOOOOW WE is it good to be back in circulation..... baby.

First of let me start by telling everyone Don't kill yourself. Please if they aint got love for you BIG ROG does.

Ok Mr. Oriley is a man of great character and integrity. Russell I thought you said rap music was to explicit and harmful to young minds. At least that's the opinion I carried of you and based my respect for you on. Why are you defending half of these fake ass, mamas boys who sponge off other people and do nothing with there wealth to give back to communities? Greed thats why. And if they do they have a hand picked few they help. Then we bring in the fact that your Obahma figured out that the young people had no outlets other then music and the hip hop culture it created. A tactic used to lure kids into gangs. But as I see it, the only people who will benefit from this are the blacks. And notice how I didn't say niggers. That word costed the taste slapped out my mouth at an early age by my Hispanic Marine Coal mining father whom I chose not to be with at his bed side( because I was chasing the hip hop dream) while he died a painful death from Black Lung Disease. You're supporting fools that continue to put each other down and you want Mr. Oriley to address you. Challe puto I wouldn't respond to you either. I made several attempts to contact you and wasted numerous hours reading about you and your rise to fame. For you having the Rev on your side I think you both are Luke warm. I have a Saint and my saint gives me strength because through his pain I find energy to address my mission that burns in my heart and soul. I hope you realize who you're messing with Russell and if you shake a dogs cage he will get pumped up. And to tell you the truth he has people like me and my organization behind him. Lets Play.

bigrog505 2/5/2009 | reply
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- So if he would've called you back and listened to your CD, it would've been all good huh?
  
  Big Deez 2/5/2009 | reply
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I find it funny that Bill picks and chooses who he will have on his show to represent "Hip Hop". We all can agree that majority of the artist that he invites on isn't even a true representation of what the culture is really about and I'm sure as one of the forefathers that is a slap in the face to Russell.

It Kind of hurt my heart when he played a hand in Ludacris's deal with Pepsi falling through because Ludacris is such a good guy and his growth as a person since he first hit the scene as a rapper is phenomenal.

I also would like to see Bill have an educated discussion with "Hip Hop" without yelling over his guests. He's very unfair and one sided in his reporting and he needs to be stopped

Necole Bitchie 2/5/2009 | reply
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I agree with Russell Simmons. As a blogger within the hip-hop music avenue, I've long wondered why Bill O'Reilly has such a one-sided view of hip-hop, an outsider's perspective. I think it's born out of fear; people fear what they don't understand and after listening to Bill O'Reilly continuously target hip-hop with his negativity, it's apparent to me that he does not understand the hip-hop community. If he truly wants to shed his ignorance on hip-hop then he should step up to Russell's open invitation and accept; talk to us and with us, or stop talking at us or about us. The nation is evolving, and hip-hop evolves along with it. The time is now, Mr. O'Reilly for you to evolve as well and let go of a past that this country does not wish to remain stuck in.

2/5/2009 | reply
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Hip Hop is what a rabbit does and rap is crap!!!!!!!!

Bing 2/5/2009 | reply
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I dont know why I bothered to register here. I dont roll with people that call women bitches and ho's. Also Russel Simmons is a a--hole. O reilly has forgotten more about life than that jerk will ever know!

Bing 2/5/2009 | reply
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- That's what's cool about Hip Hop... you can roll WITH us or Keep It Moving. No hard feelings.
  
  Geronimo 2/5/2009 | reply
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Reason why I dont watch fox news. Seems like every1 on there is soo 1 sided on the same side of every issue. I was following a few of them on twitter for a while but released em cause they had some ignant views not only on politics, but a lack of a true understanding of the racial mix of America as it is today. Even the the non majority news casters seemed ignant. I truly do not understand....

2/5/2009 | reply
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I remember when he went to Slyvia's with Al Sharpton and he was shocked that the service was good. Like it should have been bad. lol Bill O' we won't hurt you. I'm looking forward to this. Loofah and all. I bet Keith Olbermann would do a blog for Global Grind.

BlogXilla 2/5/2009 | reply
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Bill O" REALLY is scared of hip hop and blacks a like. Bill should get his loofah ready.

BlogXilla 2/5/2009 | reply
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Thank you Mr. Simmons for your offer to Bill O'Rielly, You have given him an opportunity that he and many media outlets have refused to give the hip hop culture. Thank you for leading by example!

I hope that people realize that all over the world, hip hop does positive things for not only it's own communities for communities around the world as a whole. Everyday.

From the top of the hip hop food chain like Ludacris foundation to the smallest spec on the hip hop map like an Aids benefit put together by locals in the Ohio Hip Hop community, hip hop cares about every kind of topic and every kind of issue that effects the communities around the world, and its unfortunate how often times the media feeds only on the negative and looks past the positive.

I continue to have faith in my hip hop culture because so many are doing positive things with their lives and I continue to believe that the good outweighs the bad, even if the positive stories don’t make it onto the 6o’clock news or the front page of the newspaper.

Hip hop is about expression, hate it or love it, we have so much to express in our culture that yes some is negative(especially to those who are not in the culture) and some is positive, but in the end they only are allowing one side of the coin to get shine, and that needs to stop.

Media outlets have said “possitive stories don’t sell as much as negative stories” but I think if a media outlets BRANDING is strong enough they can sell anything, and if they made the CHOICE to force feed the positive and refuse to continue to over expose the negative they would find that good media will sell.

And for those that haven’t figured it out yet, Hip Hop isn’t going anywhere!

PRSoSincere 2/5/2009 | reply
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Did anyone else notice that Fox News had almost no coverage of President Obama's Inauguration? Post Inauguration for that matter? All they covered was Bush getting on the helicopter and leaving DC? Its like they almost went to extreme measures NOT to show Pres. Obama's appoint into office! Now if that doesn't prove how racist Fox News is then I don't know what will. Go Russ! Hip Hop's voice! www.arizemag.com

ArizeMag.com 2/5/2009 | reply
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- you are a asshole. Fox covered it all day long. I should know because I wacthed it all day long. Did you?
  
  Bing 2/5/2009 | reply
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- Be nice BING!
  
  First rule of hip hop is "Don't start beef (i.e. naming calling) if you're light in the ass"
  
  Geronimo 2/5/2009 | reply
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