Shot

Rip It Up, Issue 201, 1 May 1994, Page 10

Shot

The up-coming Auckland appearance of two American hip-hop acts has created yet another rap controversy. LA group Cypress Hill and former NWA member Ice Cube are performing one concert only at the North Shore Stadium on May 29. The concert was to be the second in a series of ‘Coca-Cola Teenage Rampage’ tours, but after a complaint from Warren Seastrand, the principal of Glenfield College, Coca-Cola withdrew their financial support. Two weeks ago Seastrand cancelled the school canteen’s contract with CocaCola in protest at their sponsorship of the Hill/Cube tour. He believes the artists involved actively promote drug abuse, and was concerned that a major company was “condoning” the use of illegal drugs. It should be crystal clear to any thinking listener of the Cypress Hill album Black Sunday that the authors are pro-marijuana, but they do not endorse drug abuse. The album Lethal Injection by Ice Cube contains absolutely no drug references. Has Seastrand even heard the performers in question? “I have heard the groups themselves and musically I thought they had all the charm of a pneumatic bilge pump. From what I’ve heard, I don’t like their stance on women and I certainly don’t like the misleading information they give on drugs.” Would he like to see the concert cancelled? “I really have no opinion.” Asked whether he would take the same view if the concert was being held in another suburb, say South Auckland, he thought he would “probably be concerned.” “My only concern really was that we sell Coke in our canteen and Coke were sponsoring it. I’d rather go to a company

that have a little bit more discrimination in who they sponsor.” Discrimination? Interesting word. In February last year Coca-Cola sponsored the one New Zealand concert by American band Guns n’ Roses. Several members of that band have publicly admitted they have undergone treatment for heroin addiction, and original drummer Steven Adler was kicked out of the band due to his continuing problems with the drug. Their debut album Appetite for Destruction featured at least two songs alluding to their use of heroin. Coca-Cola marketing manager Richard Warren refused to comment on their withdrawal from the rap tour or their sponsorship of other events.

“As far as we’re concerned that issue has past. We don’t think it’s appropriate to continue the discussion. From our point of view, with our relationship with music in general, we would really just prefer to move on.” Immediately following the withdrawal of Coca-Cola, Seastrand reversed his decision to ban their product from being sold at Glenfield College. The problem here is one of ignorance. Making musicians, rappers or rockers the scapegoats for the social problems of a generation only succeeds in further damaging already fragile lines of communication. What Warren Seastrand and those of his ilk fail to realise, or refuse to see, is the youth of today don’t take drugs because someone who makes records does. If they choose to use drugs, whether it be alcohol, marijuana, or heroin, it is for two reasons. Either they just damn well enjoy it, or because the feeling gained is respite from an unhappy reality. The real problems are outside the music Mr Seastrand, not within.

JOHN RUSSELL