Los Angeles heavy metal band, Body Count, found themselves in the middle of censorship disputes with the release of their self-titled album in March 1992. The main issue surrounded Ice-T’s lyrics in the song, “Cop Killer” which was deemed to encourage violence towards police. Calls to Time Warner to discontinue distribution of the track gained in popularity when the song was publically condemned by Vice President Dan Quayle. There were also appeals to boycott all Time Warner media from the Dallas Police Association and Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas, as well as requests for the song to be banned by Los Angeles Police Commission (Sieving 1998). Despite such claims, in the defence of Body Count is the First Amendment and the protection
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This album was also influenced by Rodney King’s attack, with the incident directly referenced in the lyrics of “Soulja Story”, and one which was also claimed to promote violence towards police. The issue became much more serious in April 1992 when Ronald Ray Howard shot and murdered a police trooper when he was pulled over in Texas. During his trial, Howard explained that he was listening to 2pacalpse Now before the altercation and claimed that Tupac made him shoot and kill the policeman (Talerman 1994). Although the court dismissed the claim and sentenced Howard to death, the issue was rather interestingly taken up by the family and wife of the murdered trooper; Linda Davidson, who made a case that there was no doubt in her mind that if it weren’t for Tupac’s lyrics then her husband would still be alive (Talerman 1994). She then proceeded to sue Tupac, but more specifically Time Warner, for their role in the event in promotion and distribution of the music and for displaying ‘gross negligence’ (Malloy and Krotoszynski 2000). However, Tupac’s right to freedom of speech ultimately won the case, with Time Warner’s attorney James George also suggesting that this crime appeared to be more about American gun laws rather than lyrics (Philips …show more content…
In this way Body Count could be considered as being censored by means of social pressure. Despite this measure, although to some extent it did limit who the track was available to, this form of censorship was not particularly successful for a number of reasons. Firstly, by the time Ice-T pulled the track the album had been available to the public for several months therefore thousands had already heard it, including at performances of the band’s tour over the previous year. Secondly, in one news article, Ice-T stated that he’d give out the song for free for those who wanted it (Philips 1992). In this way the action of pulling the song appears to be more about protecting the Time Warner company and avoid public controversy rather than censoring the violent message. This is highlighted by the fact that Body Count and Ice-T have since performed the song live, videos of which can be found online very
This album was also influenced by Rodney King’s attack, with the incident directly referenced in the lyrics of “Soulja Story”, and one which was also claimed to promote violence towards police. The issue became much more serious in April 1992 when Ronald Ray Howard shot and murdered a police trooper when he was pulled over in Texas. During his trial, Howard explained that he was listening to 2pacalpse Now before the altercation and claimed that Tupac made him shoot and kill the policeman (Talerman 1994). Although the court dismissed the claim and sentenced Howard to death, the issue was rather interestingly taken up by the family and wife of the murdered trooper; Linda Davidson, who made a case that there was no doubt in her mind that if it weren’t for Tupac’s lyrics then her husband would still be alive (Talerman 1994). She then proceeded to sue Tupac, but more specifically Time Warner, for their role in the event in promotion and distribution of the music and for displaying ‘gross negligence’ (Malloy and Krotoszynski 2000). However, Tupac’s right to freedom of speech ultimately won the case, with Time Warner’s attorney James George also suggesting that this crime appeared to be more about American gun laws rather than lyrics (Philips …show more content…
In this way Body Count could be considered as being censored by means of social pressure. Despite this measure, although to some extent it did limit who the track was available to, this form of censorship was not particularly successful for a number of reasons. Firstly, by the time Ice-T pulled the track the album had been available to the public for several months therefore thousands had already heard it, including at performances of the band’s tour over the previous year. Secondly, in one news article, Ice-T stated that he’d give out the song for free for those who wanted it (Philips 1992). In this way the action of pulling the song appears to be more about protecting the Time Warner company and avoid public controversy rather than censoring the violent message. This is highlighted by the fact that Body Count and Ice-T have since performed the song live, videos of which can be found online very