Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 14, 1993 TAG: 9301140169
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN and MADELYN ROSENBERG STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
`COP KILLER' RAPPER SPEAKS AT RU IN FEB. 7
Controversial rapper Ice-T will take a different kind of show to Radford University next month. He will be speaking, not singing.And instead of talking about cop-killing or societal ills, themes that run through his album "Body Count," his message will be about something close to his heart these days: censorship.
Ice-T's single, "Cop Killer," is about a troubled youth in South Central Los Angeles who decides to go on a shooting spree to avenge police brutality.
The song was inspired by the racial riots in Los Angeles after a jury acquitted officers accused of using excessive force in arresting Rodney King.
"He's on the speaking circuit now," said Deborah Brown, director of university relations at Radford. He will discuss First Amendment freedoms, censorship and problems of America's inner cities.
Commander Jonny Butler of the Radford City Police Department, president of the New River Valley Fraternal Order of Police, said he didn't have any problem with the rap singer coming to speak at Radford. The Constitution gives him the right to speak out, the officer said.
"I feel that he has the right to say whatever he wants to say . . . and it's the duty of police officers to ensure that right," Butler said.
Ice-T's band has said that in some cities police had pressured hotel owners to kick out the group and refused to answer calls or offer protection.
Some Northern police lodges have adamantly opposed Ice-T's appearances, Butler said, and especially the singing of "Cop Killer." But the Virginia Beach police lodge didn't speak out against his recent appearance there.
`'We aren't either," Butler said.
"Nobody should censor him. He definitely shouldn't be censored," Butler said, unless it is by individual decisions not to attend his lecture or buy his music.
Last fall, a Washington County grand jury refused to indict a record store owner for selling the "Body Count" album to a 15-year-old boy or to say the music was harmful to juveniles.
Warner Bros. pulled "Cop Killer" from the album at Ice-T's request after national protests last summer.
At a press conference before his Virginia Beach appearance last month, Ice-T said he supported good cops and that his critics don't listen to his work.
Ice-T said the controversy has diverted attention from his message to the young people who listen to his music: Don't do drugs, eradicate racism and live together peacefully.
The speech, which will cost the university $8,000, is a part of the university's Black History Month celebration and is sponsored by the Black Awareness Programming Board.
"As hot as he is in the media and with the level of exposure he's had, it's not a bad price at all," said Keith Keiper, director of student life at Radford.
He said Preston Auditorium potentially could be packed by people who agree with Ice-T, and by those who are just curious about what he has to say.
Ice-T will speak on Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. in Preston Auditorium.
Funding for the lecture will come partly from student activities fees, but will be reimbursed by admissions charges.
The university is charging $3 for Radford students, $6 for the general public.