“In almost 30 years in this business, I’ve never been in a hip-hop battle and I will not be drawn into one now by The Source magazine,” said Russell Simmons, Chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. “Dave Mays and Benzino are my brothers and I wish the best for them. Unfortunately, we do not agree on this issue. In a Hip-Hop Summit in Detroit earlier this year, Eminem, Nas and Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick inspired 14,000 young people to reach for their highest aspirations.”
Russell Simmons said this in response to Source co-owner Dave Mays stepping down from the Board of Directors of the HHASN and criticizing him for supporting Eminem. “Russell Simmons’ rush to defend Eminem over his racist lyrics is disturbing and disappointing to me,” David Mays said in a statement. “This is not the Russell I’ve known and admired for many years as a strong leader of the hip-hop movement.” He added that we would only come back to the board if Simmons revealed what financial ties he has to Eminem and/or Interscope.
“As Chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, I accept Dave Mays’ resignation from the Board of Directors with regret,” Simmons added. “We wish Dave Mays and The Source magazine well. We expect and look forward to Eminem’s continued rise in popularity and even greater contributions to our community.”
Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President of the HHSAN, emphasized, “I want to reiterate that hip-hop transcends race. The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network represents the interests of all of the artists. I believe The Source magazine has the opportunity and the responsibility to promote the evolution of hip-hop culture. We should not allow this controversy to forfeit the progress that has been made.”
