Hip-Hop Fans Are Angrier Than Usual
Today in front of Universal Records on Lexington Ave., [hip-hop fans gathered to protest] the genres increased emphasis on violence. But oddly enough, the demonstrators got pretty brutal themselves, smashing poor CDs and shredding defenseless T-shirts. The outrage comes in the wake of an incident last week in which Rapper Tony Yayo of 50 Cents G-Unit, 28, allegedly attacked the 14-year-old son of a rival music company boss.
[Yayo pleaded not guilty,] but now faces charges of assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Some have called on 50 Cent to issue a public apology on behalf of Yayo, though he has thus far refused. His attorney told CBS 2: Its clear that today's spectacle had nothing to do with any alleged confrontation and was simply about people wanting to manufacture a reason to attack 50 Cent. Meanwhile, Rev. Al Sharpton was on hand saying, There is no civilized society that can stand by while its children are being beaten.