Stern: Iverson To Tone Down Lyrics
Allen Iverson will take steps to eliminate offensive lyrics from the final version of his rap album, NBA commissioner David Stern said Thursday after meeting with Iverson at league headquarters.
Stern declined to fine or suspend Iverson but issued a strongly worded statement critical of the Philadelphia guard, whose controversial rap recording contains violent references and derogatory terms about gays, women and blacks.
"It was a good meeting. I'm glad we had it. I'm glad he called me in," Iverson said prior to the 76ers' exhibition game against the Knicks. "It's important for me to be a professional about the whole thing. I've got to play a season. My rap album is over. At this point, the only thing you can do is handle it like a man,"
By agreeing to eliminate some of the lyrics, Iverson made a departure from his earlier stance. After a meeting with civil rights groups earlier this week, Iverson said he would not change any lyrics.
Stern released a four-paragraph statement.
"The lyrics that have been attributed to Allen Iverson's soon to be released rap CD are coarse, offensive and anti-social. However, I have come to understand, unfortunately, that certain rap artists regularly spew such lyrics to a wide audience at great profit to some of America's most successful entertainment companies.
"Notwithstanding the music's wide popularity, Allen, by even recording his lyrics, has done a disservice to himself, the Philadelphia 76ers, his teammates and perhaps all NBA players. However I do not believe that the NBA should be in the business of regulating artistic expression, no matter how repugnant," Stern said.
Stern's statement said Iverson had made a commitment to eliminate the offensive lyrics.
A union official who accompanied Iverson to the meeting said Iverson had already changed some of the lyrics prior to meeting with Stern.
"If he doesn't follow through on that commitment, then he, along with the 76ers and the NBA, will merit whatever criticism may be leveled at us," Stern said.
"The commissioner covered it all," 76ers general manager Billy King said.
The album is due out in February; an edited version of one rap, "40 Bars," was released to radio stations this week. The song is peppered with references to women, blacks and gays and contains the following lyric: "Man enough to pull a gun, be man enough to squeeze it." The song ends with the lyrics played over the sounds of a gun being cocked and fired.
"Everything in the album people are going to think is offensive, but I can assure you that the people out there picketing and rotesting before, they're out there doing it for no reason," Iverson said. "I don't want an apology after it's all over, but the world will find out those people were wrong for picketing about something I didn't do or I didn't say."
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