| | Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA -- Allen Iverson met Tuesday with a civil
rights group and others who were offended by the rap album by the
Philadelphia 76ers star.
| |  | |
| Iverson |
Iverson said there was a "good exchange of ideas" and the
album will stay on the market with no change in the lyrics, which
contains violent references and derogatory terms about gays, women
and blacks. Last week, Iverson released a statement apologizing to
gays and women who might be offended by the lyrics.
Although Iverson refused to change the lyrics, Tuesday's meeting
appeared helpful.
"It suggested more caring than I've ever seen from white
rappers like Eminem," said Rita Addessa, director of the Lesbian
and Gay Task Force. "It suggests at some level Iverson may care
about community."
About a dozen protesters gathered outside the First Union Center
on Tuesday night, before the 76ers' preseason game against San
Antonio. Also, about 20 activists angry about Iverson's lyrics
attended the game with donated tickets, but said they had no plans
to disrupt play.
Also Tuesday, filmmaker Spike Lee said that he loves Iverson's
basketball, but his type of rap is a "21st century minstrel
show."
"I'm not saying he can't rap, but I'm talking about the
material, the content," Lee said on WTXF-TV. "It's the content,
and I love Allen but he's messing up on this one." | |
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Allen Iverson doesn't intend to change the lyrics on his album.
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Allen Iverson's song, '40 Bars.' (Courtesy: WPHI/Philly 103.9 and Universal Records)
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Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News and ESPN radio's Tony Kornheiser on Allen Iverson's rap record.
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