Listeners Try to Persuade Power 106 : Radio: An anti-violence coalition asks KPWR-FM to delete three words its members deem offensive from rap songs. Station officials voice skepticism.

By CLAUDIA PUIG

Dec. 1, 1993 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

The management of KPWR-FM (“Power 106”) met Monday night with a coalition of concerned listeners asking that the popular station delete certain lyrics from rap songs as a means of combatting violence.

About 20 members of the Inglewood-based Stop the Violence Increase the Peace Foundation attended the meeting, threatening a boycott of KPWR’s major advertisers if the negative use of three words was not eliminated--one term used to describe African Americans and two used to describe women.

“These words offend people,” said foundation spokesman Khalid Shah. “It’s a demeaning form of communication. We get calls on this every day. By airing these words, you’re basically contributing to the problem.”

“The FCC is already regulating radio stations on the use of profane language,” said Vernelle Edwards, an entertainment attorney and member of the foundation. “You can go beyond the list of what you’re bleeping and recognize there are other words that are just as offensive.”

“You don’t really lose a lot of the flavor of the music by taking out a lot of these words,” said Muhammad Nassardeen, owner of Recycling Black Dollars. “What we’re asking is that words be removed that act as negative influences in the community. We’re thinking in terms of what a child in the community hears. . . . Not that we’re asking you to parent these youngsters, but just to be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem.”

Although they said they would take the request under advisement and respond Friday morning, KPWR executives expressed skepticism that deleting certain offensive words would have any effect on rampant violence in society.

“It’s fundamentally distasteful to me to have these words on the radio station and I think what you’re asking is well thought-out and it’s not unreasonable,” said Rick Cummings, KPWR program director. “But just bleeping a word out isn’t going to do a damn thing. . . . If I thought for one minute that one record we played was causing violence, I’d quit and go home.”

When asked how a certain pejorative term used for an African American person can benefit anyone, Cummings said he did not see the benefit of the word but said he believed the black community was divided on the issue of whether to use the word.

“I’m here for my generation,” said 14-year-old Tony Price. “We’re not saying that by taking these words off, the battle will be won. No war is won by one battle. . . . Power 106 is the most listened-to station in Los Angeles. We want you to use your power. You have tremendous power in the community. We’re just asking you to do what you know is right.”

In response to the meeting, KPWR officials said Tuesday morning that they were looking into setting up a telephone poll for listeners to call in and vote on whether they want offensive rap lyrics deleted.

Foundation members said that the meeting with KPWR was the first step in a more elaborate campaign they have vowed to wage to stem the tide of violence in Southern California.