Former Georgetown basketball standout and Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson, recently criticized for explicit lyrics directed at gays, women and blacks in his debut rap album Non-Fiction, agreed Thursday to eliminate the offensive lyrics following a meeting with NBC Commissioner David Stern.
The full album will not be released to stores until February, but the song “40 Bars,” was released to radio stations on Tuesday. Critics saythe song contains questionable lyrics about gays, women, blacks and gun violence, and ends with the sound of a gun being fired.
Other songs on the album include such lyrics as, “Come to me with those [expletive] tendencies and you’ll be sleeping with the maggots be,” and “Get money, kill and [expletive], I’m hittin’ anything and planning on using my riches.”
Iverson apologized for the album’s lyrics in a recent statement.
“If individuals of the gay community and women of the world are offended by any of the material in my upcoming album, let the record show that I wish to extend a profound apology.”
“If a kid thinks that I promote violence by the lyrics of my songs, I beg them not to buy it or listen to it. I want kids to dream and to develop new dreams,” Iverson added in his statement.
After issuing the apology, Iverson met on Tuesday with a civil rights group and other critics of his album. He said afterwards that it was “a good meeting,” but refused to change the lyrics.
The album has provoked controversy over whether or not the NBA should fine or suspend Iverson. The issue is particularly contentious in light of the comments Atlanta Braves relief pitcher John Rocker made in the Dec. 23, 1999 issue of Sports Illustrated that were highly offensive to many minority groups. Rocker was suspended for his comments by Major League Baseball, fined $500 and required to attend sensitivity training.
Following Thursday’s meeting, Stern issued a statement stating that he would not suspend or fine Iverson, but that the lyrics were certainly offensive and that Iverson would, in fact, take steps to change them prior to the album.
“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.
A NBA Player’s union official said that changes to the lyrics had been made even before the meeting between Stern and Iverson.
Since joining the NBA in 1996, Iverson has gained a rebellious reputation. He pleaded guilty to a class one misdemeanor charge of carrying a weapon in August 1997; in exchange, prosecutors dropped their charge of marijuana possession, a misdemeanor. He was also convicted of felony maiming by mob in 1993 for his involvement in a brawl prior to his time at Georgetown, but he was later pardoned by the Virginia governor, who cited to racial motivations surrounding his conviction.
