US Radio Station Bans Lil Wayne and Rick Ross for 'Violent, Anti-Women' Music

A Michigan radio station is making a bold stand against disrespectful and violent music by pulling Lil Wayne's and Rick Ross's music from its rotation.

WUVS-LP 103.7 The Beat has put a ban on the hip-hop stars' music because of the lyrics in some of their recent songs.

In February, Lil Wayne, real name Dwayne Michael Carter, sparked controversy when he featured on Future's track, Karate Chop.

In the song, the Lollipop hitmaker compared beating a woman's privates to the beating of Emmett Till, a black boy who was murdered in Mississippi in 1955 at the age of 14 after reportedly flirting with a white woman.

Wayne raps: "Bout to put rims on my skateboard wheels/Beat that p***y up like Emmett Till."

Although Epic Records pulled the track and issued an apology to Till's family, Wayne has ignored the controversy.

The decision at the radio station followed the release Rick Ross's new song You Don't Even Know, in which he raps about taking advantage of a woman after slipping a "molly" (a date rape drug) into her drink.

Ross, born William Leonard Roberts raps: "Put molly all in her champagne, she ain't even know it. I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain't even know it."

"Yes, we have our freedom of speech right, but when is freedom of speech taken too far?" a spokesperson for the station said.

"The family and estate of Emmett Till have released a statement of disapproval over Lil Wayne's disregard and disrespectful lyrics. Though his record label issued a statement of apology, the rapper has yet to do so.

"In the case of Rick Ross, a petition has been started over his blatant disregard for women and the issue of date rape. His lyrics not only condone the behaviour but he boasts about it in the song.

Spreading messages of harm

"While some feel it's only entertainment, many feel it sends and encourages the wrong message. Several individuals and organistions have taken a stand and so are we.

"We pride ourselves on playing music that is non-degrading and non-violent. While we believe in freedom of speech, creative writing and individualism, we refuse to be part of the problem by spreading messages that could harm or end someone's life."

The bold move has been welcomed by the online community.

"Can we get all of the stations to join this movement?" one listener said.

Another wrote: "Good! It has to start somewhere! Hopefully this will force musicians to be more creative instead of releasing this garbage just to make money."

"My spirit can't resolve that these are the messages being sent any more. I gracefully bow out of what this culture has become. I can't be part of this and I refuse to allow myself to become desensitised to such assertions," another commentator added.