I read this in another site, so i decided to post it here...
THE STELLAR AWARDS NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Responds to removal of Kanye West.
The following is the official response from the Stellar Awards about
their decision to remove Kayne West CD from the 2005 ballot:
(Sept. 14, 2004- Chicago)
The officials of the Stellar Awards announced today their decision to
remove the artist Kanye West CD - The College Drop Out that includes
the single Jesus Walks off the 2005 Stellar Awards Ballot in the
Rap/Hip Hop CD of the Year category.
The reason for removing the CD from the ballot is that some of the
songs on the CD contain explicit lyrics and the CD carries an
explicit language warning symbol on its cover, therefore it did not
meet the Stellar Awards criteria.
Officials of the Nominating Committee had originally considered the
CD because of the gospel song on the CD entitled "Jesus Walks." The
Stellar Awards certainly encourage the many facets of gospel music;
however, after being made aware of the explicit lyrics in the other
songs from the CD, the Stellar Awards nominating committee felt the
CD lyrical selections were not in the best interest and spirit of
gospel music. Therefore, the Kanye West CD was immediately removed
from the Hip Hop CD of the Year category and the entire ballot.
An addendum to the initial ballot which eliminated the Kanye West CD –
The College Drop Out from the ballot was prepared and will be sent
out to the entire Stellar Awards Voting Body on September 17, 2004.
The Stellar Awards' Senior Management and the Nominating Committee
certainly did not intend to offend the Gospel Music
Community with this glaring oversight. We have implemented
corrective actions to make sure that such an error never happens in
the future.
