Russell Simmons and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) issued a statement today (April 23) urging the recording industry and media outlets to censor misogynistic lyrics and racist terms from future recordings.

After Don Imus' recent firing for using disparaging remarks about the Rutgers University Women's Basketball team, hip-hop critics and activists in the black community have challenged the record industry and rappers to tone down denigrating lyrics.

"We recommend that the recording and broadcast industries voluntarily remove/bleep/delete the misogynistic words 'b*tch' and 'ho' and the racially offensive word 'n*gger,'" Simmons said via the statement. "These three words should be considered with the same objections to obscenity as 'extreme curse words.'"

Simmons and the HSAN also called for the formation of a Coalition on Broadcast Standards that would consist of leading executives from music, radio and television.

"The Coalition would recommend guidelines for lyrical and visual standards within the industries," the statement continued. "We also recommend that the recording industry establish artist mentoring programs and forums to stimulate effective dialogue between artists, hip-hop fans, industry leaders and others to promote better understanding and positive change."