Tyrese Isn't Fazed By Delaware Radio Ban

'A lot of us artists are afraid to speak on obvious stuff that's going on in our 'hoods ... because of things like this,' Tyrese tells MTV News.
By Rob Markman

Tyrese
Photo: Jerry Markland/ Getty Images

Tyrese isn't afraid to speak his mind, and though his music is currently banned from 101.7 Kiss FM in Delaware, the R&B singer will not back down. During a September interview at the station, the singer and "Transformers" actor aggressively spoke out to keep liquor stores from opening in the proximity of schools.

"People drink — it is what it is — but the personalities and energy that liquor stores attract I think need to be much further away from elementary schools," Tyrese told MTV News when he walked the black carpet for the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards.

The singer, who is a national spokesman for Communities in Schools, had a speaking engagement in a Delaware school when he noticed a liquor store directly across the street. Instead of promoting his new album Open Invitation during a scheduled radio interview later in the day, Tyrese got on his soapbox and chastised community leaders for allowing the liquor store so close to the school.

"I transitioned into talking about that because it had just happened and that's when they kicked me off the air and banned my music," Tyrese said.

"Get them cats outta here, man, sellin' alcohol right across from your kids' school, homey," Tyrese said during his radio interview.

Kiss 101.7 owner Tony Quartarone told TMZ that it wasn't the singer's message that prompted the ban, but more how Tyrese spoke to the listeners. "Tyrese was not kicked off the air for pointing out that liquor stores should not be located near schools ... I totally agree with that. But ... he proceeded to downgrade my audience by calling them 'homeys.' "

Still, the "Sweet Lady" vocalist will not change his position. "I think a lot of us artists are afraid to speak on obvious stuff that's going on in our 'hoods and in our communities because of things like this," he told MTV News. "For me, I don't want them to play my music. I don't care, my position won't change. I didn't even get on there to do it on purpose, like, 'Let me start some sh--.' I got on there to talk about the album, and because it was fresh on my mind, I got up there and I spoke on it."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1672123/tyrese-delaware-radio-ban.jhtml

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