In my latest interview on West Coast Styles, I had the pleasure and privilege of speaking with Mr. Andy Lee Roth.  Roth is the associate director of Project Censored, a watchdog organization for media.  According to the organization’s website, its mission is to “[educate] students and the public about the importance of a truly free press for democratic self-government.  We expose and oppose news censorship, and we promote independent investigative journalism, media literacy, and critical thinking.”

The conversation with Andy is excellent because he explains and illustrates how the media covers things.  His insight serves as a reminder of how businesses and corporate entities can censor things, whether reporting on a matter of fact or defending an opinion.  Therefore, supporting what you present is more critical than ever.

During our discussion, we talked about the latest edition of State of the Free Press and some of Project Censored’s most censored stories of this past year.

The conversation ran twice as long as planned because of the thoughtful dialogue and intrigue that Roth could provide with his answers.  Hip-Hop is part of the culture, but without independent journalism, the free flow of ideas and information in culture suffers because the control of mainstream media lies in the hands of so very few.

While an integral part of society, Hip-Hop has constantly challenged the system, not unlike Project Censored.  The following conversation is about two entities recognizing each other’s willingness to buck the proverbial system for the greater good of us all.  Check it out!