Arrested Development frontman Speech started a Change.org petition for the FCC to "change mainstream radio by playing more positive Hip-Hop, Soul & R&B music".

The petition reads:

Hi y'all, my name is Speech from the music group Arrested Development. I have loved Hip-Hop for over 30 years, it has changed my life and the lives of most of the people around me. I see it as the most powerful entertainment medium for social awareness and change in recent history and it has unfortunately been taken hostage by institutionalized racism, fierce corporate greed and unconscious artists. Over the last 25 years we all have become desensitized to the ever increasing barrage of content that glorifies negativity, Black on black murder, hatred, hyper sensuality, hyper criminality and gross misogyny.

This IS NOT about censoring. I'm an artist myself, so I know that when artistic expression is limited, freedom and the evolution of ideas is often the casualty. This IS about exposing hypocrisy and the desensitization of us all when rape, gay bashing & bullying aren't acceptable behaviors for mainstream radio but Black on black murder is.

Today our entire nation hears these themes 100 times a day, across hundreds of cities and on 1000's of media outlets including mainstream, corporate supported radio stations. During prime-time, drive-time, morning, noon and night our nation's small kids, teens and adults subconsciously celebrate Black murder, violence and negative stereotypes through "urban" music.

This attack on our babies will only stop when good people like you take a stand! We can take back the music and great music is worth it! The market place only changes when social norms change.

In 2013, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne (after being petitioned) both lost lucrative endorsement deals from offensive lyrics about date rape and victims of hate crimes respectively. J Cole (after petitioned) apologized for offensive lyrics that could encourage bullying. U.S. based rapper, Action Bronson was taken off of a public, free concert in Canada because of lyrics where he brags about gang-raping and murdering women. Rapper, Honey Singh (from India) was pulled from shows because of offensive lyrics about rape.

This toxic lyrical content is constant and literally changing the entire world around us and especially our Black brothers and sisters...

Our Black friends & families are affected by homicides 10 times the rate of Whites! Of certain age groups there is more death involving homicides of blacks than any other form of violence! This is damaging us more than school shootings, mall shootings, mass shootings, work place shootings, even more than war and terrorism!

For over a decade the CDC's leading cause of death for Black males 15-34 is homicide! It's not as simple as addressing poverty, education and family structure, THIS IS AMERICAN POP CULTURE being played out in real life on radio and video! Would we allow this barrage of material to be on mainstream outlets if it was about killing animals? I sure hope not! How much more precious human beings!!

I have a beautiful daughter named Zoe and a wonderful son named Jahi. I'd like them to grow up in a world where they can listen to Hip-Hop with a diverse range of topics as it was in the 80's and 90's. For every song talking about the harsh realities of the streets, let's hear songs about love, solutions and positive themes! Instead of simply complaining, lets change the narrative! Send a message to the corporate giants, labels, advertisers, the unconscious artists and the FCC in one big swoop! PLEASE sign this petition and spread the word to EVERYONE you know!

Together we will change things immediately for the sake of our kids!

Sign and Share the Petition here