Chuck D has declared his intention to "change the face and sound of urban radio" in the US, calling it a "malignant cancer" that has misrepresented the face of hip-hop and "disrespected" its own African-American audiences.

Incensed by New York's recent Summer Jam festival, which was organised by the local station Hot 97, Chuck D has called on urban radio stations to radically decrease their use of the N-word and to improve the diversity of their programming.

Chuck D began complaining about Summer Jam as the festival wound down on 2 June: "What a sloppy fiasco @hot97 in NYC has made of HipHop. #culturalCrime," he tweeted. He later referred to the event as "SummerSLAVEJam", saying that performers' use of the N-word was akin to yelling slurs at the audience. "If there was a festival and it was filled with anti-Semitic slurs … or racial slurs at anyone but black people, what do you think would happen?" he told Billboard. "Why does there have to be such a double standard?"

The look on my face after I heard what a sloppy fiasco @hot97 in NYC has made of HipHop. #culturalCrime pic.twitter.com/wn2FhHToHa — Chuck D (@MrChuckD) June 2, 2014

Hot 97's approach to rap "[is] just a sloppy presentation of the art form, the worst presentation known to man," Chuck D went on. "Radio should lead not follow." In addition to complaining about the foul language of performers like Nicki Minaj, 50 Cent and YG, Chuck D criticised Hot 97 and other urban stations' approach to programming: "['Urban music'] should be a representation of playing music by a lot of different artists – non-black artists, too." Later, he tweeted an example: "Underground-UnderFound-Local-INTL-Women-Classic RAP."

According to Chuck D, radio stations, record labels and festival promoters can begin changing the culture by including ethics clauses in their contracts, prohibiting artists from being "derogatory to the community [they] come from". The New Orleans jazz festival already does this, he said, and he wants to brainstorm more ideas with people in "London [and] maybe Sydney", where hip-hop is apparently "treat[ed] … more dignified".



Failing that, Chuck D has also offered support for petitions like one calling for the United States' federal communications commission to cancel Hot 97's radio licence. The rapper said he wants to accomplish something tangible "by year's end".

Chuck D's statements have not been embraced by Hot 97. "I wish radio sort of served a more grand, positive purpose, but it’s entertainment and a business," Peter Rosenberg, one of the station's top DJs, told Billboard. On Twitter , he said he didn't understand why the Public Enemy frontman was "blam[ing] hip-hop's use of the N-word" on Hot 97. "I'm not trying to be a jerk – I just don't follow the logic."

"Where does it come from bro?" Chuck D replied. "And what's fueling it ok? In [1989] it was used sparingly in small circles, now it's mainstream. Why? … You saying black folk pinned it on themselves out of nowhere dude?"

Public Enemy, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year, released their 12th studio album in 2012.