In the United State of America, technically, there is not supposed to be such a thing as music censorship. This does not mean that music censorship does not exist in popular music of the United States Many musical artist claim to be censored by radio stations, religious and community groups, retailers and their own record labels. In the United Stated, there seems to be a confusion as to what freedom of expression is and how it applies to music. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is the amendment that deals with freedom of speech. It reads as follows:

CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW REPRESENTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH , OR OF THE PRESS; OR OF THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, AND PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.

This law applies to the government, but does not apply to radio stations, religious and community groups, retailers and record

1955 Letters, mostly written by young adults, are sent to Chicago rock stations accusing them of playing "dirty" records. Radio station WABB runs editorials called "About The Music You Won't Hear on WABB." The editorials promise that the station will censor itself of all controversial music, especially rhythm and blues - in other words, "black" music. 1956

Also in 1990, the Meyer Music Markets (a record retail chain in the Pacific Northwest) puts a warning sticker on Frank Zappa's Jazz From Hell album. The sticker forbids sale to minors and warns of dirty lyrics. If the execs had actually listened to the record, they would have discovered it was entirely instrumental.

Officials in Illinois release a list of popular music that contains drug references. The list includes the popular children's song "Puff The Magic Dragon" and the Beatles "Yellow Submarine."1981

Many concert venue owners are voluntarily employing their own ratings systems. Managers of large concert venues such as the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah and the Alltel Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas, assert that parents want such systems. (Bib 4)

Another form of music censorship is banning the use of certain T-shirts. The Board of Education in Garfield, New Jersey, have sought to completely deny Freedom of Expression to students through their T-shirt slogans of choice. T-shirts with satanic messages, and certain messages from rock and rap artists, any obscene gestures or words have been banned from the Garfield City School system. A child with a T-shirt displaying lyrics that aren't in compliance with the new "law" in the schools are subject to be sent home to change or if they refuse to change they will be suspended. Students at Garfield High have petitioned the Board of Education, to allow them to express themselves freely as the First Amendment to the Constitution states.

Shawn Thomas, who records under the name C-Bo, was arrested in 1998 and held without bail while the state Board of Prison Terms considers the case. He is charged with threatening public officials, promoting violence against public officials, promoting a gang lifestyle, criminal behavior and violence against law enforcement. In the song "Deadly Game" from the record, "Til My Casket Drops" Thomas raps: "When they try to pull you over, shoot 'em in the face, y'all."

6. Communications Research; Beverly Hills; April 1997; Doulgas M Mcleod; William P eveland Jr.; Amy I Nathanson. V24 Issue 2

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 4047
Approximate Pages = 16 (250 words per page double spaced)