Minister Conrad Muhammad's organization CHHANGE (Conscious Hip-Hop Activism for Global Empowerment) held a meeting in Harlem Wednesday May 9 to discuss negative hip-hop images. Top African-American rap label executives were invited to discuss the issue. Muhammad also wants record companies to create programs to teach artists how to deal with sudden success. Muhammad told the press that the conference was not designed to give rap a bad rap. According to MTVNews he explained: "This was not a meeting to bash rap music," we wanted to meet today with black executives to find out why the African-American community has been degraded in some of the most egregious ways." Russell Simmons was invited but did not show up. Simmons is having his own hip-hop summit in New York June 12-13 and he sent e-mails to top executives at rap labels discouraging their participation in the event. None of the executives were present but Muhammad considered the event, which included KRS- One and me! mbers of the Zulu Nation a success. The minister was not surprised at Simmons' absence because they have disagreed over this issue in the past. "I'm more interested in the community. Those who have made money off of negative rap, you wouldn't necessarily expect them to come to our meeting. But ultimately we'll address the issue with them. They can either do it themselves or we're gonna do it for them." There are plans for the organization to boycott record labels, and media outlets and to engage in civil disobedience. "We're saying if we can't get these issues addressed, we can march and protest and go to jail. I'm willing to go to jail to say these companies cannot package and sell degrading images to African-American people." KRS-One will also join the group's strategies. "Our children are at stake, we can't play games anymore. We're not against free expression. If an artist feels he has to use the 'n' or 'b' words, that's a poetic debate. What we're saying is you canno! t package the word muthaf---er to our children." Muhammad bel! ieves that Simmons may find a solution to the negative images. "We are willing, in the sprit of unity, to wait until after [Simmons'] summit to see if they put forth an effective solution. If they can do that, we'll feel we scored a victory. If they are not willing to address these issues, our campaign for dignity will continue." Muhammad founded CHHANGE in 1998 to promote social consciousness in the Black community, with an emphasis on hip-hop subculture. The organization has held rallies, protest marches and voter-registration drives. Muhammad has also acted as a spiritual advisor to many rappers, including Shyne.