'Blood money' of So Solid backers

A senior black community leader has accused the music industry moguls behind So Solid Crew of taking "blood money".

Trevor Phillips, deputy chairman of the London Assembly, has condemned the commercial organisations profiting from the band's use of violent images to sell their records.

Members of So Solid Crew have snubbed appeals from the black community to stop glamorising violence and to act as better role models.

Mr Phillips today said the critics should aim higher. "The So Solid Crew glory in their reputation because they know their bad boy image will attract teenagers who like a brush with danger.

"Do the pension funds that invest in them really want to continue earning money by glamorising the gun culture. In any other circumstance we would be saying that this is blood money."

A spokeswoman for their PR firm Outside and record label Relentless said she was unable to comment.

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