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Does Oprah Have Beef with Hip-Hop?

Rappers have recently criticized media mogul Oprah Winfrey, claiming the TV host has slammed hip-hop. This week, Ice Cube lashed out, angered that he has never been asked to appear on Oprah’s show. “She’s had damn rapists, child molesters, and lying authors on her show,” the rapper told FHM. “And if I’m not a rags-to-riches story for her, who is?”

Ludacris also expressed concern in a recent interview, maintaining that quotes about his rap career were omitted from an Oprah broadcast where he appeared to promote the Oscar-winning film, Crash. Oprah responded by calling radio station Power 105.1 FM earlier this month to reveal she occasionally listens to 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” on her iPod. But 50 isn’t returning the favor. “Oprah’s audience is my audience’s parents,” Fiddy told AP. “So, I could care less about Oprah or her show. I’m actually better off having friction with her.”

A spokesperson for Oprah didn’t return a call from Spin.com for comment, but the blogosphere is churning full time with its own opinions on the matter.

“I know this comes as quite a shock but come on…we all know that Oprah is one of the whitest people on the face of the earth. She practically glows with yuppie goo. I can tell you right now what she has on her iPod and it mainly consists of country music and Michael Bolton. I guarantee.” — Stephen, MySpace

“Considering that [rappers are] proponents [of] a lifestyle that promotes unsafe, often abusive sex, drug use, the objectification of women, and crime, I can’t imagine why Oprah might take issue with their ‘art form’.” – Hate Me So You Can Finally See What’s Good for You, MySpace

“Who’d have thought back in the NWA days that Ice Cube would end up moaning to some glossy magazine about not getting invited on Oprah.” — Notes of a Defeatist

“Africa is cool enough for Oprah, but black culture in America is something she filters through her clueless, snotty viewpoint…. It’s about time she realized her show can’t remain relevant and retires.” — Katie Z, Celebitchy

“I kinda feel for Ice Cube, he’s a decent guy who has somewhat shed his old gangsta image and could benefit from appearing on Oprah’s show. 50 on the other hand needs to stay as far away from Harpo Studios as possible!” — Darian

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On the Web: oprah.com