Singer Seal hits out at rappers

Seal is nominated for a Grammy Award

British pop star Seal has condemned rap stars for their derogatory treatment of women in lyrics and videos.

He told black entertainment magazine Sister 2 Sister that it was damaging for black culture.

"It's sad when you see the rappers on TV and in the videos making these derogatory videos towards women ... kind of like sexual objects," he said.

"It's sad because we're damaging our own. Like, in different cultures, you would never see that."

Responsibility

He added: "Take for example the Jewish culture. They've been persecuted just like the black people, right? But you never see them eating their own. They don't. But we will.

"I really feel that there is a responsibility and what goes around comes around."

Seal, 41, who was born in London to Nigerian parents, recently became engaged to supermodel Heidi Klum.

He enjoyed a string of hits in the UK in the 1990s and has recently seen a re-emergence of his career, particularly in the US where he has been nominated for a Grammy.