Hip hop's most controversial editor, Jesse Washington found himself on the outs at Blaze Magazine over a dispute about an editorial he wanted to run. Washington who made national headlines because of run ins with prominent rap artists including Wyclef Jean and D-Dot 'Mad Rapper' Angelette, found himself on a head on collision with his superiors after they pulled an editorial piece he had written.

This article focused on one of Washington's good friends, Montoun Hart who was hired by Jesse to work as an intern at Blaze. The only problem was Hart himself was embroiled in controversy. Two years ago, he was accussed of robbing and murdering a Bronx high school teacher named Jonathan Levin who happened to be the son of the country's most powerful individuals-Gerald Levin. For those who don't recognize the name, he's the CEO of Time Warner.

Was Washington being a bit insensative to focus on an article about an accussed killer? And why was this man working at a Magazine that was helped launched by Levin? Was this all too close to home? According to Washington.. 'No'?. He first pointed out that Montoun while having a checkered past was acquitted of all charges. He also pointed out that there was a lot of evidence to suggest that Montoun was set up and forced to confess by crooked NYC police officers. Washington admitted that the whole incident and the subsequent editorial raised some tough questions like 'How can Blaze discuss crime and punishment without glorifying criminals'? and 'Does the injustice of the criminal justice system make us forget that some people need to be there'? Washington also questioned how some one like him could support and be friends with a kid who had constant run ins with the law.? He felt that he as an editor and Blaze as a magazine needed to tackle these questions and that his editorial which focused on Montoun was the start of that journey. It was a start of the hip hop generation facing up to it's contradictions.

During the brief interview I had with Washington, it got me thinking about how often we as fans and even more so as industry types have raised up and conviently overlooked the bad side of our favorite artists. We got folks who have beaten down their wives and girl friends, hustled and dealt drugs and in some cases even murdered folks. Yet in our quest to be entertained, make a quick buck or generate high ratings we have turned the other way and in many ways have been insensitive to what ever damages caused and victims hurt by some artists. I got the sense from Washington, this was the issue at hand and this is what he was attempted to address in his editorial and subsequent articles. He didn't like the undue influence that was being indirectly applied by Time Warner.

The question still remains.. Was he being insensitive to Gerald Levin who help launch Vibe which gave birth to Blaze, to do a somewhat positive piece on the man accussed of murdering his son? Are we being insensitive to the family and friends of people who were murdered or accussed of murder at the hands of artists like Noreaga, Rza or Just-Ice? Does aquittal really mean aquittal? How can one be angry or offended at an individual who was accussed of a crime yet was found not guilty?

The widely reported reasoning for his firing was the fact that he hired Montoun to work at Blaze. Washington empahtically denies this. He claims he was given the ok by his bosses. In any case Jesse Washington is now the former editor and chief at Blaze magazine. He concluded by noting that he is not starving for rent money and that he will most definitely resurface. He's working on some book projects and may have a deal or two in the works. We'll keep you posted as this develops.