A College Administrator Told ‘The New York Times,’ Rap Is Not ‘Real Music.’ His President Called the Comment Disappointing.

A State University of New York at New Paltz administrator said rap music was not “real music,” prompting the institution to call his comments “troubling.”

SUNY New Paltz

This week, in New York’s 19th Congressional District, the race between Antonio Delgado, the Democratic nominee, and Rep. John Faso, the Republican incumbent, has zeroed in on one detail: Delgado’s former rap career as “AD the Voice.” The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Delgado released a rap album in 2007, featuring lyrics critical of capitalism and racial injustice. The album has sparked additional debate about lyrics that some critics call “offensive.”

Gerald Benjamin, director of the Benjamin Center on the New Paltz campus and a friend of Faso’s, told the Times, “People like us, people in rural New York, we are not people who respond to this part of American culture.” The Times said Benjamin added that he did not consider rap to be “real music.”

SUNY at New Paltz was quick to denounce his comments.

Donald P. Christian, the president, wrote a letter to the editor of the Times, which SUNY shared with The Chronicle. In the letter Christian said the university does not agree with Benjamin’s comments.

“His quotes raise the specter of racism and marginalize members of our campus community. Both are antithetical to our institutional values of inclusivity and respect,” Christian wrote. “We are disappointed in such language from our colleague.”

Christian and Tanhena Pacheco Dunn, the university’s chief diversity officer, also released an official statement to the New Paltz community, repeating the sentiment.

“We spoke with the administrator who offered these quotes,” the statement says. “He regrets these comments and their impact on the institution and our community, and recognizes that language matters. We are disappointed that such language would come from a campus leader and ambassador of the college and reaffirm that the quotes do not reflect our institutional values of inclusivity and respect.”

In response to the criticism of his lyrics and former career, Delgado said he is staying focused on the issues that form the base of his congressional campaign.

“It’s disappointing that John Faso and others have decided to focus on distractions by spreading fear, hatred, and division,” Delgado said in a statement. “The values and principles of hard work, accountability, and service that my parents instilled in me and that I developed by growing up in this region have always been my foundation. My story wouldn’t be possible without those values.”

In a written statement Benjamin apologized for his comments.

“I have worked at SUNY New Paltz for 50 years in several capacities, and have a deep attachment to the school and the diverse community we have built here. I am therefore very sorry for any unintended distress caused by my remarks,” he said.

Benjamin added: “These remarks have been condemned as racist. I had no racist intent but understand the impact of those remarks, and regret having made them.”

Update (7/18/2018, 4:45 p.m.): This article has been updated with a response from Antonio Delgado.

Follow Teghan Simonton on Twitter at @teghan_simonton, or email her at teghan.simonton@chronicle.com.