Bill Cosby Unites Rappers For 'Emergency' Album

"Emergency" is the aural companion to "Come On People," the 2007 book co-authored by Cosby and Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint. Produced by Cosby's longtime musical colleague William "Spaceman" Patterson, "Emergency" enlists the skills of guest rappers and community activists Jace the Great, Brother Hahz and Supa Nova Slom. Frustration, incarceration and respect for females are among the tracks' themes.

Cosby, who conceived the songs' story concepts, says the artists' lyrics hit upon much of the anger and frustration many people feel. "I came up with ideas and asked them to think deeper, but I didn't have to push. It was like, 'Thank you, Dr. Cosby. We want to do this.'"

Supa Nova Slom adds, "Dr. Cosby offered his elder wisdom, then we brought our young swag and interpreted it into hip-hop. Our generation and society at large are at a real crossroads for survival; the times demand that we reopen this chapter of hip-hop."

Noting the backlash he's experienced for controversial comments about the African-American community, Cosby stands by the album. "People who don't want it to succeed will say I'm a curmudgeon who doesn't like poor or young people," he says. "But these rappers are young males running down the truth about the urban side of life. It's time for a change."