Scantily clad video vixens shook their stuff and blinged-up rappers shouted the "n," "b" and "h" words. Guns flashing, hip-hop artists spewed hate-filled diatribes at rivals and even ex-girlfriends.

Another hot night at the club?

Nope, it was a hearing on usually staid Capitol Hill in Washington.

Button-down lawmakers got a rare peek at the no-holds-barred world of gangsta rap as they debated who was to blame for sexist and demeaning hip-hop songs.

"This hearing is not anti-hip hop. I am a fan of hip hop," said Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.). But "violence, hate and degradation has reduced too many of our youngsters to automatons."

The hearing was not at all like a 1985 event at which a raging Frank Zappa hurled insults at Tipper Gore, whom he accused of promoting censorship.

Tempers were cooler this time, and lawmakers and music industry types agreed that government interference isn't the answer.

"If by some stroke of the pen hip hop was silenced, the issues would still be present in our communities," said rapper and record producer David Banner, whose real name is Levell Crump.

Reformed gangsta rapper Master P said he once thought he had to be outrageous to sell records.

He now talks to young musicians about the damage that X-rated lyrics about sex, drugs and violence can do to the next generation. "I'm going to take a stand," declared Master P, whose real name is Percy Miller.

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