Originally Posted by Kanye West

"They have been trying to sweep us (African-Americans) under the kitchen sink and it was so in people's faces and so on TV... that they couldn't even hide it any more.
"Down there, people are living below the poverty level to start off with, before this happened.
"A year ago I was on tour with USHER and we had a hurricane hit Florida and everybody was saying, 'If this hurricane went to Louisiana, if it went to Mississippi, they wouldn't be able to handle it.' (That was) a year ago - and there was nothing done about it."

Originally Posted by Usher

"I wasn't mad at Kanye's statement - that's his opinion - but it's obviously not the opportunity or the time to poke fun or appoint blame.
"This is an opportunity where we all need to come together - musicians, actors, politicians - and help the (American) Gulf region."