Now Cameron hugs a rapper

The Tory leader agreed to a private meeting with Rhymefest tomorrow after the rapper wrote to him in protest when he blamed rap for street violence.

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Mr Cameron sparked the row when he told Radio 1 that hip hop music "encourages people to carry guns and knives" and suggested it should be banned.

Hip hop has also been criticised for promoting homophobia and racism to an impressionable young audience.

Rhymefest, a 29-year-old from Chicago, says he is fed up with rappers promoting violence and claims his mission is to bring balance to the genre.

However, the rapper has admitted to contributing to the "gangsta" hype and his lyrics are packed with swearwords.

He describes women as "bitches", brands himself a "motherf***er" and suggests his listeners should "get off my d**k, nigga".

Some of his songs also allude to violence. In one he warns: "Shut your trap, razor blade cut your wrap" while in another he asks: "You afraid to die? You ain't a soldier then."

Critics accused Mr Cameron of leaping on the populist bandwagon in a bid to win the youth vote, and warned he risked alienating traditional Tory supporters. Labour MP Stephen Pound said: "From hugging a hoodie to embracing a rapper is obviously a short step, but in my view it's a step too far.

"He's dug so deep in search of the youth vote he's probably guaranteed the vote in the Lower Eastside of Chicago. But in the shires of England I imagine people will be turning their faces away in horror and putting in the ear-plugs."

But a spokesman for Mr Cameron said: "Rhymefest made the point that actually music and culture can be a positive force for good and can act as a role model, which David completely agrees with."

In his letter to the Tory leader, the rapper said: "If I was a middle-aged politician who knew nothing about rap music and I turned on the radio, then I would understand exactly the way you feel about urban music.

"My challenge to you, Mr Cameron, is to sit down, have a cup of tea and talk to a real rapper. I am sure you will see that rap music is more than murder music or knife culture."