QUINCY JONES - QUINCY JONES: 'RAPPERS NEED TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR FOREFATHERS'

Producer/composer QUINCY JONES has blasted modern rappers for turning their backs on their jazz and blues heritage.

The jazz and R+B legend fears he could ask 100 hip-hop stars about their musical roots in New Orleans and other southern US cities, and most of them wouldn't know what he was talking about.

Jones, 72, says, "These guys really think they can continue this wonderful life and not know anything about (Mississippi) delta blues music. Jazz and blues are the two most powerful types of music we've ever had.

"You cannot afford to not know this music. Americans, period, do not know anything about that music, especially black kids, not a clue.

"I bet most rappers you ask wouldn't know who DUKE ELLINGTON or CHARLIE PARKER is."