Police are investigating a complaint that a Hamilton music store sold a compact disc containing "offensive and racial'' words to a 12-year-old girl.

A woman has complained that "Flesh of my Flesh, Blood of my Blood'' by New York rapper DMX was sold to her daughter recently for $19.50.

It is alleged the sale was made despite the cover artwork clearly stating, "parental advisory, explicit content''.

Its cover displays the words in the titles of songs on the rear, particularly: "My N****s'', "We don't give a f**k'', and "Keep your s**t the hardest''.

The cover art also features DMX -- who is black -- drenched in what appears to be blood in a bathtub. DMX is an acronym for Dark Man X.

Copies of the album were on display in three Hamilton record stores yesterday and it is not known if authorities want the album pulled.

Yesterday, director of the Human Rights Commission, Kenneth Dill said his office had not received a complaint about the disc.

He said if the commission were to find the disc offensive to anyone, it would order store owners to "cease and desist'' sales.

Mr. Dill said section 8 A of the Human Rights Act made it unlawful to publish any kind of material that could incite "ill will or hostility''.

The rapper, whose real name is Earl Simmons, 28, was mired in legal trouble last year but cleared of a rape charge in New York City.

"Flesh'' is a two times platinum selling album, having sold more than two million copies and features a collaboration with shock rocker Marylin Manson.

It was released in December on Def Jam Records and distributed by PolyGram and sold more than 660,000 copies in two weeks.

DMX's publicist, Def Jam exec Gabriele Paluso, did not return calls last evening.

DMX-rated: The cover of the controversial CD by New York rapper DMX