Once again we have another debate for the pocket universe (this time guys, seriously, debate). If you haven’t heard Busta Rhymes’ semi-new track, Arab Money, I’ve got a youtube link below. Essentially the song talks about how he has so much money, he’s on the same level as eccentric, Arab billionaires. Aside from the fact that the Arabic portion of the song (in the hook) isn’t actual Arabic (it’s literally just a guy yodeling in a way that sounds Arabic), the potential controversy is that what if a white guy made a song saying “I’ve Got That Nigga Money!!” You also have to consider lyrics such as “I got oil well money in the desert playing golf” and if there were to be a similar song with lyrics like “I got rap lyrics money but I really call it bling” or something to that nature.
Racism isn’t just black and white, it’s a lot of different things. And though we know Busta Rhymes would not intentially be racist towards Arabs (particularly since he practices 5% Islam… which… is another topic altogether), the fact remains that the song just might be offensive to Arabs.
What do you think? Should Arab Money hold my pocket?
10 responses so far ↓
Curious // December 1, 2008 at 11:49 am |
It’s disrespectful and ignorant but, interestingly enough, he corrected himself in one fo the many remixes. Instead of using the slur A-rab, he calls it Arab money and has a different hook.
Nora // December 1, 2008 at 3:05 pm |
Again, no one cares because it’s just Arabs and who cares about those folk?
Allow me to repost..yet again.
Beyond its unabashed bastardization of Arabic (it’s like passing off CHING CHONG CHING CHING as Chinese), the song perpetuates the false notion that all Arabs are rich Khaleejis, an exhausted stereotype that makes the rest of the Arab world cringe considering:
1. The region’s GDP is actually significantly lower than that of the States.
2. The Saudis are among the most oppressive, fundamentalist, and grossly hedonistic people to ever hit the planet, let alone the Middle East. It’s a deeply offensive generality to group the Arab world with Khaleejis.
Also, he pronounces the word like this: A-rab. Really? That’s still ok? Given the avalanche of anti-Arab sentiment in the media, it’s probably the last song Arabs need to hear as a community. Simply put, it’s drenched with ignorance and disrepect–something they’re a bit tired of these days, particularly coming from a country (the US) that has waged and/or supported war and occupation in Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine.
Ironically, those military conflicts–coupled with our consistent support to oppressive regimes in the Khaleej–have crippled the region economically. A-rab money? A song called “Old White Man Money” would make a hell of a lot more sense.
Kaveh // December 1, 2008 at 5:30 pm |
Repost:
A few points:
1) Muslims and Middle Easterners are among the few groups today that can be openly ridiculed (and, per the McCain-Palin ticket’s rhetoric, demonized) in America today.
2) Yodeling into auto-tune = Arabic? I feel dumber every time I hear that hook.
3) “A-rab” is a pronunciation that has a slur-like quality. So maybe he’s not dropping Sand N…, Dune C…, or a bunch of the other straight up slurs, but there’s racial condescension (er, maybe even racism?) implied strongly in the lyric. And the verses are a bunch of stereotypes strung together.
4) You might notice that the anti-Middle Eastern slurs above are really just anti-African American slurs with modifiers in front — in other words, discrimination against one group forms a continuity with discrimination writ large. So whether or not “A-rab” is a true (or merely a subtle) slur, it exists on a spectrum with the broader history of racism in this country.
5) Should he be allowed to perform the song and play it on radio? Sure. As long as he holds my pocket. And I’ve got a pocket for every fan of the song to hold too.
6) Who produced the track? That cheesy faux-Arabic synthesizer line is grounds for the producer to hold my pocket.
Brian A.D. // December 1, 2008 at 6:24 pm |
I disagree. Perhaps we are going too far with our need for cultural sensitivity and political correctness. “Arab money” is not in someway offensive, and it is certainly not on par with saying “Nigger money.” If they had said they were making “Sand Nigger money” then yes. But Arabs are arabs and the royalty in Arab nations are making money, oil … Read Moremoney that anyone would want. Now of course Busta Rhymes nor Ron Browz is balling on that level, so the song is disingenuous, but offensive? I don’t think so. Now the false Arabic that is spoken is troubling, but I assume that is why the NYC stations are playing a version in which Busta, supposedly a muslim, speaks those lyrics in genuine Arabic. Who knows?
Brian A.D. // December 1, 2008 at 6:54 pm |
Okay, this will be a feeble attempt to logically play devil’s advocate, my forte, but A-rab is an English pronunciation of the word Arab. The first A is lengthened by the second vowel a. Now correct me if I am wrong, but the only thing offensive about it from the Arab perspective is the fact that the pronunciation comes from a colonizing oppressor… Read More. I get that. But to condemn the song because it uses a pronunciation that fits with the syncopated beat of the words spoken to the rhythm … ???? Now if there is some historic reference to the pronunciation then let me know. Also, the last time I checked, black people in Arabic countries are still typically referred to as abd or abid “slave.” That is not to say that if they are offended it’s okay to say, but let’s have some perspective.
blackdiplomacy // December 2, 2008 at 5:39 am |
Some moderator insight:
Since some of the posts are on facebook and yff365.com rather than on the blog, I just wand to add a few things.
In general, people (both Arab and non-Arab) see the song as offensive. At the same time, a majority of people find this type of music oddly catchy.
Also, to pinpoint the controversy, it’s not so much the mispronunciation of Arab (although to be real, if white people started yelling Knay-Grow in their music, we might be a lil ticked off), but it’s the fake Arabic and the overt stereotypes of Arab people as insanely rich. Some are getting money, but only a few. Just like some Black people are ballin in the NBA, but only a few.
That Dude // December 8, 2008 at 9:26 am |
Welp if you were on the fence check the video out
http://videos.onsmash.com/v/jIcVUQYEmhrlYhP2
Aziz // December 10, 2008 at 8:44 pm |
To Nora: I Don`t know you, but i would like it know what have you done lately that Praises ARAB PEOPLE( QUESTION) HAVE YOU EVER said that Hollywood sure turns Arab and Muslim people into OK to KILL sub-human Terrorists, and Gee i should say that’s wrong. (Question)Have you.
It`s just like a rapper saying F*** the POLICE people get mad, but the terminator kills a whole POLICE STATION. Just stop, you guys just don’t want Arabs or Islam to be cool in the eyes of your kids.
nora // December 11, 2008 at 9:40 am |
3anjad? that’s a pretty ridiculous response, aziz. i suspect you’ve grossly misinterpreted my comment. but if that’s the game you want to play (“how arab are YOU?”) then sure: i just quit a high-paying job to continue my humanitarian work with child refugees in the arab world. to say that i’ve devoted the past several years to the region would not be an overstatement.
but do i spend my time ‘praising’ arab people? no–i empower our people and advocate passionately for our human rights.
blackdiplomacy // December 11, 2008 at 8:33 pm |
Nora:
get em……