Busta Rhymes Explains Why 'Arab Money' Isn't Racist

J-Banks · 01-29-2009, 11:01 AM

Busta Rhymes Explains Why 'Arab Money' Isn't Racist
'A lot of people who had issues with it, they just misunderstood,' Bus says of controversial song.

Busta Rhymes doesn't just carry his BlackBerry with him for business e-mails; he looks at it from time to time for support too.

Bus has a plethora of e-mails from fans in the Arab culture supporting his song "Arab Money." "I carry them with me every day," Busta told MTV News.

Busta recorded the smash during VMA weekend in September. It was crunch time for the nearly 20-year vet. He needed some heat to play for the head of his record label, Universal Records, in an effort to secure his latest deal.

"I didn't really know what he was saying," Busta said about producer Ron Browz's chorus on the song. Rhymes originally got the track with just the beat and the hook. "I called him on the phone. We were going shopping for the awards. I was riding around, and we were playing the beat over. I wanted to know what he was saying. [Ron] picked up the phone, and I was like, 'What are you saying on this joint?' I thought it was saying 'Maybach Money.' 'Maybach' or 'Arab' — it kinda rhymed. I needed confirmation."

When Browz explained to Busta that he was, in fact, saying "Arab," Busta was elated.

"I was like, 'This is genius,' " he said. "Just the timing of this. The fact that the recession was crazy. Fortune 500 companies left and right are needing bailouts. I was like, 'You ain't hearing none of that going on with none of the people in the Arab community or Arab culture. None of that.' I was like, 'You know something? This is a great record to inspire people to incorporate wealth in their vocabulary, because rich has become the new broke.' 'Arab Money' — it felt right. Let's take something from a culture that has exemplified the rich qualities of spirituality and economic and financial stability for thousands of years. They've instilled that in their kids for thousands of years."

Although the song immediately took off in the clubs, Bus felt the backlash. Some media outlets and fans accused him of making fun of the Arab culture. He even heard the song being labeled as racist.

"It didn't hurt me, because I leave room for error, and I understand what happens in misunderstanding," Bus said. "It would have hurt me if people would have understood clearly the agenda of the record and still hated on it. That would have been a little different. But I feel a lot of people who had issues with it, they just misunderstood. Even those people, I hope they got a chance to see or get a chance to see what my real intent was and still is — that they got a different level of appreciation."

Although it has its detractors, the song has grown in radio spins in recent weeks while still maintaining a firm status of success in the streets. Busta carries various e-mails in his BlackBerry from Arab fans who wrote to him in support of the record.

"It's a reminder that many people did understand what the intent is," he said. "I want people to know I acknowledge their support. This has been embraced globally."

Busta has been doing a lot of embracing locally, in his hometown of New York. He spearheaded a remix of Q-Tip's "Renaissance" with Raekwon and Lil Wayne, connected Ron Browz and Capone-N-Noreaga for the song "Rotate," coerced Lil' Cease to record his own version for "Letter to Big" and is still executive-producing Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II. The just-released first track from that album, featuring Ghostface, is called "Criminology 2009."

"Me and Raekwon are like brothers. I'm one of the biggest Wu-Tang fans in the world," Bus explained. "I felt like the Cuban Linx real estate in the landscape in the hip-hop culture was very valuable real estate. What Ghost and Rae has done, their chemistry together affected me emotionally."

Busta's Back on My B.S. is slated for March 24.

Source: MTV

ClubAmerica · 01-29-2009, 12:50 PM

aside from this wack song im still waiting on his album

curly88 · 01-29-2009, 03:19 PM

whens the arabmoney remix video comin out?

BossWittaAttitude · 01-29-2009, 03:23 PM

who gives a shit... songs wack... and all muslims deserve to die

platinum_rapper2007 · 01-29-2009, 03:27 PM

that song is fire remix is better tho

SameEyezOnMe · 01-30-2009, 08:44 AM

remix is aite i got bass iz fire w8n on the album to drop..

One_Yaself_Hater · 01-30-2009, 08:50 AM

executive-producing Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II...damn!!!! rae is "signed" to flipmode now...

01-29-2009, 11:01 AM	#1
J-Banks Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 21,015 Repped: 5,294 Repped 53,425 Times in 7,839 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Neg Reps: 53 Neg Repped at 93 Times in 86 Posts	Busta Rhymes Explains Why 'Arab Money' Isn't Racist Busta Rhymes Explains Why 'Arab Money' Isn't Racist Busta Rhymes Explains Why 'Arab Money' Isn't Racist 'A lot of people who had issues with it, they just misunderstood,' Bus says of controversial song. Busta Rhymes doesn't just carry his BlackBerry with him for business e-mails; he looks at it from time to time for support too. Bus has a plethora of e-mails from fans in the Arab culture supporting his song "Arab Money." "I carry them with me every day," Busta told MTV News. Busta recorded the smash during VMA weekend in September. It was crunch time for the nearly 20-year vet. He needed some heat to play for the head of his record label, Universal Records, in an effort to secure his latest deal. "I didn't really know what he was saying," Busta said about producer Ron Browz's chorus on the song. Rhymes originally got the track with just the beat and the hook. "I called him on the phone. We were going shopping for the awards. I was riding around, and we were playing the beat over. I wanted to know what he was saying. [Ron] picked up the phone, and I was like, 'What are you saying on this joint?' I thought it was saying 'Maybach Money.' 'Maybach' or 'Arab' — it kinda rhymed. I needed confirmation." When Browz explained to Busta that he was, in fact, saying "Arab," Busta was elated. "I was like, 'This is genius,' " he said. "Just the timing of this. The fact that the recession was crazy. Fortune 500 companies left and right are needing bailouts. I was like, 'You ain't hearing none of that going on with none of the people in the Arab community or Arab culture. None of that.' I was like, 'You know something? This is a great record to inspire people to incorporate wealth in their vocabulary, because rich has become the new broke.' 'Arab Money' — it felt right. Let's take something from a culture that has exemplified the rich qualities of spirituality and economic and financial stability for thousands of years. They've instilled that in their kids for thousands of years." Although the song immediately took off in the clubs, Bus felt the backlash. Some media outlets and fans accused him of making fun of the Arab culture. He even heard the song being labeled as racist. "It didn't hurt me, because I leave room for error, and I understand what happens in misunderstanding," Bus said. "It would have hurt me if people would have understood clearly the agenda of the record and still hated on it. That would have been a little different. But I feel a lot of people who had issues with it, they just misunderstood. Even those people, I hope they got a chance to see or get a chance to see what my real intent was and still is — that they got a different level of appreciation." Although it has its detractors, the song has grown in radio spins in recent weeks while still maintaining a firm status of success in the streets. Busta carries various e-mails in his BlackBerry from Arab fans who wrote to him in support of the record. "It's a reminder that many people did understand what the intent is," he said. "I want people to know I acknowledge their support. This has been embraced globally." Busta has been doing a lot of embracing locally, in his hometown of New York. He spearheaded a remix of Q-Tip's "Renaissance" with Raekwon and Lil Wayne, connected Ron Browz and Capone-N-Noreaga for the song "Rotate," coerced Lil' Cease to record his own version for "Letter to Big" and is still executive-producing Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II. The just-released first track from that album, featuring Ghostface, is called "Criminology 2009." "Me and Raekwon are like brothers. I'm one of the biggest Wu-Tang fans in the world," Bus explained. "I felt like the Cuban Linx real estate in the landscape in the hip-hop culture was very valuable real estate. What Ghost and Rae has done, their chemistry together affected me emotionally." Busta's Back on My B.S. is slated for March 24. Source: MTV __________________ JBanksblog.com - check it out __________________

01-29-2009, 03:19 PM	#3
curly88 Veteran Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,124 Repped: 4,303 Repped 476 Times in 97 Posts Neg Reps: 59 Neg Repped at 14 Times in 12 Posts	whens the arabmoney remix video comin out? __________________

01-30-2009, 08:50 AM	#7
One_Yaself_Hater The "B-Boy" Circa '82-'88 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In A Weed Spot!!! Posts: 5,757 Repped: 1,173 Repped 11,539 Times in 1,360 Posts Neg Reps: 148 Neg Repped at 107 Times in 98 Posts	executive-producing Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II...damn!!!! rae is "*signed" to flipmode* now... __________________ "REP" or "No PROPS" DONT PUT FOOD ON MY TABLE, FUCK 'EM!!!!!! SO "REP" If U WANT, IDGAF!!! DiGiJeff (12-17-2008), J-Banks Thanked Post HAPPY BIRTHDAY One_Yaself_Hater !!!-HH411: "instead of hittin 'no props' button i'll just neg ya". - Gods Plan

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01-29-2009, 12:50 PM	#2
ClubAmerica Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Uruapan, Mexico Posts: 507 Repped: 222 Repped 21 Times in 19 Posts Neg Reps: 117 Neg Repped at 17 Times in 16 Posts	aside from this wack song im still waiting on his album

01-29-2009, 03:23 PM	#4
BossWittaAttitude Banned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: OC Posts: 1,175 Repped: 220 Repped 317 Times in 87 Posts Neg Reps: 290 Neg Repped at 329 Times in 187 Posts	who gives a shit... songs wack... and all muslims deserve to die

01-29-2009, 03:27 PM	#5
platinum_rapper2007 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: appleton, wisconsin Posts: 292 Repped: 131 Repped 12 Times in 6 Posts Neg Reps: 15 Neg Repped at 5 Times in 4 Posts	that song is fire remix is better tho

01-30-2009, 08:44 AM	#6
SameEyezOnMe Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 183 Repped: 4 Repped 19 Times in 9 Posts Neg Reps: 2 Neg Repped at 22 Times in 8 Posts	remix is aite i got bass iz fire w8n on the album to drop..