Mos Def arrested outside of VMA's

[kevolution]

Mos Def Arrested Outside MTV VMA Awards Over Performance
By Nolan Strong
Date: 9/1/2006 9:50 am





Rap star Mos Def was arrested last night (Aug. 31) after MTV's VMA's because he didn't have authorization to perform outside of Radio City Music Hall in New York.

The rapper, born Dante Smith, was charged with disorderly conduct after attempting to perform on a flatbed truck for a crowd outside of the event.

Police ordered the rapper to end his impromptu performance of "Katrina Clap," a freestyle criticizing the Bush administration's response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

The request to halt the performance was not immediately relayed to MOs Def. According to reports, members of the rapper's entourage were arrested as well.

Representatives for MOs Def said the rapper was unjustly arrested and that the whole situation was captured on camera.

Mos Def was released this morning (Sept. 1).

 

[The Oi]

This will end up becoming a racial issue.

 

[Mandingo]

Damn. I wanna see the tape of him getting arrested. I bet there was no need to arrest anybody.

 

[kevolution]

Freedom of speech. But do you think he was arrested because he was bad mouthing GW? I'm sure they have some BS reason like no permit or something but you and I know that ain't fair. I bet Mos wanted to perform that song at the VMA's but Mtv probably didn't want no part of it so he took it to the street!

 

[James]

you cant just "perform" outside in NYC without all kinds of permits, its a crowded city, and it wouldnt have mattered if it was Dave Mathews Band, you cant do it, its against the law.

 

[Mandingo]

I understand that people can't just put up shop and start performing but it happens anyway and cops turn their heads to it. Im with Kev, I bet he wanted to do that in the VMA's and they got wind of it and told him no.

 

[The Oi]

Rules be rules.

 

[James]

I understand that people can't just put up shop and start performing but it happens anyway and cops turn their heads to it. Im with Kev, I bet he wanted to do that in the VMA's and they got wind of it and told him no.

um why would MTV want that?

you cant be serious. if he wants to do that, he can do a concert in Central Park, and if you think he got arrested because it was about Bush, your an idiot, there are pretty much monthly Screw Bush concerts in Central Park, and i bet the cops could care less.

 

[The Oi]

Personally...I think he got arrested because it was about Bush.

 

[James]

well if you want to go that way, police will still say "he had no permit" and then they will say it could have "ensued a riot" its not like he is still in jail...i bet he wont even be charged with anything.

 

[The Oi]

I bet George Bush doesn't care about Mos Def and people of his ilk.

 

[CornerThree]

Get a permit. It's that simple. Performing on the street at (what was it, midnight?) is not a good idea, no matter whatever you are performing about.

 

[CornerThree]

I bet George Bush doesn't care about Mos Def and people of his ilk.

Yes, because they wouldn't vote for a republican ever, anyways.

 

[Mandingo]

um why would MTV want that?

you cant be serious. if he wants to do that, he can do a concert in Central Park, and if you think he got arrested because it was about Bush, your an idiot, there are pretty much monthly Screw Bush concerts in Central Park, and i bet the cops could care less.

I think that any media outlet is leary about having someone of mos def's personality on air. After Kanye hardly anybody has been able to speak thier mind on TV for any cause. You see the fines they are putting to these stations that air this stuff now? Its nuts. Could have been because they didn't want him talking about Bush or flying off the handle about Katrina but holding something on TV has far greater power than a concert in central park.

The reason this pisses me off is bacause if he was going to do this on the VMA's and got blacklisted for it then MTV ought to be ashamed. Katrina needs to stay in the spot light. Although i don't agree with manner in which mos def tried to make his point i do agree with the message and that is why i support him.

 

[James]

there is a time and palce for everything, going out and doing this at an Awards show isnt the right place, there are plenty of artists who have made songs about their opinions, many of whom were at the awards show.
Lil Wayne has Georgia Bush off the Dedication 2 mixtape,
Juvie has pretty much every song off of Reality Check
Kanye has mixtape songs about it.

its all about the right place and time, if Mos Def wants to organize a "Katrina Concert" with many artists who share the same opinion as him, im sure it would happen, wether or not itd be televised is another thing.

this was a Video Music Award show, not a "lets voice our opinions on political issues" concert.