Mos Def arrested outside of VMA's

[lebron720]

this guy is a retard. sure theres freedom of speech, but u cant just walk into a place like that and start singing your crapping music. common. looks like he was smoking to much pot.

 

[James]

this guy is a retard. sure theres freedom of speech, but u cant just walk into a place like that and start singing your crapping music. common. looks like he was smoking to much pot.

Mos Def isnt a "retard" he puts out enpowering music. and crapping music?
there is a spell check man, use it.

 

[kevolution]

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.

Come on now James...MTV does not own the streets. Right place right time whatever. Freedom of speech man. You know damn well those artists you spoke of aren't willing to put their money and careers on the line and say something unpopular on MTV. There are tin silver painted robo manequins with whistles in their mouth, guys playing saxaphones, guitars and crap everywhere in NYC. You can't tell me that every street corner performer has a permit. If it went down like I am picturing it then it was one man and a mic or a bull horn. Mos def does not need a full out band or DJ to spit acapella in the streets. What better place to do it than right outside a huge venue where you can reach thousands of people whether they want to hear it or not. There is no sense in setting up a concert to get your pov across to a bunch of unsuspecting people. First off people that are ignorant and don't wanna hear it wonuldn't even show up at your show and you'd be preaching to the choir. Out of curiosity did Malcom and MLK have permits every time they made a speech in the streets?

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

Then I wonder why MTV allowed Al Gore to speak about global warming and Queen Latifah about our population booming if it was just an awards show.

 

[James]

because those are not controversial topics, population is growing, and the enviornment is messed up, that is not controversial, nor is it offensive to others. those are not opinions.

bottom line, who cares. there is nothing you can do to change this, you dont like MTV? then dont watch it. you dont like that Mos Def got arrested for what he was doing...what are you going to do about it? there are laws, and laws are there for a reason, comparing this to a person playing the saxaphone on the street is much different, they arent "disturbing" anyone, this was a big venue in a big city, police did what they thought was right.

freedom of speech? if it was on the private property, of a private function, freedom of speech does not apply, people hide behind that shit to much, its a fools defense, the people who are holding the event dictate what can, and what can not be said, and if you want to go and be "rebellious" go right on ahead, and get arrested for disturbing the peace.

people are making a bigger deal of this then there needs to be.

there is a "Save Darfur" event held in Central Park September 22nd, my favorite Band will be there, he can go out there and party it up with O.A.R. and talk all the shit he wants.

 

[kevolution]

First of all I want you to admit that the only reason you are opposing Mos Def is because you are a Bush supporter. That is the very reason I beleive it was stopped.

How are facts about Hurrican Katrina offensive to others?
How is the street private property of MTV? Listen we don't know because we weren't there but we can speculate and guess.

Please tell me how it is different than someone playing a sax? How do you know that the wretched noise of a sax isn't offensive to me? Come on it probably wasn't offensive or disturbing, but it makes you "suits" uncomfortable when you hear someone calling out your fearless leader.

So which is it now? Disturbing the peace? Performing on private property or not having permits. I am not fired up about this , you are, and I think it's obvious why.

Like I said before who want's to be at "Save Da Fur" when you are simply preaching to the choir? Getting your message across to a bunch of pot smoking hippies that won't do a damn thing about it. If it were me I'd rather my message get out to where people that don't want to hear it or feel uncomfortable hearing it hear it.

They let the KKK set up shop and spread hate in alot of places and this is no where near that level of garbage!

 

[Mandingo]

James i see what you are saying but sometimes to get your point across you have to do it in a place where the cameras are. I had no idea about the "Save Darfur" concert that you speak of. Not in the news because nobody really gives a shit. New Orleans isn't in the news because nobody really gives a shit. It takes people going out and making an issue of it to keep people focused on the issue.

Im not saying this is a racial issue but im going to use an example of race to get my point across. Back when blacks were getting lynched America really didn't care much until that type of stuff started hitting the air waves. The picture of Emmett Till being in Jet magazine opened alot of peoples eyes to the problems of racial bigotry. The sit ins that took place all through out the south opened peoples eyes to the injustices forced upon American citizens. At that time people took the same line as all of you saying "well there are laws in place for these types of things" and im sure they had very good reasons to back them up but point of the matter is there was an injustice being done to Americans and light needed to be shed on the situation by any means nessacary.

Mos Def is a very smart man. He knew what he was doing permit or not. Look at the debate it has sparked amognst us here on a basketball forum. As long as people keep talking about New Orleans they will receive the money and help they need but once silence starts to set in they will fall by the wayside.

 

[James]

First of all I want you to admit that the only reason you are opposing Mos Def is because you are a Bush supporter. That is the very reason I beleive it was stopped.

How are facts about Hurrican Katrina offensive to others?
How is the street private property of MTV? Listen we don't know because we weren't there but we can speculate and guess.

Please tell me how it is different than someone playing a sax? How do you know that the wretched noise of a sax isn't offensive to me? Come on it probably wasn't offensive or disturbing, but it makes you "suits" uncomfortable when you hear someone calling out your fearless leader.

So which is it now? Disturbing the peace? Performing on private property or not having permits. I am not fired up about this , you are, and I think it's obvious why.

Like I said before who want's to be at "Save Da Fur" when you are simply preaching to the choir? Getting your message across to a bunch of pot smoking hippies that won't do a damn thing about it. If it were me I'd rather my message get out to where people that don't want to hear it or feel uncomfortable hearing it hear it.

They let the KKK set up shop and spread hate in alot of places and this is no where near that level of garbage!

im not a Bush supporter, im a proud American. people in suits? i dont wear a suit. but like others said, nobody on the hill gives a **** what mos def has to say or kanye has to say. if i recall, someone from Rage Against The Machine got arrested at the VMA's for something, ill look into that, but im pretty sure it happened.

ill just wait for the video and see what really happened, but im no lawyer.

More Added

and as far as the Darfur comparison, i wasnt comparing it to NO, personally i think the whole "Save Darfur" campaign is stupid and a waste of time, what i am saying, is there are ways to organize events that you want your voice to be heard, and there is a right way to go about it. and for someone of Mos Def's caliber, it shouldnt be very hard to organize such an event.

 

[Mandingo]

But if nobody knows about it or can't get to it then isn't it a lost cause? All of America knows that Mos Def got arrested for trying to sing "Katrina Clap" and if they never heard it im sure they downloaded it. Look how many people heard his message from this incident. Far more than would have if he had held a concert. Tons of those took place and i haven't heard anything about any of them.

 

[James]

well then, i guess you can blame the media for that, whose fault is it that John Karr, or whatever his name is can go from a no name to a house hold name in a matter of a day, because he said he killed that little girl?

control the media, control the minds.

 

[kevolution]

But if nobody knows about it or can't get to it then isn't it a lost cause? All of America knows that Mos Def got arrested for trying to sing "Katrina Clap" and if they never heard it im sure they downloaded it. Look how many people heard his message from this incident. Far more than would have if he had held a concert. Tons of those took place and i haven't heard anything about any of them.

That's my whole point James. You want exposure and not just people that already know but the people that don't know or don't care. You want to reach people that wouldn't be at that concert. People that like all kinds of music not just mos def or not just OAR. You want to maximize the amount of people that your message will reach.


Here is the lyrics to the song in question in case anybody cares.

"Dollar Day for New Orleans (Katrina Klap)"
by Mos Def


(Speaks)

This is for the streets, the streets everywhere,
The streets affected by the storm called, America,
I’m doin’ this for ya’ll, as for me, for the Creator,

(Chorus)

God save these streets,
One dollar per every human being,
Feel that Katrina Clap,
See that Katrina Clap,

(Verse I)

Listen homie, It’s dollar day in New Orleans,
It’s where there water everywhere and people dead in the street (eet eets),
And Mr. President he ‘bout that cash,
He got a policy for handlin’ the bruthas and trash,
And if you poor you black,
I laugh a laugh, they won’t give when you ask,
You betta off on crack, dead or in jail, or with a gun in Iraq (a aq),
And it’s as simple as that,
No opinion my man it’s mathematical fact,
Listen, a million poor since 2004,
And they got illions and killions to waste on the War,
And make you question what the taxes is for,
Or the cost to reinforce the broke levee wall,
Tell the boss he shouldn’t be the boss anymore (or or),
Ya’ll bae-li-means (???),

(Chorus)

God save these streets,
One dollar per every human being,
Feel that Katrina Clap,
See that Katrina Clap,
God save these streets,
Quit bein’ cheap brutha freedom ain’t free,
Feel that Katrina Clap,
See that Katrina Clap,

Lord have mercy,
Lord God God save our souls,
A-God save our souls, A-God,
A-God save our souls,
Lord God God save our souls,
A-God save our soul soul soul,
Soul Survivor,

(Verse II)

It’s dollar day in New Orleans,
It’s where water everywhere and baby’s dead in the stree (ee eets),
It’s enough to make you holler out,
Like where the **** is Sir Bono and his famous friends now,
Don’t get it twisted man I dig U2,
But if you aint about the ghetto, Then **** You Too,
Who care bout Rock N’ Roll when babies can’t eat food,
Listen homie that shit ain’t cool,

It’s like dollar day for New Orleans,
It’s where the water everywhere and homies dead in the stree (ee eets),
And Mr. President’s a natural ass,
He out treatin’ bruthas worse than they treat the trash,

(Chorus)

God save these streets,
One dollar per every human being,
Feel that Katrina Clap!
See that Katrina Clap!
God save these streets,
Quit bein’ cheap brutha freedom ain’t free!
Feel that Katrina Clap!
See that Katrina Clap,

Soul Survivor,
Lord God God save our souls,
A-God save our souls, A-God,
A-God save our souls,
Lord God God save our souls,
A-God save our soul A-God A-God save us,

(Verse III)

Lord did not inten (yen-end) for the wicked to rule the world,
Say God could not inten (yen-end) for the wicked the rule the wor (o oorld),
God did not inten (yen-end) for the wicked to rule the world,
And even when they knew it’s a matter of truth, before they wicked ruling is through,

(Chorus)

God save these streets,
A-dollar day for New Orleans,
God save these streets,
Quit bein’ cheap homie freedom ain’t free,

God save these streets,
One dollar per every human being,
Feel that Katrina Clap!
See that Katrina Clap!
God save these streets,
Quit bein’ cheap brutha freedom ain’t free!
Feel that Katrina Clap!(Ha)
Ghetto Katrina Clap!(Ha)

Soul Survivor,
Lord God God save our souls,
A-God save God save our souls,

Feel that Katrina Clap!
Let’s make them dollars stack!
And rebuild these streets,
God save these streets,
God save these streets,
God save the soul,
Feel that Katrina Clap!
See that Katrina Clap!

Soul Survivor,

Don’t talk about it, Be about it, Peace.

 

[James]

there is no reason why he couldnt have done something like that along those lines in a better place, the lyrics arent that bad, but you simply cant put that kind of shit on TV. he can go on letterman or something and do it.

 

[kevolution]

there is no reason why he couldnt have done something like that along those lines in a better place, the lyrics arent that bad, but you simply cant put that kind of shit on TV. he can go on letterman or something and do it.

But why not? Those words are no worse than the images that media shows every night on the news. MTV shows worse crap then that anyways with all of theyre sexually oriented date my mom , sweet sixteen garbage. MTV plays stuff for the a majority a young crowd. Why would the youth be offended by that song? I understand that the suits at MTV corporate don't want that aired but other than that you can't say it is inappropriate for TV. We both know how much crap is on tv far worse than this.

 

[James]

i dunno kev, send MTV/Viacom a ****ing email.

 

[TJ_4_CV31]

So what would happen if I stood in Times Square and just started flowing with some wicked freestyle...would I get arrested?

 

[RuanuLaw]

He got arrested because of the name of the song, "Katrina Clap." It sounds like a genital disease.


I am still cracking here because of how funny the name sounds. I can see it now: "Oh man. I think that that b$$ch I was with last night gave me the Katrina Clap!"