Bad timing for COUP
From Biggie saying “Time to get paid, blow up like the World Trade,” to artists like Tragedy Khadafi, Hussein Fatal, and Noreaga> taking the names of ruthless dictators, otherwise harmless rappers have sometimes come across as terror’s advocates.
On the seventh anniversary of the worst terrorist attack ever on American soil (if you don’t count the genocide of Native Americans…
we bring you 10 rappers who were (or could have been) accused of promoting international and domestic terrorism. Check ‘em out below…
On the seventh anniversary of the worst terrorist attack ever on American soil (if you don’t count the genocide of Native Americans…
we bring you 10 rappers who were (or could have been) accused of promoting international and domestic terrorism. Check ‘em out below…
JUELZ SANTANA
He’s got crew named the Taliban, and on the mixtape version of “I Love You,” he said, “I worship the late prophet, the great Mohamed Atta,” a.k.a. the guy who flew the first plane to strike the World Trade Center. On the Diplomatic Immunity album version he changed it to boxing great and civil rights activist Muhammad Ali, but.Atta had already given him a black eye.
He’s got crew named the Taliban, and on the mixtape version of “I Love You,” he said, “I worship the late prophet, the great Mohamed Atta,” a.k.a. the guy who flew the first plane to strike the World Trade Center. On the Diplomatic Immunity album version he changed it to boxing great and civil rights activist Muhammad Ali, but.Atta had already given him a black eye.
PARIS
As if calling his 2003 album Sonic Jihad wasn’t controversial enough, this Bay Area firestarter really did it with the cover art, which nodded to 9/11 with a depiction of a plane flying towards the White House. The album was released with a blacked-out censored cover to get in stores. Those who actually listened to it were the real victims.
As if calling his 2003 album Sonic Jihad wasn’t controversial enough, this Bay Area firestarter really did it with the cover art, which nodded to 9/11 with a depiction of a plane flying towards the White House. The album was released with a blacked-out censored cover to get in stores. Those who actually listened to it were the real victims.
M.I.A.
The London-born MC of Sri Lankan descent, whose father was once a member of the Tamil Tiger separatist group, has been accused of supporting terrorist violence by using Tiger imagery in album art and stage shows. Recently, fellow Sri Lankan rapper DeLon made a diss track denouncing her. Maya denied supporting terrorism and said his track was merely a cheap publicity stunt. One thing that is clear—she absolutely murders dude on the mic.
The London-born MC of Sri Lankan descent, whose father was once a member of the Tamil Tiger separatist group, has been accused of supporting terrorist violence by using Tiger imagery in album art and stage shows. Recently, fellow Sri Lankan rapper DeLon made a diss track denouncing her. Maya denied supporting terrorism and said his track was merely a cheap publicity stunt. One thing that is clear—she absolutely murders dude on the mic.
DJ KHALED
After 9/11, the Palestinian-American DJ/producer/radio personality dropped his nickname, the “Arab Attack” so as not to offend people. It was a very sensitive and savvy move, but that of course has not stopped him from bombarding the public with buffoonery*.
*See We GlobalAfter 9/11, the Palestinian-American DJ/producer/radio personality dropped his nickname, the “Arab Attack” so as not to offend people. It was a very sensitive and savvy move, but that of course has not stopped him from bombarding the public with buffoonery*.
JADAKISS
With DJ Keyz, ‘Kiss put out the Al-Qaeda Jada mixtape, on which he’s seen wearing what could be a suicide bomb rigging. Maybe that’s cause it’s 2008 and his ass is still trying to blow up.
With DJ Keyz, ‘Kiss put out the Al-Qaeda Jada mixtape, on which he’s seen wearing what could be a suicide bomb rigging. Maybe that’s cause it’s 2008 and his ass is still trying to blow up.
THE COUP
Created in June 2001, the original cover art for the group’s album Party Music showed Boots Riley and Pam the Funkstress blowing up the Twin Towers with a digital chromatic tuner made to look like a detonator. Due out in early September, the album was pushed back to November so the art could be changed to something more sensitive and family-friendly: a Molotov cocktail in a martini glass.
Created in June 2001, the original cover art for the group’s album Party Music showed Boots Riley and Pam the Funkstress blowing up the Twin Towers with a digital chromatic tuner made to look like a detonator. Due out in early September, the album was pushed back to November so the art could be changed to something more sensitive and family-friendly: a Molotov cocktail in a martini glass.
SCREWBALL
In response to Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s support of abusive NYPD cops, this Queensbridge group put out the song “Who Shot Rudy?” which imagined the day of his assassination. Just to show that there were no hard feelings, Rudy G told his boys in blue to harass the shit out of them.
In response to Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s support of abusive NYPD cops, this Queensbridge group put out the song “Who Shot Rudy?” which imagined the day of his assassination. Just to show that there were no hard feelings, Rudy G told his boys in blue to harass the shit out of them.
ICE-T/BODY COUNT
In 1992, Ice and his heavy metal band Body Count put out “Cop Killer,” a first-person song narrative about a guy who shoots 5-0 as payback for police brutality. While some would argue that cops terrorize poor communities, the NRA, police advocacy groups, and even President George H.W. Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle said he was promoting the murder of civil servants and campaigned to force Warner Bros. to withdraw the album. Death threats were sent to Warner Bros. Records executives, but it wasn’t until stockholders threatened to pull out of the company that they got really shook.
In 1992, Ice and his heavy metal band Body Count put out “Cop Killer,” a first-person song narrative about a guy who shoots 5-0 as payback for police brutality. While some would argue that cops terrorize poor communities, the NRA, police advocacy groups, and even President George H.W. Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle said he was promoting the murder of civil servants and campaigned to force Warner Bros. to withdraw the album. Death threats were sent to Warner Bros. Records executives, but it wasn’t until stockholders threatened to pull out of the company that they got really shook.
DEAD PREZ
The group’s name alone could be considered treasonous in Bush’s phone-tapping New World Order, but revolutionary gangstas M-1 and stic.man have gone as far as to talk about firebombing police precincts, assassinating politicians, and (gasp!) sticking up white pizza delivery boys! Gotta get that extra cheese!
The group’s name alone could be considered treasonous in Bush’s phone-tapping New World Order, but revolutionary gangstas M-1 and stic.man have gone as far as to talk about firebombing police precincts, assassinating politicians, and (gasp!) sticking up white pizza delivery boys! Gotta get that extra cheese!
OL’ DIRTY BASTARD
ODB was arrested twice in California in 1998 for making what the sun-fried state considered “terrorist threats.” In September, he threatened to shoot House of Blues security in West Hollywood when they ejected him for being drunk and belligerent. In November, he was arrested again for allegedly threatening to kill the mother of one of his kids. Those charges were dropped due to lack of evidence, and all we have to say to CA is: N—- please.
ODB was arrested twice in California in 1998 for making what the sun-fried state considered “terrorist threats.” In September, he threatened to shoot House of Blues security in West Hollywood when they ejected him for being drunk and belligerent. In November, he was arrested again for allegedly threatening to kill the mother of one of his kids. Those charges were dropped due to lack of evidence, and all we have to say to CA is: N—- please.
