"Arab Money": Offensive or Just Plain Dumb?

On November 11^th, 2008, Busta Rhymes released his new song "Arab Money (featuring Ron Browz)" to the iTunes Music Store. When at first I saw this new song, I ignored it. Truthfully, I ignore all rap songs, at first glance, if the title includes the words "money", "paper", or "cash" in it; the last thing I need another materialistic rap song with an auto-tuned chorus and generic lyrics. However, YouTube managed to convince me one day to give it a listen. What I saw and heard shocked me.

Now, if I were to forward this video to every person in America, my strong suspicion is that the overwhelming majority of Americans would see nothing wrong with the song. I good number of those people would probably enjoy it. However, such ignorance should not be tolerated.

Busta Rhymes, the "Break Ya Neck", "New York City Shit", and "I Love My Bitch" hitmaker, has stated in multiple interviews that he is a practicing Muslim. (Source) Still, I do not think this validates the questionable lyrics of the song, in fact it just displays his own hypocracy. If I was gay, I would not say, "fag", if I were black I wouldn't use the "n-word", and if I were Asian I wouldn't use "gook", anymore than I do now. Being a member of a group of people does not validate use of certain derogatory terms or condescending statements. In the song "Arab Money (Featuring Ron Browz)" and "Arab Money (Remix) [Featuring Diddy, Ron Browz, Swizz Beatz, T-Pain , Akon, and Lil' Wayne]" there are many offensive and harmful comments and sentiments against Arabic and Islamic culture. I am aware that there is a seemingly daily release of a new version or remix of this song, but I will stick to the original and official remix for now.

"Bismillahi r-rahmani r-rahim. Al hamdu lillahi rabbi l-’ālamin"
"In the name of Allah, most gracious most merciful. All Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds." (Translation Source)

This is used as the chorus and is taken from the Surah Fateha (which is from the Holy Qu'Ran). It seems rather blasphemous to take such a holy prayer and put it to use in a rap song with such a materialistic overtone.

“Dropping bombs like the Taliban“
“Sitting in casinos while I’m gambling with Arafat“

Both of these lyrics are grouped together for a good reason: they both link Arabic and Islamic culture to extremism and to terrorism. These lyrics are hardly what needs to be spoken to the already fearful American public.

“While I make you bow down and make Salaat like a Muslim“

This lyric isn't too bad, but I do I believe scrutiny is needed. Busta, are you trying to compare a sexual act which requires "[bowing] down" to a praying ritual of the Islamic faith?

“All the girls love me, yeah pop some bubbly“

Both drinking and promiscuous behavior are not allowed under Islamic law. Why is a self proclaimed Muslim decribing these activites in an Arab themed song?

"As-Salamu Alaykum Warahmatullah Wa Barakatu"
"Peace be upon you" (This is a greeting)
"Habibi"
"My love"
"Al hamdu lillah"
"Praise be to Allah"

These are just a collection of other parts of the song in actual Arabic. I don't really have a problem with these lyrics, other than using the context it is used in: a rap song about exceeding wealth and greed, drinking alcohol, and implied sex.

The Cover:

The cover has nothing directly offensive on it. Busta Rhymes is dressed in expensive clothing (I believe the scarf is from Louis Vuitton), displaying a matching ring and watch, and standing next to a luxury automobile. However, the text that says "Arab Money" and "feat Ron Browz" is written in fake Arabic caligraphy. This style of writing developed over time as a language to worship Allah with. Due to the nature of the cover, the music video, and of the lyrical content of "Arab Money", this text is almost mocking this style of Caligraphy and inherently mocking Allah.


Now, I must give credit to Busta Rhymes and everyone else on this record. This is not the most offensive rap song I've ever heard; the hypocritical religious over tones (such as 50 Cent with Get Rich or Die Tryin') have been much worse than on here. Despite Busta Rhymes' other ignorance, such as his admitted homophobia, I do not believe him to have created this song to be offensive towards Islamic or Arabic culture. Still, he has created one and not possibly at a worse time. Even over seven years since September 11^th, a good number of Americans are Islamophobic, believing that all Muslims are terrorists. Such Islamophobia was displayed when Barack Obama's religion was disputed by Fox "News" (and soon by all of the other leeching media sources) and believed by a good number of people. Still, Busta Rhymes may believe that disrepsecting the First Amendment means anything less than being downright asinine and offensive, we can only hope that his target audience knows better.