Mos Def Arrested While Performing 'Katrina Clap' outside the VMAs

Abookamongstthemany

http://www.showbuzz.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/01/people_crusades/main1961723.shtml

Cops Shut Down Mos Def Performance
Rapper Arrested For Unscheduled Show Outside MTV VMAs

NEW YORK, Sept. 1, 2006

(CBS) Rapper and actor Mos Def was arrested Thursday night after performing his song "Katrina Clap" without a permit outside the MTV Video Music Awards.

Mos Def and his entourage rolled up on a flatbed truck outside Radio City Music Hall in New York at 10 p.m. Thursday night and began an unscheduled performance for the crowd of fans outside the venue.

A spokesperson for the New York Police Department told MTV News that police officers asked Mos Def and the people he was with to shut down their show because of crowd conditions.

A publicist for the rapper called the arrest "unjust."

A Quote
"("Katrina Clap") was being performed by Mos Def in an effort to maintain a spotlight on the still-lingering effects the storm continues to have on the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans."
Carleen Donavan, spokeswoman for Mos Def.

---

"Mos Def did not set out to get arrested or break laws," Carleen Donavan told TheShowbuzz.com. "His only intention was to remind people that after one year the people hardest hit by Katrina still need the support of all Americans. Mos Def chose to use his voice to speak for those who are losing their own during this critical period of reconstruction."

Donavan added that the rapper was in the middle of performing when approached by the police, but he shut everything down as soon as he was made aware of the situation.

"His staff and team were willing to comply, as well but the police overreacted," Donavan said. "Mos Def was not charged but given a summons for operating a sound reproduction device without a permit — which he is going to contest."

Pearl Jam and toast

I like Mos Def, more power to him. He's actually got something to say.. without a doubt the best rapper to get any kind of mainstream attention out there.

Another example of irrational, liberal-bashing law enforcement... :rolleyes:

Abookamongstthemany

And the lyrics...

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


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,



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



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 (???),



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,



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 fuck 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 Fuck 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,


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,



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,



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.

beachdweller

he broke the law, he got arrested, it's not like he was standing on the sidewalk, he pulled up in a flatbed, speakers, etc..., what is bs is the reporting on this, trying to make it look like he was arrested for performing a song about Katrina. More power to him, getting arrested for trying to keep focus on N.O. is noble.

I think it's important that he did get arrested, it gives even more PR to N.O., the and the gulf coast Katrina recovery.

Pearl Jam and toast

beachdweller wrote:

he broke the law, he got arrested, it's not like he was standing on the sidewalk, he pulled up in a flatbed, speakers, etc..., what is bs is the reporting on this, trying to make it look like he was arrested for performing a song about Katrina. More power to him, getting arrested for trying to keep focus on N.O. is noble.

I think it's important that he did get arrested, it gives even more PR to N.O., the and the gulf coast Katrina recovery.

They agreed to pack up and they still arrested him.

Really he did nothing that should merit more than a "don't do that; pack up".

Cops tend to have a "don't ask, just beat and arrest" policy with whatever they consider "hippies" or "protests".

Abookamongstthemany

Pearl Jam and toast wrote:

They agreed to pack up and they still arrested him.

Really he did nothing that should merit more than a "don't do that; pack up".

Cops tend to have a "don't ask, just beat and arrest" policy with whatever they consider "hippies" or "protests".

I wonder if they would have arrested the Rolling Stones for the same thing?

brainofPJ

oh....i thought it was a new name for some sexual act

Pearl Jam and toast

Abookamongstthemany wrote:

I wonder if they would have arrested the Rolling Stones for the same thing?

40 years ago?

Probably.

I doubt today though... Rolling Stones are just to big and rich to arrest I think.

Abookamongstthemany

Pearl Jam and toast wrote:

40 years ago?

Probably.

I doubt today though... Rolling Stones are just to big and rich to arrest I think.

Well, that's straight bunk.

Pearl Jam and toast

Abookamongstthemany wrote:

Well, that's straight bunk.

I don't understand your confounded foreign slang! -_-

bgirl59

A publicist for the rapper called the arrest "unjust."

Unjust? A ticket for jaywalking is unjust! This is un-American!
Thank you Abookamongstthemany for posting the lyrics--and thank you to Mos Def for keeping it alive!

Abookamongstthemany

Pearl Jam and toast wrote:

I don't understand your confounded foreign slang! -_-

godammit! it's bonkers! completely whack...

PaperPlates

Pearl Jam and toast wrote:

I like Mos Def, more power to him. He's actually got something to say.. without a doubt the best rapper to get any kind of mainstream attention out there.

Another example of irrational, liberal-bashing law enforcement... :rolleyes:

or another example of liberal law breaking, then crying about it. The guy needed a permit, just like you or I would. Apparently he didnt have one. Apparently thats against the local law. So.............whats the problem.


btw, if you need an illiterate thug to educate you on katrina, you probably didnt care to begin with.

baraka

PaperPlates wrote:

btw, if you need an illiterate thug to educate you on katrina, you probably didnt care to begin with.

You obviously are not very familiar with Mos Def. He is NOT 'gansta rap' and far from illiterate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mos_def

Pearl Jam and toast

baraka wrote:

You obviously are not very familiar with Mos Def. He is NOT 'gansta rap' and far from illiterate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mos_def

I was about to say that.

And I see a black dude rapping is automatically an illiterate thug.................



BTW the point of what I said earlier was not that he broke the law, but that they really shouldn't have arrested him for it. Any other 'no permit' situation would probably just result in "You need a permit, stop this until you have one". But Mos Def is a liberal speaking for a cause (AKA protesting / raising awareness). Also, Mos Def agreed to stop, peacefully, and the cops still arrested him. It's fucking sleezy.

SweetHarmonics

PaperPlates wrote:

btw, if you need an illiterate thug to educate you on katrina, you probably didnt care to begin with.

racist generalization, this adds nothing to the discussion

El_Kabong

here's his video for the song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2FlcRVTuCA

MrBrian

PaperPlates wrote:

btw, if you need an illiterate thug to educate you on katrina, you probably didnt care to begin with.

Sounds like you've mixed Mos def up with Bush,

Abookamongstthemany

PaperPlates wrote:

btw, if you need an illiterate thug to educate you on katrina, you probably didnt care to begin with.

How did you come to the conclusion that Mos Def is an illiterate thug? He happens to be a well educated and talented writer and poet.

PJfanFORlife

Abookamongstthemany wrote:

Well, that's straight bunk.

She said bunk....I haven't heard anyone use that in a while.

But I think cops are bunk and so is mtv

robbie

illiterate thug is the right wing translation for black man.