First up, if you’re thinking of printing this page and cutting out the notes in an effort to dupe the lady at the after shave counter at Dubai airport, think twice. Secondly if you’re a radio DJ thinking of playing Busta’s ‘Arab Money’ this week. Think thrice.
Here’s the full story:
Galaxy suspends Sutherland
Global Radio have suspended network presenter Steve Sutherland, following a number of complaints about offensive lyrics in a new Busta Rhymes song broadcast on his Saturday night show this weekend.
The track, called ‘Arab Money’, was aired at 9.58pm on Saturday 29 November and has prompted listeners to get in touch with Galaxy stations. The show is networked on Global’s urban music stations in Birmingham, Manchester, Yorkshire, Scotland, the North East and on the South Coast.
Global Radio have suspended Sutherland as well as his producer.
A spokesman for the UK’s biggest commercial radio group told Radio Today: “I can confirm that a track called Arab Money by Busta Rhymes was broadcast on Saturday 29th November at 9.58pm. A number of complaints have been received about the lyrics in the song and so both the DJ and his producer have been suspended pending further enquiries. Meanwhile Galaxy apologies for any offense caused.”
Sutherland has twice been named Best DJ at the MOBO Awards. He’s also a world famous club DJ and has put his name to 11 urban music compilation albums, attaining platinum and gold status.
The Galaxy FM websites are currently running a public apology on their front pages.
‘Arab Money’ has already attracted a lot of criticism on blog sites. One quotes Busta Rhymes in defence of the track: “Sometimes, people like to twist things. We ain’t mockin’ the culture. we ain’t tryin’ to be disrespectful. Ain’t no racism going on right here. If you listen to the song, you see that we are actually acknowledging the fact that the Arabian culture, a middle East culture is one of the few cultures that value passing down hard work riches that’s been built amongst the family. It would be nice if a lot of other cultures did the same thing. I would like for it to be like that in my culture where we could build things to the point where we got so much that we don’t need to rely on other cultures to contribute majorly in a financial way, or in whatever other way, to societies, communities or whatever governments we might live in. So, we are actually biggin’ up the culture. At the end of the day, I want to be like that. I think a lot of us want to be like that.”
The Galaxy Apology
On the evening of Saturday 29th November at Nine fifty eight pm Galaxy broadcast a song that has caused offence to some of its listeners.
Galaxy would like to apologise to all our listeners for the airing of this song, it was never Galaxy’s intent to offend its listeners and never will be.
A full internal investigation has now commenced.
Galaxy would like to apologise for any offence however unintentionally caused.
15 responses so far ↓
1 faggot backpacker // Dec 2, 2008 at 9:49 am
Shame they can’t suspend DJ’s for playing TI & Rhianna (and you KNOW I’m only pulling legs there).
I thought the tune was offensive when I heard it, offensive becuase the tune’s weak after the fantastic ‘Don’t Touch Me Now’. What does the arabic bit in the hook actually say anyway?
2 faggot backpacker // Dec 2, 2008 at 9:57 am
ps. Hope they see sense and out Steve back on air ASAP, too much erosion of free speech going on right now in the UK, regardless of whether the tune is offensive to some people or not, people don’t have to listen. I find Dermot O’Leary’s show offensively bland and Radio 2 won’t take my complaints seriously.
3 brian beck from wisconsin // Dec 2, 2008 at 10:57 am
He should’ve played Illegal Aliens by The Convicts instead and at least got suspended for playing the most xenophobic and racist rap song ever.
4 DT // Dec 2, 2008 at 12:08 pm
When did the UK get so touchy? We were known for having one of the world’s most liberal media and americans would have a great time saying the f word on TV and getting away without causing offense. Everyone is ‘offended’ by the most trivial stuff these days.
5 faggot backpacker // Dec 2, 2008 at 12:18 pm
I can’t even jerk off over fatlace freaky friday girls at work anymore without getting a slap on the wrists from my manager.
6 faggot backpacker // Dec 2, 2008 at 12:22 pm
……..it’s like 1984 (I mean the George Orwell book, not listening Knights Of The Turntables whilst weraing fila tracksuits and breaking in the park)
7 KD // Dec 5, 2008 at 6:31 pm
F**k Steve Sutherland. The guys a cock.
8 doggystyle // Dec 7, 2008 at 12:47 am
This is what happens when stupid people get rich and famous.
9 missy // Dec 8, 2008 at 9:37 am
KD – you are an idiot! Steve Sutherland one of the best DJ’s around – bring him back!
10 DJ SOLE // Dec 8, 2008 at 10:38 am
This is B**l Sh*t that once can be suspended for a track what the hell happened to free speach, you cant air that but you can air crap like Pussycat Dolls “I want boobies” what a fucking role model we are setting for the younger generation of girls? STUPID ASS MANAGEMENT AT GALAXY FM
11 Fuzz // Dec 10, 2008 at 11:38 am
This is not about freedom of speech, you cant compare someone using foul language to remixing sacred passages from a bool holy to millions around the world, if steve didnt know the content of the song i.e the scriptures from the sacred book then fair dooz, apology accepted, but knowingly, thats wrong!
12 james // Dec 16, 2008 at 5:42 pm
thats just sad ive got aa lot of mates who are muslims and dey get offended so i dont kno wat busta ryhmes on about. do 1 mate i used to like u
USED TO.
LOL
13 ZAIN // Dec 16, 2008 at 5:45 pm
WELL DONE GALAXY ATLEAST THEY APOLAGISE
SEE THIS WOULDNT HAPPEN IN OTHER COUNTIES
PROUD TO BE BRITISH ASIAN
SEE FREEDOM OF SPEECH
SO JUS THINK B4 U MAKE A SONG LOL
14 HumDillyLal // Dec 17, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Why and how did the tune come out without it being banned off of the shelves at HMV or banned from ITUNES. Why is a DJ who job it is to play the latest and biggest being suspended for doing his job.
15 Biggz // Dec 18, 2008 at 9:45 pm
LOOOL KD. Hey missy are you baldy Steve Sutherland’s daughter or something? LOL. He can’t be THAT good at his job if he fucks up this bad. School boy error man! Busta got kicked off Interscope for good reason. Yeah, Steve Sutherland is a cock!! LOOOL!
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