DUBAI // A producer and rapper who contributed to the controversial Busta Rhymes track Arab Money said ahead of his Dubai concert that he had intended the song to compliment Arab culture, not insult it.
Arab Money, which topped the charts in 2008 and 2009, focuses on Middle Eastern wealth, particularly in Dubai, and also mentions Yasser Arafat and Prince Al Waleed bin Talal. Its release in November 2008 stirred controversy, but Rondell Turner, who performs as Ron Browz, said the track had been misunderstood.
"For us, having 'Arab money' is a compliment understood like having 'Oprah money' or 'Tiger Woods money' - it's just street slang, and we were appreciating the amazing wonders that have been created here," Browz said. In 2009 the National Media Council banned the sale of the Busta Rhymes album, B.O.M.B, citing controversial content.
The Iraqi rapper The Narcicyst released a response track, which was broadcast across radio stations in the UAE, Middle East and New York's Hot97 FM, pushing the rapper Busta Ryhmes to issue an apology.
According to the National Media Council, "The lyrics of Arab Money were considered to be offensive to Arabs and to Islam, and [permission] for distribution was therefore denied." Browz said that he had produced the track in a moment of inspiration while experimenting in his studio. "Growing up in Harlem I was always surrounded by Arabs and Muslims, we embraced their culture and they embraced ours and we always joked with each other," he said.
According to Browz, six months after recording the backing samples for the song, he was contacted by Busta Rhymes and asked to contribute to his album. "When I listed the tracks for Busta, I didn't even expect him to notice this one - it was number six on the CD," he said.
"I got a call back and he loved it. He told me that I was to fly to LA the next day to start recording it." The song was a success. It made the Billboard top 100 pop songs and top 100 rap songs, peaking at number nine.
"I never anticipated such a backlash, and didn't know about it until Busta called me," said Browz. "I understand that since 9/11 Arabs and Muslims have been targeted with certain stereotypes but I never judge everybody in a certain situation and put the blame on them.
"This is my first time in the Middle East and I cannot even express my feelings for this part of the world, it's amazing."
amustafa@thenational.ae
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
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What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
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Name: Kumulus Water
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What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.