We Don’t Believe You

Over the last few weeks there’s been a good deal of discussion on the Interwebs, forums, and blogs about how offensive (or not, depending on stance of the song) Busta Rhymes’ “Arab Money” is.

Heads from our very own Alyson Mance to Ron Mexico have waxed poetically on the song’s offense, abject stupidity and overall ignorance.

But with Busta dropping the remix with a whole slew of rappers you don’t want to hear, I figured I chime in on why it just doesn’t work, just like the original.

The remix to “Arab Money” features Ron Browz, Spliff Star, Rick Ross, NORE, Red Cafe & Reek DA Villain.

Stop right there.

First off, I never for a second believed that Busta was getting “Arab Money,” (whatever that’s supposed to be). If he was, then he would have managed to release The Big Bang Theory on Interscope as opposed to having create a new body of material for Motown. Matter of fact, anyone claiming to be able to “buy the ozone layer” would own his own record label and control his methods of distribution.

Secondly, when he says he’s getting “Arab money,” is he also referring to the golden coffers that are teeming with wealth in Palestine? Or the ones that used to exist in Iraq? Just asking.

And third, no one who gets any “Arab Money” hires Rik Codero to direct their music video. If “Arab Money” is supposed to represent insane opulence and wealth, then hiring Codero to direct your video is like to getting “New Guinea Money.”

But I digress.

The reason that  the remix of “Arab Money” doesn’t work is because out of all of the rappers that Busta could have gotten to appear on his remix, he got the least believable ones.

Here’s the breakdown:

Rick Ross -  Maybe I’d believe him if the song was called getting “Police Pension Money.” Maybe.

Ron Browz -  This guy’s claims to fame include the following: producing Nas’ “Ether,” referring to himself as “Ether Boy,” having his vocal cords replaced with an Auto-Tune box and having Dipset spray champagne on him in the “Pop Champagne” video. If the most recent thing you’ve done is having Jim Jones dowse you in Korbel Moet, then you are most certainly not getting “Arab Money.”

Spliff Star-  If the song was called “I’m Borrowing Busta’s Money,” then yes, Spliff, you are getting money. But you have to return it at some point.

N.O.R.E.-  Koch gives out their advances in Arabic currency? You really do learn something new every day.

Red Cafe - You know much cash mixtape rappers who are never going to release a full length album get? Exactly.

Reek Da Villain - Reek? Like you stink? You’re a stinky villain? Unless this is the Sultan of Saudi Arabia rapping under the corniest moniker since the Beatnuts’ Al Tariq went under the name Fashion, you’re not getting the oil funds.

Now, had the remix featured raps richer emcees like say, 50 Cent, Jay-Z, or Kanye West, I may have been more inclined to believe them.

But no one of that stature would ever do something that dumb, right?

Peep the remix for yourself here: