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Local Radio Station Censors Politically Charged Song

POSTED: Tuesday, July 13, 2004

One local radio station has decided to censor lyrics to a rap song that blames President George W. Bush for the events of Sept. 11.

Jadakiss

Yonkers-bred rapper Jadakiss wrote the song, "Why," which accuses President Bush of being responsible for the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center:

"Why would n------- push pounds and powder? Why did Bush knock down the towers?"

Jadakiss released a statement on Billboard.com, saying he wanted to make a song that would appeal to a broader group.

"I wanted to make something that would touch people at home in white America," he said. "That's why I put it in there like that. ... A lot of my people felt that [President Bush] had something to do with it."

A lot of radio stations are refusing to play the version of the song with that lyric and are playing an edited version instead. But one local DJ says it's a song that should not be heavily censored.

"It's an election year, so it's very political," said DJ Dr. Doom. "There are a lot of rappers who are politically conscious about what they do and they have a lot of good messages in their music."

At 92.7 The Beat, Dr. Doom is playing a clean version without the explicit lyrics or the reference to President Bush. The station plays the song about four times a day.

Some rap fans agree with this decision.

"I think everybody gives Bush a hard time about stuff like that. So whenever people talk about stuff like that I get kind of aggravated," said Chase Caldwell.

Others say they decide what to get out of a song.

"I know it's not true. It's just that you know it's music to listen to because it catches your ear," explained Porsha Palmer.

Jadakiss' album, "Kiss of Death," debuted at the top of the billboard 200 list last week, selling more than 246,000 copies. The song "Why" is No. 16 on the Hot R&B single list.

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