| "Arab Money" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Busta Rhymes featuring Ron Browz | ||||
| from the album Back on My B.S. | ||||
| Released | October 14, 2008 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:47 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| Busta Rhymes singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Ron Browz singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Arab Money" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Busta Rhymes, released as the lead single from his eighth studio album Back on My B.S. (2009). The song features production and vocals by fellow New York City-based rapper Ron Browz.
The music video debuted on BET's 106 & Park on December 2, 2008. It is directed by Rik Cordero. It features cameos from Rick Ross, Spliff Star, DJ Drama, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, DJ Khaled, Akon, Gorilla Zoe, Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, N.O.R.E., Lil Wayne, Kardinal Offishall, Ace Hood, Shawty Lo, Paul Wall, E-40, Jadakiss, Swizz Beatz, T-Pain, Wiz Khalifa, Mack Maine, Tyga, Triple C's, Will Smith and many others.
New York City businessman and philanthropist Ali Naqvi stars as the Arab prince of the music video. Ali is actually of Persian and Indian descent. Ali, friend of Busta Rhymes, was invited to appear in the music video. Ali is Founder and Chairman of MindShare Ventures Group. [1] [2] The song makes reference to Yasser Arafat and Al-Waleed bin Talal. [3] [4]
The music video for the 1st part of the remix was released on February 25, 2009. Just like the original, it was directed by Rik Cordero in front of a green screen. T-Pain is not featured in the video, and the chorus is changed back to the original. Any Arabic words were not used. T.I., Birdman, & Cedric The Entertainer make cameo appearances in the video. [5]
The music video for the 2nd part of the remix was released on February 27, two days after the 1st part of the remix's video. Just like the original, it was directed by Rik Cordero in front of a green screen. Reek Da Villian is not featured in the video.
The song is heavily featured in the 2009 video game Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony as the favorite song of the eccentric property developer Yusuf Amir and also appears on the in-game radio station The Beat 102.7. It is also featured in the 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto Online to accompany the return of Yusuf Amir in the 2023 Chop Shop update.
The song was officially remixed three times by Busta Rhymes, with different guest appearances accompanying each version.
The first part of the remix features Ron Browz, P Diddy, Swizz Beatz, T-Pain, Akon and Lil Wayne. The song was released on Thanksgiving Day (November 27, 2008). Ron Browz, T-Pain, Akon and Lil Wayne all use the Auto-Tune effect in it.
Also, in this part, Busta Rhymes does the main part of the hook differently and Ron Browz pronounced Arab money differently with an accent on the "A"s. Therefore, /ˈeɪræb/ AY-rab would be pronounced /ˈɑːrɑːb/ AH-rahb. Unlike the original, actual Arabic is used in the chorus and by the artists in their verses:
This version was planned for inclusion on Ron Browz's as-yet-unreleased debut album, Etherboy , but the album was shelved.
The second part of the remix features Ron Browz, Reek Da Villian, Rick Ross, Spliff Star, N.O.R.E., & Red Cafe. The song was released on December 13, 2008.
The third part of the remix features Ron Browz, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, & Jadakiss. The song was released on December 21, 2008. This remix is the only one to not feature a music video.
Two other versions of the song were produced, the first one featured the rapper Pitbull and the second featured Rick Ross
Explicit
Clean
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 [6] | 86 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [7] | 31 |
| US Hot Rap Songs ( Billboard ) [8] | 9 |
| US Pop 100 (Billboard) | 79 |
| US Rhythmic ( Billboard ) [9] | 30 |
Felipe Delermo, speaking with The Fader , described "Arab Money" as part of a string of similar-sounding Ron Browz-produced, Auto-Tune-filled hits, alongside "Pop Champagne" and "Jumping (Out the Window)", saying that all three "sound like they could have been made during the same studio session", a sameness which he assessed would hurt Browz's longevity as a producer. [10]
The themes and lyrics of "Arab Money" ignited controversy, particularly from Muslim communities. [11] Music commentator Eric Ducker noted that Browz sings "non-sensical Arabic" in the chorus, which he described as "bothersome". He described the use of the faux-Arabic as being "culturally equivalent to doing a song involving China and having the hook be: Ching chang ching chong chong." [10]
The released remix came with even stronger negative reaction, as it quotes lines from the Quran, which (in such a form) is deemed forbidden in most Arab countries. [12] DJ Steve Sutherland of Galaxy FM [13] was suspended temporarily when he played the song and listeners complained. In response, Busta stated:
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. Feel me? So, 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. [14]
Trevor George Smith Jr., known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after NFL and CFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes. He has received 12 Grammy Award nominations for his work, making him one of the most-nominated artists without winning.
The Big Bang is the seventh studio album by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released on June 13, 2006, by Aftermath Entertainment, Flipmode Records and Interscope Records. Production for the album took place during 2005 to 2006 at several recording studios and was handled by Dr. Dre, Swizz Beatz, Mark Batson, DJ Scratch, J Dilla, Timbaland, Mr. Porter, will.i.am, Sha Money XL, JellyRoll, Black Jeruz, Nisan Stewart and DJ Green Lantern. The official cover artwork was revealed on May 7, 2006. The tracklisting was released on the 15th.
"Touch It" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes. Released on December 13, 2005, it was the first single from Rhymes' Aftermath/Interscope debut, The Big Bang. The song reached number one in New Zealand, and number six in the United Kingdom. The song features a minimalistic beat provided by Swizz Beatz, and a sample from the song "Technologic" by electronic duo Daft Punk. "Touch It" in turn was incorporated into Daft Punk's live album, Alive 2007.
"I Am Not My Hair" is a song by American soul and R&B singer–songwriter India.Arie from her third studio album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship (2006). Written by Arie, Shannon Sanders, and Drew Ramsey, it was released as the album's lead single in late 2005 to moderate chart success. The song was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song at the 2007 Grammy Awards. A remix version of "I Am Not My Hair" featuring Akon was also released.
"New York Shit" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes, released July 10, 2006 as the third single from his seventh studio album The Big Bang (2006). The song, produced by American record producer DJ Scratch, contains a sample of "Faded Lady" as performed by Soul Sensation Orchestra. Additionally the song features vocals from American musician Swizz Beatz, a longtime collaborator of Busta Rhymes.
Back on My B.S. is the eighth studio album by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released on May 19, 2009, through Flipmode and Universal Motown.
American producer and rapper Swizz Beatz has released two studio albums, one compilation album, one extended play (EP), one mixtape, thirty-nine singles, three promotional singles and thirty-three music videos.
"I'm So Hood" is a song by American musician DJ Khaled featuring American rappers T-Pain, Trick Daddy, Rick Ross, and Plies, released as the second single from the former's second studio album We the Best (2007). "I'm So Hood" is one of Khaled's best-known songs.
Quaadir Atkinson, professionally known as Neo Da Matrix, is an American hip hop producer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Stone Mountain High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He has worked with Swizz Beatz as an in-house producer for Ruff Ryders Entertainment and has produced for the likes of Cassidy. Neo Da Matrix is currently working on projects for Cassidy, Jadakiss, Swizz Beatz, Young Chris, Eve, Fabolous, Mýa, David Banner, Juelz Santana, Nina Sky, Tru Life, Range and more.
Rico Pleasant , better known as ReMix Reek, is an American rapper from Roosevelt, Long Island, New York. He embarked on his career as the protégé of fellow Long Island rapper Busta Rhymes and as a member of the East Coast hip hop group Flipmode Squad.
The following list is a discography of production by Swizz Beatz, an American record producer and recording artist from The Bronx, New York. It includes a list of songs produced, co-produced and remixed by year, artist, album and title. With a career spanning three decades, Swizz Beatz has contributed production on over 160 albums, including studio projects, compilations, soundtracks and mixtapes. Beatz has also produced 81 singles, a number of them have received gold certification or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
"Pop Champagne" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Ron Browz, originally released independently in June 2008. It is most famous for a remix with fellow American rappers Jim Jones and Juelz Santana that was officially released as a single on September 4, 2008 by Columbia and Universal Motown Records. The remixed version of the song serves as the lead single from Jones' fourth studio album Pray IV Reign (2009). "Pop Champagne" received mixed reviews from critics, but proved to be Jones' second most successful single to date, behind his 2006 hit "We Fly High".
Rondell Edwin Turner, better known by his stage name Ron Browz, is an American rapper, singer, and record producer from Harlem, New York. He gained major recognition for producing Nas' 2001 diss track, "Ether". Browz then adopted the nickname Ether Boy, which is also namesake of a record label he founded in 2009.
The following is a list of songs produced, co-produced and remixed by American hip hop record producer Ron Browz.
This is the discography of Ron Browz, an American hip hop record producer.
Channel 10 is the third studio album by rap duo Capone-N-Noreaga, released on March 17, 2009. It was the duo's first album in nine years.
Dale Anthony Resteghini, known professionally as Rage, is an American music video director and film director. He has been credited on music videos for prominent music industry acts in the genres of hardcore, heavy metal, rock, punk, hip hop and gangsta rap.
"Start It Up" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Lloyd Banks, released on November 2, 2010 as the third single from his third studio album H.F.M. 2 . The song, which features vocals from fellow American rappers Swizz Beatz, Kanye West, Ryan Leslie and Fabolous, was produced by American music producer Cardiak.
"Break My Heart" is first single taken from Estelle's third studio album All of Me, featuring American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on 26 April 2011.
"Why Stop Now" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes, released November 16, 2011, as a Promotional single. The song, produced by Sak Pase, features fellow American singer Chris Brown. Busta Rhymes uses his signature fast-paced rapping in all three verses, over production that contains elements of techno music. Chris Brown raps the chorus with aggression. The song was released after his last single "Stop the Party" which featured American rapper and record producer Swizz Beatz. The song was released as a free launch exclusive for Google Music, and is only available digitally through that marketplace.