flyingtiger1013 Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 :doh: http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/wire/sns-ap-music-terror-rapper,0,4711083,print.story?coll=sns-ap-music-headlines HOUSTON -- When Bassam Khalaf raps, he's the Arabic Assassin. His unreleased CD, "Terror Alert," includes rhymes about flying a plane into a building and descriptions of himself as a "crazy, suicidal Arabic ... equipped with bombs." Until last week, Khalaf also worked as a baggage screener at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. "I've been screening your bags for the past six months, and you don't even know it," said Khalaf, who also said Thursday that he is not really a terrorist and that his rhymes are exaggerations meant to gain publicity. Andrea McCauley, a spokeswoman for the regional Transportation Security Administration office in Dallas, said the agency checks criminal records before hiring screeners, but it does not investigate what people do in their spare time. "We have eyes and ears in the workplace," McCauley said. "Once we discovered these Web sites, we fired him." An Internet search of Khalaf's name brings up Web sites that feature his obscene, violent and misogynistic raps that threaten to fly a plane into a building on Sept. 11, 2005. Khalaf, 21, was hired on Jan. 16 and fired July 7, according to a TSA termination letter that cited his "authorship of songs which applaud the efforts of the terrorists on September 11th, encourage and warn of future acts of terrorism by you, discuss at length and in grave and alarming detail various criminal acts you intend to commit, state your belief that the U.S. government should be overthrown, and finally warn that others will die on September 11, 2005." Khalaf, who was born in Houston and is of Palestinian descent, said working as a baggage screener was the best paying job he's ever had. He said he hoped to use any extra money he earned to produce his CD. "I kept my music and my job separate. I told a couple of people who I thought was cool with me at work that I rapped, but I never sat there and told them lyrics or anything," said Khalaf. "I guess somebody probably told them that I had a Web site." Khalaf said his terrorist-themed rhymes are more about marketing. He called his songs art and pointed to other rappers who have rhymed about terrorism. He specifically cites Eminem's song, "My Dad's Gone Crazy," which discusses blowing everything on the map up except Afghanistan and says: "There's no tower too high, no plane that I can't learn how to fly." "Controversy sells," Khalaf said. "It brings a lot of attention. Everybody wants to label all Arabics terrorists just because a couple of people messed up. Well, I'm going to play along with that character. I'm going to let you think I'm one." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsHokieFan Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 :doh: Unfourtantley he is right, this @#$%#$% does sell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSteve Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 I guess that's his choice, but if I were arabic I wouldn't put my job in jeopardy and invite stereotypes like that. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a_good_brotha Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 What an idiot. Nobody is gonna listen to any 911-related crap. :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Washington Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 WAIT A MINUTE! GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT?!?!?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChocolateCitySkin Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 Muzzies... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKINtil8tin Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 Originally posted by Leonard Washington WAIT A MINUTE! GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT?!?!?!?! :laugh: Missed that one in the news, eh. Anyway, I think this kid needs a beating. Free speech is one thing but he seems surprised that he was fired for the lyrics he writes - while working baggage security at an airport. To think that his poor choice in words should be justified because he thinks it's great marketing is absurd. While I agree with the notion that controversy sells - I can't imagine that if this guy came out with anything, his audience wouldn't be more than the few people that listen to his song to shake their heads in disbelief. He cites that alot of people incorrectly label all Arabics terrorists because a few people messed up and that he's going to "play along with that character." :doh: That's teaching us, genius. I'm sure he's going to making a ton of money at our expense. Definitely needs a beating. :hammer: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinzfan4life Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 Originally posted by SKINtil8tin He cites that alot of people incorrectly label all Arabics terrorists because a few people messed up and that he's going to "play along with that character." :doh: Thats a great way to get back at people isnt it? He wouldnt want to work at helping view Arabics in a more positive way. And the eminem lyrics in there might refrence terriorism, but it was done in a more round about way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinzfan4life Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 Originally posted by Leonard Washington WAIT A MINUTE! GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT?!?!?!?! I relaize its a the older bush, but the CIA headquarters on the GW parkway is the George Bush center for intelligence. Not sure the exact verbage of the sign but its very close. Every time i drive buy it i do a double take a laugh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoCommiesGo Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 And he thought his lyrics were going to help him sell records? I do believe this guy is a moron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg28daman Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 Originally posted by GoSkinsGo And he thought his lyrics were going to help him sell records? I do believe this guy is a moron. Dude, have you ever heard of Eminem? Lyrics help sell records TREMENDUSLY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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