‘Vulgar’ Jay-Z Barred From China
BBC News, Oct. 11, 2006
Chinese officials have denied US rapper Jay-Z permission to perform a concert in Shanghai because his music contains too many profane references.
Concert promoter Sun Yun told China’s state-run Shanghai Daily that ministry of culture officials pulled the plug because of Jay-Z’s “vulgar language”.
The event on 23 October would have been the rapper’s debut concert in China.
At a concert in Shanghai in April, the Rolling Stones were asked not to play songs with suggestive lyrics.
No surprise
Jay-Z is thought to have fallen foul of the Chinese authorities for references to drug dealers, pimps, violence and guns in his music.
Concerts by chart-topping US group The Black Eyed Peas were allowed to go ahead in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong earlier this year, despite the adult nature of some of their songs.
Rolling Stones lead singer Sir Mick Jagger said the censorship of the band’s China gig was no surprise and had not worried them.
“Fortunately, we have 400 more songs that we can play so it’s not really an issue,” said the veteran rock star.
