Hot 97 In Hot Water

Jen Chung

Published Jan 24, 2005

Modified Mar 7, 2008

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Jen Chung

Published Jan 24, 2005

Modified Mar 7, 2008

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It's no real news that there are fools on radio in the morning, but this is a little much. Gothamist read the story in the Post on Saturday, but thanks to hiphopmusic.com's investigation, we were able to hear the actual MP3 of the controversial Hot 97 Tsunami song that was played last week on Miss Jones in the Morning. The song mocks "chinks" and "Chinamen" (and "Africans") dying in the tsunami, and makes light of child slavery. While there is a tradition of racism (not to mention sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, etc.) in morning talk shows, there no reason to let radio personalities to get away with it.

Hot 97's apology consists of its morning staff contributing one week of salary to tsunami relief, but hiphopmusic has contact information for Emmis Communications (Hot 97's owner) plus other advertisers for people to complain to (we are going to complain). And when you listen to the clip, you'll hear the Miss Jones in the Morning crew square off against Miss Info.

The song itself is really disturbing, and not just because the singing is so out of key, and Gothamist transcribed the lyrics. WARNING: Do not click if you don't want to be seriously offended.

There was a time
When the sun was shining bright
So I went down to the beach to catch me a tan
Then the next thing I knew
A wave 20 feet high came and washed your whole country away
And all at once you could hear all the screaming Chinks
And no one was safe from the wave
There were Africans drowning
Little Chinamen swept way
You could hear God laughing "Swim You bitches, swim"
[Chorus]
So now you're screwed, it's a tsunami
You better run and better kiss your ass away
Go find your mommy
I just saw her float by, a tree right through her head, and now your children will be sold child slavery
[Repeat chorus]

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