Posted on 07/16/2005 9:41:46 AM PDT by Arkie2
Bassam Khalaf was paid to help keep US air travel safe as a baggage screener. His alter ego, the Arabic Assassin, rapped about flying a plane into a building.
The Transportation Security Administration could not reconcile the two and fired him last week, saying his free speech rights as an aspiring rap singer did not extend to his right to check luggage at Houston Intercontinental Airport.
"I was one of the ones screening the bags thoroughly," Khalaf said on Friday. "I wouldn't let a bomb get on a plane."
He also was the self-proclaimed "Arabic Assassin," who didn't do songs about love but preferred to sing about killing, raping and blowing things up.
Khalaf, a Houston native of Palestinian descent, said the incendiary lyrics about rape, murder and mass attacks were meant only to get attention and help get his first album, "Terror Alert," a distribution deal.
Instead, the TSA fired Khalaf, 21, after six months on the job and gave his name to other federal agencies for investigation, spokeswoman Andrea McCauley said.
"There is a certain level of integrity employees are asked to maintain," she said. "He's been tasked with protecting the very people he's talking about harming. We wonder what the public would think if we didn't fire him."
Khalaf believes his Arab-American ethnicity played a role in the firing, but McCauley said that was not true.
Khalaf said publicity about his controversial rapping had brought lots of phone calls from both admirers and detractors, but none from record distributors.
He also admitted to being a little worried about his future employment possibilities now that word is out about his music.
"I better make it (as a rapper) now because there ain't no turning back," he said.
What's Khalaf going to do now to cop a free feel?
Perhaps the Arabic Ass. would do better if he took his anti-America act to Iran. I'm sure he'll enjoy sharia.
The TSA, on the other hand, should also take its act to Iran.
Khalaf said publicity about his controversial rapping had brought lots of phone calls from both admirers and detractors,
Believe it or not there are terrorist groupies out there. He probably won't be lacking for company.
Houston, Texas pingggggggggggg
Oops!
Have I pinged you to this story for the zillionth time?
:-)
I see the posting police are out in force. I did a search on the title which turned up nothing. Give it a rest.
Don't you think a seventh post is a little excessive?
Three usually does the trick.
He doesn't sound like an Islamic Extremist but obviously needs to go.
I'm not sure - I'm too busy defending my honor on the gay-Anglicans thread. (A FReeper who cannot stand me is accusing me of cheating on my fiance with another FReeper, and won't admit that he's doing it because he can't stand me. And I was nowhere near the damn thread until the party of the first part brought my name into it in a defamatory manner.)
Read post 8. I did a search. If you don't like it tell the moderator to take the post down.
I did read post 8. And then I did a search, and look what-all came up.
Possibly, this is true. I mean, arabs are a crazy unstable bunch, maybe that's what caused him to rap like that.
You got to be kidding me. This is like putting Michael Moore in charge of protecting donuts. They should also fire the absolute a-hole who hired this scumbag in the first place.
Good for you. Your search skills are truly amazing. Can I get your autograph?
Why, then, did you open this one?
To slag the guy who posted it for the seventh time. Why else?
Here`s his website.
http://www.soundclick.com/pro/?BandID=351031
What a freggin` putz.
This putz needs a major ass whupin and then some..Read the interview with this clown...
THE FIRST ARABIC RAPPER TO HIT THE SCENE, THIS ARABIC ASSASSIN HOLDS NOTHING BACK WHEN IT COMES TO HIS LYRICS. WHETHER HE FLOS FAST OR SLOW, HE STILL WRECKS ALL THEM OTHER HOES.
Why this name?
I CHOSE THIS NAME BECAUSE IT FITS ME. IM ARABIC AND ILL ASSASSINATE YO ASS. PLUS I FEEL ITS REAL CONTROVERSIAL AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY "CONTROVERSY SELLS"
Do you play live?
YEAH ILL PERFORM ANYWHERE U WANT ME TO. JUST GIVE ME THE MIC AND THE CASH AND YOULL GET THE ARABIC ASSASSIN. IVE DONE SHOWS FOR AS LITTLE AS 5 PEOPLE TO AS MANY AS 1000 PEOPLE.
How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry?
I THINK ITS A GREAT WAY FOR UP AND COMING ARTISTS TO GET OUT THERE.
Would you still sign a record contract with a major label?
ONLY DISTRIBUTION DEALS. IM NOT GETTING FUCKED OVER BY ANYBODY. I WANNA OWN ALL MY SHIT.
Band History:
I STARTED OUT JUST BULLSHITING AROUND FLOIN JUST FOR FUN. THEN I REALLY STARTED TAKIN IT SERIOUSLY WHEN I MET MY HOMIES J-DUCE, TRAILS, AND SUPA
Your influences?
DEFINITELY BONE-THUGS-N-HARMONY. ALSO TECH N9NE, 2 PAC, TWISTA, EMINEM.
Favorite spot?
HOUSTON TEXAS BITCH TIL I DIE.
Equipment used:
N/A
Anything else...?
IF YOU TIRED OF HEARIN THE SAME FAKE SHIT ON THE RADIO AND TV, THEN CHECK OUT MY SHIT. I DONT DO IT ANY WAY BUT THE REAL WAY. ARABIC ASSASSIN COMIN SOON.
http://www.soundclick.com/pro/default.cfm?BandID=351031&content=interview
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