Rapping With "Fear and Respect" in Saudi Arabia

Saudi rapper Qusai Kheder says Saudi Arabia is a "very conservative country" and that artists need to respect that. The musician has built a niche following for his sex-and-violence free brand of rap music. Kheder was in Paris Friday for a concert at the Arab World Institute.

Published

7 months ago

Categories

World

Topics

Middle East & North Africa, Free Speech

People

Qusai Kheder

Places

Saudi Arabia

Transcript

SHOTLIST PARIS, 2 Nov 2012 Source: AFPTV SOUNDBITE 1, Qusai Kheder, Saudi rapper (English, 17 sec): "We don't have the freedom of expression, the freedom of speech. So we set up limitations in whatever we do. Some people for the fear, some people for the respect. I do a little bit of both." SOUNDBITE 2, Qusai Kheder, Saudi rapper (English, 11 sec): "I drop subliminal messages and for those people who I call the smart people or intelligent, whoever reads between the lines, they can understand what I'm saying." - images at a concert in Paris at the Arab World Institute