Music

Watch Rick Ross' BET-banned video for "Hold Me Back"

by Aaron Zorgel

July 30, 2012

Last week, we reported that BET banned Rick Ross' video for "Hold Me Back" from airing on their TV channel, for then-unknown reasons. After watching the video, we’re even more puzzled about why BET would banish the clip form its airwaves. Maybe it’s the fact that the video features Ross wearing a $100,000 Rolex watch in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in America.

It’s God Forgives, I Don’t release-day tomorrow, and as a promotional boost, Rick Ross rolled out his controversial video for “Hold Me Back” on Sunday afternoon.

Last week, we reported that BET banned the video from airing on their TV channel, for then-unknown reasons.

After watching the video, we’re even more puzzled about why BET would banish the clip form its airwaves. Maybe it’s the fact that the video features Ross wearing a $100,000 Hublot watch in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in America.

It’s hard to say whether Rozay is definitely wearing the $100,000 Hublot that Dr. Dre gave him for his birthday, but he’s certainly rocking some pretty icy chains and watches in the video. Is it appropriate to flash that kind of wealth in a neighbourhood that is primarily known for drugs, poverty, crime, and violence?

Directed by Taj Stansberry, the visuals for “Hold Me Back” were filmed in the Calliope Projects of New Orleans. Rick Ross says that he filmed the gritty, black and white video in Callope in order to give its citizens a voice to say that they’re still “out there.” That’s all well and good, but in the video for “Hold Me Back,” there’s definitely a gross accidental contrast between the haves and have-nots, as Rozay and his crew of millionaires “slum it” with the locals of Calliope.

Lyrically, the song glamourizes a rise to wealth through the drug trade (“The only thing on my mind, I’m tryin’ to keep on the lights / I call up my slime, I need a kilo tonight”), and while that’s certainly a reality in Calliope, the song and video do little to help any residents who might be struggling to make ends meet.

The video features cameos from Swizz Beats, Mia X, Wale, Stalley and Gunplay. God Forives, I Don’t is finally out tomorrow.