Rapper Tyler, the Creator pens song about NZ ban

Herald online

14 Apr, 2015 05:55 AM2 mins to read

Tyler The Creator has rapped about his ban from New Zealand. Photo/AP

Rapper Tyler, the Creator was banned from performing in New Zealand - so he wrote a song about it. And he got Kanye West and Lil Wayne to jump on it too.

Tyler and his Los Angeles hip-hop collective Odd Future were scheduled to perform at last year's Rapture festival, headline by Eminem, but were refused entry into New Zealand after being determined a threat to public order.

"They said we were terrorist threats and bad for society," Tyler tweeted at the time.

Band manager Christian Clancy expressed his dissatisfaction at the immigration decision, saying it happened an hour before their flights were due to depart.

"Sorry New Zealand apparently this group of kids that have inspired the shit out of me for the last few years are a threat to society,'' Clancy said.

The incident sparked Tyler to pen a song about the incident for his new album, Cherry Bomb. The track also features Kanye West and Lil Wayne.

On Smuckers, he raps: "I got banned from New Zealand / Whitey called me demon /
And a terrorist / God dammit I couldn't believe it / Ban a kid from the country / I never fall, never timber ..."

Immigration NZ confirmed in a statement that it refused to allow members of Odd Future to travel to New Zealand.

Image 1 of 30: Music fans enjoy a performance at the Sahara tent at the 2015 Coachella Music and Arts Festival. Photo / AP

"The Immigration Act 2009 provides that entry permission may not be granted where there is reason to believe there is, or is likely to be, a threat or risk to public order or the public interest.

"Odd Future has been deemed to be a potential threat to public order and the public interest for several reasons, including incidents at past performances in which they have incited violence. In one instance, a police officer was hospitalised following a riot incited by Odd Future,'' the statement read.

The incident Immigration NZ appears to be referring to was at a Boston comic shop autograph signing session in 2011.

It was described in local news reports at the time as a '"near-riot'" with the injured officer treated and released from hospital for minor injuries after slipping and hurting his back.