Back when KBLX the "quiet storm" station, there probably wasn't too much editing of lyrics required, other than a song possibly being a bit too risque about love. But adding rap as was done in 2021 requires more care to tone down lyrics.
On Saturday, KBLX played Tupac's "How Do U Want It". On Spotify there are two "clean" versions - one from the All Eyez On Me album that scrambles out the swear words from the original recording. But four months after the album release, Tupac did re-record the song changing lyrics wholesale for MTV and radio, and that is available on his posthumous Greatest Hits compilation.
KBLX played the "alternate lyrics" version of "How Do U Want It" but with MORE censorship than the version I've heard for years on Wild 94.9 and KMEL. Specifically, KBLX's version cut references to alcohol, sex, or strip clubs. However, it kept the violent references, like "how to get a bulletproof".
But on Friday, KBLX was playing Bone-Thugs-n-Harmony's "Thuggish Ruggish Bone". The song didn't include any swear words, but MTV and most radio stations, including 94.9 and now 102 Jams, usually play a re-recorded version toning down the lyrics to remove talk about weapons and fighting. However, KBLX played the regular album version - I had just tuned in when I caught the "try to creep and get beat" rather than "99 is my street" (a reference to East 99th Street in the Bone Thugs' hood in East Cleveland).
One possible reason for the way the Tupac song was edited: KBLX is now owned by Bonneville, a corporation owned by the LDS Church. Alcohol is forbidden in the LDS religion. That reminds me: I'll need to check if KBLX edits Jagged Edge's "Where the Party At" to remove "Bacardi" from the chorus, or even allows "Blame It" by Jamie Foxx featuring T-Pain (a song that name drops multiple drink brands in the chorus).
Shorter KBLX/Bonneville: "Fighting is cool, fornication not cool."
On Saturday, KBLX played Tupac's "How Do U Want It". On Spotify there are two "clean" versions - one from the All Eyez On Me album that scrambles out the swear words from the original recording. But four months after the album release, Tupac did re-record the song changing lyrics wholesale for MTV and radio, and that is available on his posthumous Greatest Hits compilation.
KBLX played the "alternate lyrics" version of "How Do U Want It" but with MORE censorship than the version I've heard for years on Wild 94.9 and KMEL. Specifically, KBLX's version cut references to alcohol, sex, or strip clubs. However, it kept the violent references, like "how to get a bulletproof".
But on Friday, KBLX was playing Bone-Thugs-n-Harmony's "Thuggish Ruggish Bone". The song didn't include any swear words, but MTV and most radio stations, including 94.9 and now 102 Jams, usually play a re-recorded version toning down the lyrics to remove talk about weapons and fighting. However, KBLX played the regular album version - I had just tuned in when I caught the "try to creep and get beat" rather than "99 is my street" (a reference to East 99th Street in the Bone Thugs' hood in East Cleveland).
One possible reason for the way the Tupac song was edited: KBLX is now owned by Bonneville, a corporation owned by the LDS Church. Alcohol is forbidden in the LDS religion. That reminds me: I'll need to check if KBLX edits Jagged Edge's "Where the Party At" to remove "Bacardi" from the chorus, or even allows "Blame It" by Jamie Foxx featuring T-Pain (a song that name drops multiple drink brands in the chorus).
Shorter KBLX/Bonneville: "Fighting is cool, fornication not cool."
