Govt bans Jay-Z Chinese show

Jay-Z may be one of the most celebrated hip-hop artists of the past decade, but it seems that the Chinese government has a very different opinion, having banned the New York rapper from performing his debut show in China.

“Some of Jay-Z’s songs contain too much vulgar language,” commented Sun Yun, a spokesman for promoters KS Production Co, in the state-run newspaper, Shanghai Daily.

Although Jay-Z’s lyrics are undoubtedly suggestive, with a liberal use of expletives and references to drug dealers, pimps and violence, the move by China’s Culture Ministry to ban the show outright has still surprised many, with sexually suggestive acts including the Rolling Stones and Black Eyed Peas both having performed in Shanghai recently.