‘YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE EXTREMES’
Joe Flizzow is ready to face the music for featuring a bikini-clad Brazilian model in his English single ‘Drop’ music video. BIBI NURSHUHADA RAMLI has the story
IN order for his new English single, Drop, to have an international appeal, rapper and record producer Joe Flizzow had decided to feature a bikini-clad foreign model in the music video.
He is aware that it may not sit well with certain quarters, but he is willing to accept any criticism for it.
“Honestly, I should just blame the director (Shimy Julaini). He’s the naughty one! I don’t even know how those shots got into the video,” Joe joked at the single’s launch in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
On a more serious note, Joe said everyone was entitled to their own opinions, and he apologised if anyone found the music video offensive.
“To leave an impact, you have to go to the extremes. That’s what the brains behind the video were aiming for,” he said, adding that it was part of his efforts to break into the international music scene.
Joe, 38, assured that the scenes featuring the model were minimal to begin with.
“She’s not a Muslim. And her choice of clothing is common in her culture. Obviously, we know what we’re putting out, but I’m sorry if it’s not anyone’s cup of tea,” Joe said.
However, he thought that if Netizens turned this into an issue, it was because they had too much time on their hands.
“There are far more important things in the world that need our attention,” he said.
The four-minute video, available on Sony Music K art el V EV O’ s YouTube channel, features stunning views of the tropical island of Phuket, Thailand.
Joe is seen in certain scenes wearing Bermuda shorts as he dives into the ocean.
“I thought my ‘half-nakedness’ would be the bigger issue here. Skip out those parts (if you don’t want to see them),” he said.
“Anyway, I’ve played the video to many Mat Sallehs (Caucasians), and they’re all amazed because apparently they had never seen such blue ocean waters.
“And since our eyes are so used to high-definition videos, my music video is in 4K, which has an even higher resolution.”
Drop was produced by Alif (of the Singaporean duo sleeQ) and mastered by world renowned sound engineer Chris Athens.