DMX wants the promoters of the St. Kitts Music Festival to formally apologize for arresting him on obscenity charges. And if they don't, his manager says he may consider taking legal action.

The rapper was arrested Saturday morning for using foul language onstage, though he claims that he had permission to get profane as long as the dirty words were said in the context of a song (see [article id="1473449"]"DMX Arrested For Using Obscenity Onstage"[/article]). And he's got a videotape to prove it.

Basically, it was understood by DMX that if the lyrics contained profanity, it was allowed. What wasn't allowed was DMX's use of swear words in any kind of banter with the audience. Concert organizers claim DMX signed a contract to that effect, though his manager said the written agreement didn't go into detail about the foul language. That stipulation was only expressed to X verbally, his manager said.

Filmed backstage prior to X's performance, the videotape shows DMX and his entourage speaking with a couple of men claiming to be in charge. He then explains to one of the men what to expect onstage, before getting what appears to be the go-ahead from the official.

"I don't curse for nothing," DMX said, alluding to the stipulation about ad-libbed swear words, "but in the song, there are curses. So you're not going to arrest me, right?"

The man nodded, then asked for clarification. "In all the songs?"

"Yes," X said.

Only in one instance during the show did DMX's mouth run afoul of the law, and he had issued a warning to officials in advance about that.

DMX: I got this one song called "What These Bitches Want," and before the song comes on, I say to the guys, "Fellas, what do these bitches want from a n---a?" And then the song comes on. That's the only time I curse without singing."

DMX Associate: So he'll say "bitch" and "n---a." That's it.

OFFICIAL #1 [giving a thumbs up]: Good.

Although some parts of the tape are inaudible, it appears that the word authorities found most objectionable was the f-bomb.

DMX: I say some bad curses in the song.

OFFICIAL #1: Like what?

DMX: Mother----er, bitch-ass n---a, suck my di--, I say that a few times.

OFFICIAL #1: [inaudible, though he appears to only object to the word mother----er.]

DMX: But it's part of the song. And the crowd is going to end up singing it.

OFFICIAL #2: Then the best thing for you to do is let the crowd sing it.

DMX: I can't do that. ... OK, let me know now if [the curse words] are good or not, because if there are any problems with me cursing, I won't perform.

OFFICIAL #2: What words are you saying?

DMX: I'm saying everything. I say it all … but in the song.

OFFICIAL #1: I'm telling you, the only thing we have a problem with is [inaudible].

DMX: I say that.

OFFICIAL #1: Anything else -- n---a, bitches, stuff like that -- is OK. But you said the music will be playing?

DMX: At all times when I curse ... I don't do it a lot. I'll try to ... Just don't lock me up, OK?

OFFICIAL #2: OK.

And the two men shake on it.

DMX's manager wants the St. Kitts Music Festival organizers to apologize to DMX and issue a formal apology to the press. If they don't, he warned, he'll consider taking legal action.

The St. Kitts police officers that arrested DMX were unavailable at press time.

Foul language doesn't seem to fly in the Caribbean. Two years ago, at the Reggae Sumfest festival in Jamaica, Ja Rule, Snoop Dogg and Beenie Man were each issued summonses for using their potty mouths onstage (see [article id="1448575"]"Snoop Dogg, Ja Rule, Beenie Man Busted For Swearing"[/article]).