Beat of Islam: Muslims and the Hip Hop Scene

By Taqwa Abdullah

The cultural movement of Hip Hop first emerged in New York in the 1970s amongst the African American and Latino American youth. The four main elements of Hip Hop culture are DJing, rapping, breakdancing, and graffiti writing; all which emerged complimenting each other in different ways. DJ Kool Herc, a Jamaican who moved to NY as a teenager, is known for creating hip hop music by building on the Jamaican tradition of toasting. Toasting, the act of talking or chanting over a rhythmic beat, has been a part of African American culture since the Reconstruction era and it traces its roots back to an even older West African tradition. Gradually the DJ went from being the main attraction and became a compliment for the MC and his lyrics. The growing movement of Hip Hop culture, particularly graffiti had politicians up in arms. Former New York Mayor Ed Koch is most well known for creating the zero tolerance policy in regards to graffiti that is still implemented today. MCs and their lyrics did not come under fire until the release of NWA’s “F**** The Police” when Milt Ahlerich, an assistant director of the FBI, sent a letter to Ruthless and its parent company Priority Records advising the rappers that “advocating violence and assault is wrong and we in the law enforcement community take exception to such action.” NWA was the first of many hip hop groups to use hip hop as a way to convey their views on current and historical events to the public.
Since the beginning, Hip Hop has been a form of expression for the minority voices to enlighten people about the hardships they endure. Songs such as “F**** The Police” and “Straight out of Compton” shed light on poverty and police brutality in the ghettos. Many known and unknown underground artists use Hip Hop as a means of conveying their political opinion. From events such as the Watts Riots to 9/11 to Katrina and the Iraq War contemporary hip hop artists are utilizing hip hop as a way to convey their views to the public Immortal Technique and Mos Def’s song “Bin Laden” insists that “Bin Laden didn’t blow up the projects…Bush knocked down the towers.” Hip hop artist Kam, a member of Nation of Islam and Ice Cube’s cousin, in his song “Watts Riot” declares to the public that” in Watts, the shots don’t quit and in Compton we got the same sh**/Damn pigs is puttin’ in straight work/Murderin’ blacks and just smirk.” In a song titled “Katrina Clap” responds to the government’s mishandling of the Katrina disaster and says “and if you poor you black/I laugh a laugh, they won’t give when you ask/You betta off on crack, dead or in jail, or with a gun in Iraq.”
Mos Def is one of today’s most well-known Hip Hop artists and a Muslim. Mos Def has no qualms about publicly announcing his belief in Allah, in his song “Shinjiro” he states that “Allah’s provision, will help us in the providential” and proclaims that “Allah is the King of the World, we just subjects.” Mos Def is one among many artists that proclaim Islam as their faith. Many others include Brother Ali, Lupe Fiasco, Busta Rhymes, Everlast, members of Jurassic 5, Freeway and his fellow Roc-A-Fella artist Beanie Sigel. In Everlast and Santana’s Grammy winning song “Put your lights on,” Everlast can be heard singing “La Ilaha Illa Allah,” In an interview with Adissa Banjoko, Everlast discusses his conversion to Islam, and says “I’m Muslim, but I’m also a professional sinner.” In another song Beanie Sigel says “I pray Allah, forgive me for my actions / ‘Cause I spit gangsta, think Muslim and act kafir.” In this song Beanie Sigel presents to us the paradox that Muslim artists face in being believing Muslims and living up to the image of what a rapper’s lifestyle is supposed to be. While they may not act in the manner that is perceived as being Muslims, their faith in Allah is continuous and constantly present in their music and in their private lives.
Many Muslim rappers acknowledge that they are not living their lives the way Islam has taught them to, but whether in their public or private lives aspects of Islam can be found. Wayno, former Records A&R Assistant who converted to Islam after spending time with Roc-A-Fella artists Beanie Sigel, Freeway and Peedi Crakk recalls his time with them with great happiness “I would have to say it was a blessing to be around them it wasn’t there music that influenced me to take shahadda it was the brother hood I saw , they were the 1st people to open my eyes to islam and it was the way they loved n showed respect for each other n different hadiths they gave me that made me so drawn to Islam. Also no matter what bad or wrong I witnessed them do. Their love and appreciation for Islam always over powered it.”
Muslim artists in the hip hop scene have had a very strong impact on their fellow non-Muslim hip hop artists. This impact can be seen in their lyrics, their style of dress and their spirituality. Hip Hop artist Nas, who is not Muslim, attributes his name to Surah Al-Nas and begins a song on his Stillmatic album with “Bis-Mi-Allah A-Rahman A-Rahim.” Nas is an example of a non-Muslim hip hop artist who has been directly impacted by the Muslim artists that he has developed relationships so much so that he incorporates phrases of their religion into his art. In Tupac’s song “I Aint Mad Atcha”, he is addressing an old friend of his when he says “Oh you a Muslim now, no more dope game/Heard you might be comin home, just got bail
/Wanna go to the Mosque, don’t wanna chase tail.” Many other hip hop artists have adopted ways of dress that are related to Islam, from tasbeeh beads to bandanas that say “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadu Rasul Allah” to wearing thobes in their videos, as is seen in Noreaga’s video “Super Thug”.
While Islam has had an indirect effect on the music and the hip hop artist from the beginning, the first known Muslim artists in the game are Q-Tip and his DJ, DJ Ali Shaheed. The two played an important role in the conversion of Mos Def to Islam, when he got to know them at the young age of 19. Whether the lyrics contain explicit references to Islam or undertones of the artist’s beliefs they reach a wide audience. The effect that it has on the audience is that it shows them the intense love that these artists have for their religion. Amir Abassy, a close friend to Napoleon also known as Mutah ( formely of the “Outlawz) reports that he has seen Napoleon give shahadah to people who were “hooked” into Islam simply by his references to Islam in his rhymes. He explains that “some music doesn’t help influence me but when I hear even subtle references in music that might remind me of my faith.” ¢