Hip-hop's Islamic influence (Music reflects faith, but there's a struggle to beat a bad rap)

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 22 April 2003 | Marian Liu

[CounterCounterCulture]

From sampling Malcolm X to evoking Islamic principles in its rhymes, hip-hop is opening eyes to the Muslim world.

Islam has flavored hip-hop from its beginnings with Afrika Bambaataa to current rappers Jurassic 5 and Mos Def. But current events have made Muslim rappers feel like they're under attack. Muslim rappers are also struggling to make their varied beliefs understood.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Word

[CounterCounterCulture]

For Akil of Jurassic 5, Islam is tied to cultural identity. After hearing hip-hop groups like Public Enemy, which sampled Islamic thought, and learning in high school that some of the Africans who came as slaves to America were Muslim, he started believing in Islam.

Wonder what he'd think if he heard that Muslims are enslaving Christians and other non-Muslims in Sudan.

[CounterCounterCulture]

On the cover of Russell Simmons' ONEWORLD magazine, Lil' Kim wore lingerie underneath a burq'a.

For educational and research purposes only...
LIL' KIM GOES TOO FAR

[newgeezer]

But current events have made Muslim rappers feel like they're under attack. Muslim rappers are also struggling to make their varied beliefs understood.

I suppose the "good" Nazis felt the same way in the last century.

[Kewlhand`tek]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwww the poor muzzies are afriad to pray becuase they "are" terrorist

[Scothia]

I never could understand why people of African descent embrace Islam, when it has been and continues to be the religion of slavery.

[P.O.E.]

Wasn't Jihad Johnny Walker a big hip-hop fan? In fact wasn't that one of his influences in wanting to join up?

Not to mention "The Autobiography of Malcolm X".

[Bakumba]

Islam a religion which preaches slavery?
PLEASE...I DARE YOU to quote any Quranic references which proves such...
I ASSURE you that you will not find any.
The prophet Mohammed (PBUH) once said
in arabic:
"La Farqun bayna Arabi wa Ajami Illa Bil Taqwa"
Translation:
The only difference between an Arab and any other race or colour is by his/her faith.

I would really appreciate it if you check your information before making such comments. People who know no better read these things and you really do play a big role is damaging the already damaged image of Islam in the Wester world.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Islam a religion which preaches slavery?

I never said any such thing or even mentioned the Quran in this discussion.

I only mentioned present-day slavery in the Sudan and that's being done by people who claim to be Muslims. That is the truth.

[SauronOfMordor]

Slavery was abolished in the Christian nation of the US in 1865. Slavery was not abolished in the center of the Muslim world, Saudi Arabia, until 1962 (Just 41 years ago).

It still exists in Sudan (with Muslims enslaving non-Muslims)

[SauronOfMordor]

I would really appreciate it if you check your information before making such comments. People who know no better read these things and you really do play a big role is damaging the already damaged image of Islam in the Western world.

From my copy of the Koran:

"4.92": And it does not behoove a believer to kill a believer except by mistake, and whoever kills a believer by mistake, he should free a believing slave, and blood-money should be paid to his people unless they remit it as alms; but if he be from a tribe hostile to you and he is a believer, the freeing of a believing slave (suffices), and if he is from a tribe between whom and you there is a convenant, the blood-money should be paid to his people along with the freeing of a believing slave; but he who cannot find (a slave) should fast for two months successively: a penance from Allah, and Allah is Knowing, Wise.

"24.32": And marry those among you who are single and those who are fit among your male slaves and your female slaves; if they are needy, Allah will make them free from want out of His grace; and Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Er, nice knowing ya, poster at #12.

[Montfort]

"After having been Muslim for three years, he says he no longer is but that he's open to many beliefs."

Yet he would be a criminal for abandoning Islam in almost any Moslem country.

I begin to understand why we have been letting in so many Hispanics (legally and illegally). Hispanics usually are not Moslems and do not convert to Islam in large numbers (unlike African Americans).

Someday, when Sharia law reigns in France, the Christians and other non-Muslims in France will wish they had let in a whole lot of third-world Catholics (nominal or otherwise-- their zeal is not what matters, rather their non-Muslim identity and their unwillingniess to convert to Islam or submit to Sharia law.) Some may hate me for saying this. But for me it is not about saving souls. It is about retaining the spiritual and political freedom the West has struggled so long and hard to achieve.

Even if you were to convince me that Islam was the only true way to reach spiritual salvation, I would be against the spiritual tyranny of Islamic society.

[tracer]

He likely would be surprised that the jolly folks who largely ran said slave trade were Arabs and no doubt Muslims as well. And that the monstrously huge numbers of captive Africans who died enroute to the New World were under their loving care.

This minor and often deliberately overlooked detail of world history apparently is lost on all of our A-A brothers and sisters who have "converted" to Islam.....

[BabsC]

that some of the Africans who came as slaves to America were Muslim

This indicates to me that they may have been enslaved twice. The first time by Arabs who force converted them then sold them on down the line.

As far as his being bothered by muslims enslaving non-muslims? Their god allows it cause being muslims makes them better than everyone else. If the non-muslims does not convert then he pays a "protection" tax(dhimmi), if he doesn't pay the tax or convert then the muslim can enslave them or kill them at will. It's all in their infallable book.

By the way, if you're "arab" and "male" then you're practically a "god" according to islam.

[AppyPappy]

It's still being practiced in Saudi with foreign workers.