Hip-hop and Islam often go hand and hand

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By Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur and Diane “Shabazz” Varnie
All Hip Hop.com

“Deep like the mind of Farrakhan” – Notorious B.I.G.

“Make your wife get on the horn call Minister Farrakhan / so he could persuade me to squash it (beef)” – Canibus

“I’m headstrong / at peace with myself like Islam.” – Prodigy of Mobb Deep

There are a number of profound parallels between Hip-Hop and Islam. Both are in the ‘hoods as well as the suburbs. Both are in jails as well as the free world. Both are in the community. Both are in rap music. Both offer a colorful display of personality, hues, and cultural varieties. Both are ways of life embraced by millions the world over.?

Hip-Hop and Islam intersected early on in rap’s history when the young poets began to embrace the teachings of Malcolm X (also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz). Rakim was the first and most widely recognized rapper to outwardly profess the teachings of Islam, and at one time, he even rapped under the moniker Rakim Allah (or “Sun God”). Public Enemy name-checked Minister Louis Farrakhan on songs such as “Don’t Believe the Hype”: “A follower of Farrakhan / don’t tell me that you understand / until you hear the man.” And, KRS-One emulated a famous “guarding the house” photo of Malcolm X on the cover of Boogie Down Productions’ “By All Means Necessary” in 1988.

During this progressive period in Hip-Hop history, rappers weren’t just talking the Muslim talk – they were living it.

“All of Islam has had a very positive and progressive impact on Hip-Hop. Islam’s principles of love, unity, and do for self is the predominate theme, thus the renaissance in the early 90s until now,” said Brother Sean of Medinah Entertainment, a full service company that has produced for Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson, Justin Beiber, and more. “Hip-Hop itself was birthed by the same principle. Look at Russell Simmons and Def Jam, J Prince and Rap A Lot [Records], Diddy and Bad Boy, Master P and No Limit and so on,” he adds.

While most acts didn’t subscribe fully to the Islamic dogma, in the 80’s and 90’s, many embraced Islam teachings, as well as various sects of the religion, such as the Nation of Islam, the 5 Percent Nation, and even Orthodox Islam. Rappers such as popular 90s group Brand Nubian were praying to the East, reading daily “scrolls,” and striving to live righteously. It was an empowering period in rap, and one early artist from the period, King Sun, described it as “righteous but ruthless.” Activists like Conrad “The Hip-Hop Minister” Muhammad courted the Hip-Hop Generation, encouraging them to be more socially and politically involved.

The appeal was very simple says Minister Sharieff Muhammad, who heads up The Nation of Islam defense and security force The Fruit of Islam.

“We don’t use your past against you,” he says candidly. “The inspiration of telling you that we are all children of God. And God don’t drink, God don’t sell dope, God don’t disrespect women. Now you get their attention and now you can teach them. But most don’t go to church, they are all in a negative environment. And we appreciate them and there are positive things that you can do in the community.”

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