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By Khalid Rabbani

Scarborough, Ontario

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When you grow up in the East Side of Toronto, Scarborough, In lower middle class and low income neighborhoods, you may tend to gravitate towards an illegal lifestyle. Being from poor Caribbean immigrant families and feeling marginalized from society can push you in a negative direction. Being from the “ hood” my older brother was a respected guy in the streets. Like most younger brothers I looked up to my brother and although he wasn’t leading one of the most positive lives, he was an influence to me in many ways. I remember when he used to give me tapes and by tapes I mean the long fabled Hip Hop cassette tapes for my legendary Walkman (I remember the old ways).

One of my first and most favourite tapes to listen to that I got from my him was Capone and Noreaga 

The War Report (1)

Even now a lot of that Album still brings me back to the love I felt for rap music as a young teen. 

While this project wasn’t what you would call a conscious rap album it was my first experience with Rappers from New York saying Islamic phrases like “Allahu Akbar” and contradicting my religious beliefs at the time.

 At the time there was an East coast and West coast Rap Beef happening between rappers from New York and California. In response to a diss track from Tha Dogg Pound album titled “New York, New York” Ft Snoop Dogg  (2)

Queen’s rap duo Capone and Noreaga teamed up with The Infamous Mobb Deep and Tragedy Khadafi to strike back. Among some dark gritty lyrics, Tragedy Khadafi said “I remain calm study Islam read the Torah world going in flames like Sodom and Gomorrah“ he goes on then to say “La ilaha illallah” Which is an Islamic Arabic phrase meaning “There is No God except God”. I didn’t know what it meant but I was intrigued.

While describing a jail experience in his verse he says 

“my heads throbbing like a tumor it’s one o’clock,

make a salat I catch Jumua lay down my towel slide off my suede pumas.” Here he’s clearly describing a Muslim experience. (All quotes) (3)  

Another Song before my conversion that I remember Islam being referenced in was from a West Coast Rapper Ras Kass called “Nature of The Threat” off of his “Soul on Ice” album which is actually a seven minute plus thesis on how European colonialism is evil. He says “ In the eighth century Muslims conquered Spain, Portugal and France and controlled it for 700 years They never mention this in history class” referring to the Moorish African Muslim conquest of Alhambra and other parts of the south Mediterranean.

He goes on to say 

“Now listen, when you celebrate "Thanksgiving"

What you are actually celebratin'

Is the proclamation of the Pope of Rome

Who later, in league with Queen Isabella

Sent Cardinal Ximenos to Spain

To murder any blacks that resisted Christianity” (4) 

Songs like this would open my eyes to realizing that although I was catholic and descended partially from Spanish people I was more Indian and Afro Caribbean. The major religious kingdoms of west Africa at the time of the trans Atlantic slave trade were Muslims. Could it be that the African parts of us were only Christian because of slavery? Was this way of life forced on us? 

At a time when Muslims are portrayed as being terrorists or a joke (backwards people), it was interesting to see rappers mention Islam in a favourable light. And it went even deeper than that.

In 1968 a black revolutionary spoken word group formed known as “The Last Poets” which consisted of mostly  Muslim converts best known for their song “When the revolution Comes” which was said to be the forerunner of Rap and Hip Hop music. (5)

In those days many African Americans were turning back to their Islamic heritage replacing the names that slavery gave us with names similar to our ancestors like one of the most famous Muslims of our time Malcolm little who become Malcom X then changed his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz on his return from Hajj in Makkah Saudi Arabia. (6)  

Many rappers, whether Muslim or Nation of Islam (yes, they’re different),  reference the religious  teachings and morals from the top to the underground. 

Rapper Q-Tip From the legendary rap group Tribe Called Quest who any Hip Hop Purist may reference as being Real Hip Hop said:

“I'mma take position and y'all best to take Shahada 

Cause the sh*% that I spit is hot as hellfire, hotter” (7)

While sometimes profane language is used and it’s not proper Islamic etiquette I remember the saying 

“Speak to people only according to their level of knowledge. Would you like for Allah and His Messenger to be denied?” (8)     

American hip-hop artist Busta Rhymes, born Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., is a proud Muslim and attributes much of his success to the way in which his faith has kept him grounded.

In a 2007 interview with Hollywood TV, Rhymes said, "I try to really just understand every aspect about the most high. For me, the most high is Allah... And I live my life by Islam. (9)   

Among today's youth you can hear Islamic language influence Toronto Hip Hop slang. Words like the Arabic words “Wallahi” meaning “By my God (I swear to God)” made popular by the Somalian community in the hood.

As heard in Drake’s lyrics on Draft Day  

“know some Somalis that say we got it wallahi” (10)

I always heard that Raekwon and Ghostface Killah were Muslim but recently I saw Rza and Cappadonna of the arguably greatest rap group ever “Wu Tang” doing Hajj after taking Shahada (11) 

With the recent headlines about Diddy I remember former Bad Boy artist “Loon” also converted to Islam and had an interview on Al Jazeera (12)  

Also from one of most deadly areas of Chicago we see Lil Durk getting more vocal and visual practicing Islam which is a blessing May Allah bring peace to them. Ameen.   

All in all let’s look at what Allah says in Surah Nasr 

“When Allah’s ultimate help comes and the victory is achieved

 and you see the people embracing Allah’s Way in multitudes, 

then glorify the praises of your Lord and seek His forgiveness, 

certainly He is ever Accepting of Repentance.” (13)

Allah is “The Guide” and “The Most Wise” and while some might view things as black and white from their human imperfection things are not always so simple as that. Regardless of music’s permissibility in Islam Allah can use anything He wants to inspire or guide people to the way of Truth.

May Allah guide us all and forgive our shortcomings. Ameen.

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