, and will be (InshaAllah) a Muslim. Many of them are 5 percenters and members of Nation of Islam, making them not under the category of Sunni Islam. I’m sorry to those people who I have confused, but this topic really facinates me. The effect Islam has on Hip-Hop is huge! Literally every rapper knows a Muslim and knows a little about Islam. Afterall, <A href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MECCAONE?m=33"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Imam Suhaib Webb first became interested with Islam through Hip-Hop music</FONT></STRONG></A>.<BR><EM><IMG id=image181 height=144 alt="Ice Cube" src="http://www.mujahideenryder.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/ice%20cube.jpg" width=114 align=left>(in no particular order)</EM><BR><A href="http://www.rocafella.com/Artist.aspx?id=9&amp;avid=120&amp;idj=456"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Freeway</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/sigel_beanie/artist.jhtml"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Beanie Sigel</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.lupefiasco.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Lupe Fiasco</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.iamnas.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Nas</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://az.ivnet.tv/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>AZ</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.mosdefmusic.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Mos Def</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.k-salaam.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>K Salaam</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.ruffryders.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Swizz Beats</FONT></STRONG></A>*, <A href="http://www.okayplayer.com/talibkweli/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Talib Kweli</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.bigproof.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Proof</FONT></STRONG></A> (inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon), <A href="http://www.bizarresworld.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Bizarre</FONT></STRONG></A>*, <A href="http://www6.defjam.com/site/artist_home.php?artist_id=320"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>N.O.R.E</FONT></STRONG></A>. (Noreaga), <A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q-Tip_%28rapper%29"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Q-Tip</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.icecube.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Ice Cube</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.theroots.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>The Roots</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.publicenemy.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Public Enemy</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.krs-one.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>KRS-One</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Tribe_Called_Quest"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>A Tribe Called Quest</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.alishaheed.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Ali Shaheed Muhammad</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.common-music.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Common</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.salamwreck.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Salam Wreck</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.akononline.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Akon</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.alimusic.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Ali</FONT></STRONG></A>, DJ Khaled from the <A href="http://www.terrorsquad.net/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Terror Squad</FONT></STRONG></A> (haha), Havoc of <A href="http://www.mobbdeep.net/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Mobb Deep</FONT></STRONG></A>, Mister Cee, <A href="http://www.holidaystyles.net/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Styles P</FONT></STRONG></A>*, Al’ Tariq (former member of the Beatnuts), <A href="http://www.ruffryders.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Eve</FONT></STRONG></A>, <A href="http://www.myspace.com/tpain"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>T-Pain</FONT></STRONG></A>, Akil and Zaakir of <A href="http://www.jurassic5.com/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Jurassic 5</FONT></STRONG></A>, and <A href="http://www.islandrecords.com/everlast/site/home.las"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Everlast</FONT></STRONG></A> (former member of House of Pain) all have something common. They are all Muslims. Regardless of their lifestyles, lyrics and actions they have accepted Allah as their creator and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His messenger. (*Rumor)<BR><SPAN id=more-172></SPAN>
<P><IMG id=image182 alt="Lupe Fiasco" src="http://www.mujahideenryder.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/lupe%20fiasco.jpg" align=right>Islam is Hip-Hop’s official religion. Why? Whether rappers are Muslim or not, they’re lyrics are influenced by them. Afterall, rap was first developed as a tool to fight racism and to uplift the African-American community. Islam is the only religion in the world which unites all races. Christianity does not do it like Islam. Churches are very divided by race. You have black churches and white churches. In Islam it doesn’t matter whether you are black, white, brown, yellow or green, you can come into any masjid (mosque) and pray. Rap is heavily promoted and practiced by black people all across the United States. Black Muslims are the largest group of Muslims in America. Arab Muslims and Muslims from the Indian sub-continent don’t even come close to Black Muslims in numbers.</P>
<P>The <A href="http://www.noi.org/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Nation of Islam</FONT></STRONG></A> is a major factor as to why Black Muslims make up the majority of Muslims here in North America. Although, the Nation of Islam have totally different core beliefs from Islam, it opens the path for blacks to come to Islam. Like <A href="http://www.mujahideenryder.net/2006/01/04/the-shaykh-of-dawah-in-the-west-imam-siraj-wahhaj/"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>Imam Siraj Wahaj</FONT></STRONG></A>, who was formely a member of Nation of Islam, is now one of the most elite and top Imams in North America. The Nation of Islam should be given all credit in it’s relgious, spiritual and political influence over the hip-hop world. Louis Farrakhan had talk at the Hip Hop summit in 2001 <A href="http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_1106.shtml"><STRONG><FONT color=#999999>challenging the hip-hop artists to improve the future of the youth</FONT></STRONG></A> that follow them by rapping about postive things in their lyrics to eliminate racism, stereotypes and bringing peace in urban communities and to their fans worldwide.</P>
<P>How do I know that all those listed above are Muslims? I (sadly) listen to most of their songs and heard their lyrics. Many of them praise Allah and declare their Muslim identity, while others say it in their biographies. Some are just word of mouth. Here are some proofs/quotes from some artists:</P>
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<P><IMG id=image174 style="WIDTH: 65px; HEIGHT: 81px" alt=Eve src="http://www.mujahideenryder.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/eve.gif" align=left>Islam is a beautiful religion. But right now, with my career and my life, I can’t live the Sunni Muslim way. I refuse to be a hypocrite and cover my head on Friday, go pray, and then the rest of the week I’m out cursing and drinking–and performing. So right now I’m just comfortable with God.<BR>- <EM>Eve, female rapper and member of Ruff Ryders, in an interview<BR></EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
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<P><IMG id=image175 height=83 alt="Beanie Sigel" src="http://www.mujahideenryder.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/beaniesigel.jpg" width=83 align=left>My heart in the faith I don’t practice,<BR>I still pray along, forgive me for my actions,<BR>Cause I still spit gangsta, think Muslim, act Kafir,<BR>I can’t go on this way.<BR>- <EM>Beanie Sigel from ‘I can’t go on this way’ (Album: B. Coming)</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
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<P><IMG id=image176 height=55 alt=Akon src="http://www.mujahideenryder.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/akon.jpg" width=35 align=left>So what you know about how God comes first<BR>And everything we do is for Allah.<BR>- <EM>Akon from the song ‘Sengal’</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
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<P><IMG id=image177 height=68 alt=Nas src="http://www.mujahideenryder.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/nas.jpeg" width=56 align=left>A lot of rules, some locked in solitude,<BR>Curse the day of they birthy confused, who’s to be praised?<BR>The mighty dollar, or almighty Allah.<BR>- <EM>Nas from the song ‘Ghetto Prisoners (Album: I Am…)</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
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<P><IMG id=image178 height=150 alt=Q-Tip src="http://www.mujahideenryder.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/q-tip.jpg" width=150 align=left>To the human beings with taste, sight, touch, smell and sound<BR>Let’s deem it profound!<BR>And prioritize this cause it was Allah’s wish<BR>“Allah? I’m God.”<BR>“No I don’t believe that. That’s a mystery.”<BR>“If God is so good why does shit be happening to me?”<BR>There’s divinity within because we come from the divine<BR>A force that’s not seen but you feel it every time.<BR>- <EM>Q-Tip (with Common) from the song ‘The Remedy’ (Album: Get on the Bus soundtrack)</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
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<P><IMG id=image179 height=139 alt="The Roots" src="http://www.mujahideenryder.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/the%20roots.jpeg" width=209 align=left>Might act up, but I still can pass dawah<BR>I’m usin’ new ways to try to reach these better days<BR>Instead of tryin’ to take you under I just make you wonder<BR>I still fast, make salaat, and pay zakat<BR>I didn’t make Hajj yet, but that’s my next project<BR>Livin’ two lives, one of turn and one with true lies<BR>Keeping up hope knowing He’s answering to my du’as.<BR>- The Roots from the song ‘The Spark’ (Album: Things Fall Apart)</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
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<P><IMG id=image180 height=150 alt=Common src="http://www.mujahideenryder.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/common.jpg" width=186 align=left>Qu’ran and the Bible, to me they all vital<BR>And got truth within ‘em, gotta read them boys<BR>You just can’t skim ‘em, different branches of belief<BR>But one root that stem ‘em, but people of the venom try to trim ‘em<BR>And use religion as an emblem<BR>When it should be a natural way of life<BR>Who am I or they to say to whom you pray ain’t right,<BR>That’s who got you doin right and got you this far,<BR>Whether you say “in Jesus name” or “Alhamdulillah”<BR>-Common (feat. Cee-lo) from the song ‘G.O.D. (Gaining One’s Definition)’ (Album: One Day It’ll All Make Sense)</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
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<P><IMG id=image173 height=71 alt="N.O.R.E. (Noreaga)" src="http://www.mujahideenryder.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/nore.gif" width=92 align=left> God’s reppin’ with muslums keep Islam safe<BR>What’s your fate yo?<BR>What do you believe what do you know?<BR>-Noreaga (N.O.R.E.) (with Capone) on the song ‘Live on Live Long’</P></BLOCKQUOTE>

so sorry git it now
Islam: Hip-Hop’s Official Religion | Mujahideen Ryder's Blog

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صدق الله العظيم
أخوكم في الله
mk1990