Hip Hop culture from the view of a Muslim

One goal of Muslim Minds Redefined is to acknowledge the fact that different Muslims in different parts of the world each has their own culture. This is as much true in the west as anywhere else on the globe. One thing that is unique to Muslims in the west is Hip Hop culture. From Mos Def to Amir Suleiman to Lupe Fiasco and Hasan Salaam, Muslims have played a large role in Hip Hop culture and continue to do so today.
Muslim Minds Redefined had the chance to interview Christie Z-Pabon of Muslims in Hip Hop/Tools of War to get her perspective on Muslims and the Hip Hop culture.

Muslim Minds Redefined: From your personal view, what is Hip-Hop? What are the different components of Hip-Hop?

Christie Z-Pabon: Hip Hop is a culture first of all. When I talk about Hip Hop, I don't mean simply Rap (Emceeing) but also DJing, Turntablism, Popping, Locking, Uprocking, BBoying/BGirling, Aerosol Art, etc. My husband, Jorge "Fabel" Pabon of the Rock Steady Crew reminds that there are other elements too like fashion, etc. I work in Hip Hop all of the time and I have little to nothing to do with Rap. I usually work with DJs. I would like the words "Hip Hop" and "Rap" to NOT be used synonymously because now the sleaze of today's Rap industry is described as "Hip Hop". It makes it harder for me to use the word "Hip Hop" when I am trying to get a venue or a park for an event.

Hip Hop emerged in the early 70s with DJ pioneers like Kool DJ Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, GrandMaster Flash, etc. They did not have so called "Hip Hop" records. They used Funk, Rock, Soul, R&B, Electro, World music, etc. to make the music "Hip Hop". That's the beauty of a DJ is that he/she can even take Classical and cut, scratch, beat juggle, transform and/or mix it into a Hip Hop track. I loved the sound of Scratching as soon as I heard it and have loved it ever since!


MMR: What things make Hip-Hop Hip-Hop?

CZ-P: I read something in Stress magazine once, I think it was by Davey D and he was explaining that just because Hip Hop heads like blunts or Timberland boots doesn't make them "Hip Hop". I agree. I am happy with the essential foundational elements of Hip Hop but I get upset now, with marketing and magazines that make it seem like strippers, porn stars, drugs, alcohol, rims and jewelry are the new elements of Hip Hop.

MMR: Coming from a Muslim background, what kind of influence do you see hip-hop having on Muslims in general?

CZ-P: I have only been Muslim for 10 years, all praises due to God, but I was basically introduced to various concepts of Islam through Hip Hop, esp. through 5%ers and Nation of Islam emcees like Poor Righteous Teachers, Public Enemy, Da Lench Mob, Ice Cube, Gangstarr, etc. That's me loving militant emcees with a message and they WERE the mainstream Hip Hop artists. That was the 90's. Nowadays, those emcees would be considered "underground" meaning they probably wouldn't get signed or make it in the top magazines. My husband, who was in Hip Hop and became a Muslim way earlier than me, has played me old school mixes by DJ Afrika Islam sampling Malcolm X speeches.

MMR: What about outside of the Muslim community, what can Muslim MC's bring to the world at large?

CZ-P: God willing, with artists like Lupe Fiasco, Rhymefest, Freeway, Everlast, Q-Tip openly admitting they are Muslim in interviews, the Rap fans of today will once again take an interest in the religion of their favorite emcees and what they live by. They don't have to necessarily do a whole dawah Rap to put the message across. I like the idea that they can help educate others about Islam and Muslims as well as address ridiculous stereotypes about us.

MMR: There are some people who might say that music is haram and it leads to taking people off the diin, etc, what kind of response would you give to these kinds of people?

CZ-P: I am not the scholar on this topic. God forgive me if I have misled anyone. In my opinion, not any official stance of anyone but me, I look at Muslim emcees as spreading dawah. Music is simply the vehicle the message travels on, whether it's positive, negative or neutral. I get upset that some Muslim parents will discount Muslim rap but on the down low their kids are listening to commercial rappers who are glorifying violence, criminal behavior, substance abuse and all sorts of social ills. Why not give the youth music by talented artists who remind them about God, morals, ethics, values, etc?

MMR: Also, why listen to Hip-Hop even though Allah's name may be mentioned here or there? Why not just listen to nasheeds?

CZ-P: The beats are what drive me and make me want to consider the message of the emcee. Nasheeds are beautiful and relaxing. I think there's room for both. Popularity wise, it would be easier for an artist like Amir Sulaiman to get his positive messages to the mainstream Rap & Spoken Word audience than a Nasheed artist who might have his music found in the "World Music" section of a store.

MMR: Do you think that music actually has the ability to change things for the better? What about for the worse?

CZ-P: Music in general is simply the vehicle to deliver the message or put across a feeling. It's who’s behind the music that controls whether it can be positive, negative, silly, neutral, sad, romantic, etc.

MMR: Your group goes by the name "Tools of War", what's the meaning of this name and how and/why did you choose that name?

CZ-P: Tools of War was named with the idea that there are many "tools" one can use in competing/battling within Hip Hop culture: turntables, microphones, paint, one's body, and especially one's voice (and so on)! Although the name might appear aggressive, the intent behind it's use is actually to inform and educate people regarding not only Hip Hop but many other social and political issues. As we grow, we are finding that it has also become a forum for voicing opinions and sharing ideas which might help in unifying and uplifting people all over the world. Fabel came up with the name, inspired by the title of a hardcore punk song. We thought about changing it after Sept. 11th but others we spoke with said the name is "so hard" and not to give it up. We are known for positivity. We don't push religion through Tools of War simply positive messages.

MMR: What kind of artists, groups, songs illustrate what "Tools of War" is or stands for?

CZ-P: Oh man! I can't really say I ever heard a song that made me say that it should be the Tools of War theme song. Some ideas: The Four Tops song "Keeper of the Castle"; Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes "Wake Up Everybody"; Public Enemy, Afrika Bambaataa, James Brown, Immortal Technique! There are so many more including dancers, aerosol artists and DJs. [Fabel] would probably have a whole other list of artists from various genres. We don't simply limit ourselves to Rap. In fact, the more average the rappers are now, the more I dig even deeper into Rare Grooves.