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March 26th, 2011
07:00 AM ET
How Islam shaped one rap artistEditor’s Note: CNN’s Soledad O’Brien chronicles the dramatic fight over the construction of a mosque in the heart of the Bible belt. “Unwelcome: The Muslims Next Door” airing at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. E.T. April 2 on CNN. By Sarah Hoye, CNN Philadelphia (CNN) — It’s noon on a Friday, and the parking lot at Al-Aqsa Islamic Society in North Philadelphia is quickly filling up. One of Philadelphia's best-known rap artists, Freeway, jumps out of a black sport utility vehicle and dashes through the pouring rain to the prayer hall inside. Islam has been a part of his life since he was a teenager. Yet it wasn’t until adulthood that his faith changed who he was an artist. “My faith means everything to me; it’s the thing that keeps me going every day,” the father of two said. “It’s my core, it’s my soul.” When he was 14, Freeway - aka Leslie Pridgen - took Shahada, the Muslim confession to faith. Since then, he's had to balance his Muslim faith and his credibility as a hip-hop artist. Freeway jump-started his career a decade ago at Roc-A-Fella Records under the tutelage of hip-hop mogul Jay-Z. Today, the independent artist has collaborated with the likes of Mariah Carey, producer extraordinaire Jake One and Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon. When Freeway first hit the music scene, his pithy lyrics were laced with rhymes about hustling drugs and other aspects of ghetto life. But his approach to music has changed as he evolved as an emcee and matured as a man. “The fans can get more out of my music now because I have more of a message,” he said. “I’m more conscious about what I say now because in Islam we believe that you’re going to be held accountable for everything that comes out your mouth.” Misogyny and the perils of street life have been a part of hip-hop since its inception, and Freeway is no stranger to the urban grind. He lost a cousin and close friend to gun violence and had his own run-ins with the law, having served jail time for drug possession. The life experiences the self-described “reality-rapper” so adamantly declares over heavy beats are what have shaped Freeway into the man, the father, the artist and the Muslim he is today, he said. “I’m definitely not in the same situation I was in when I first started, when I was still in the streets running around doing a bunch of crazy stuff,” he said. “Every day is a temptation, every day is work.” He's not the only rapper balancing a devotion to Islam and trying to maintain a hard edge on his music, said Amir Abbassy, Freeway’s manager. “Lupe Fiasco, Q-Tip, Mos Def - they’re all openly Muslim,” he said. “In the music culture, anybody who has a little bit of fame fits that rock 'n' roll persona.” Freeway was speaking at a Philadelphia school’s bullying workshop on the same day the controversial congressional hearings on the radicalization of Muslim Americans led by U.S. Rep. Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, were taking place in Washington. Freeway said he felt the hearings unfairly targeted Muslims. “It’s foolishness, it’s nonsense,” he said of the recent hearings conducted by the New York Republican. “You can’t judge a whole group of people for a few people making mistakes.” Freeway got up that day at dawn for his first prayer of the day. In total, he will take time to pray five times throughout the day, a practice called salat, performed daily by many of the estimated 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide. Why Muslims pray five times a day When Freeway is done rapping, his faith will be there, his manager said. “His faith - that is his life,” Abbassy said. “ He doesn’t wake up with a microphone in his hand. He wakes up and prays."
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Allah is the moon good. Thats why everything is done around the sighting of the moon (their god). Examples: sighting of the new moon to start ramadan, sighting of the new moon to end ramadan, to start feasts Eid Al-hoque. Why do U think this is? Why do their idols have the crescent moon engraved on the chest.The idols are in the Kabah(The Black Box) in Mecca. That why all the muslims must face the east when praying. Now this new wave of muslims are saying that this Allah is now the creator and is the same God as Jesus, Moses, and Abraham. This is a lie from the pits of hell. Jesus warned of this religion. Jesus said that he did not come to change the Law but to fulfill it. If something is fulfilled, then nothing can be added. The bible speaks on this in Revelations the last chapter. So the Bible covered itself so that Jesus is the Seal of God's Word. Anything after Jesus is False.
Hey Jack,
I guess all of the islamic faith haters have never heard of The Crusadesn The IRA,The Spanish Inquisition, the abortion clinic bombings, all of the molestion by men of the cloth, The Knights Templars, or any of the other Catholics that that do anything. Remember when you point a finger there a 4 pointing back at you.Racism at its finest.
I am so very tired of the intolerance shown toward Muslims. First of all, I am a born Christian, Catholic by faith, and I was taught in all my years of Catholic school to love all my brothers and sisters throughout the world. Everyone seems to have forgotten the horrendous things Christians did to Muslims during the Christian Crusades. These were dark times for Catholicism. It seems that now a lot of Christians want to return to those days once again because of those few Muslims that are fanatical fundamentalists. Well every religion has their fanatic fundamentalists, Christians have way too many to criticize. I refuse to hate and disparage all Muslims for what a few saw fit do. America was supposedly founded for freedom of religion. Muslims are not the problem. American gun toting violence driven mentality is.
I'm guessing you've never read about the reasons for the Crusades or the horrific way in which Islam began its path of destruction to the west. So many Americans have such a shallow knowledge of history. They read about one historical event taken out of context by some biased historian and think they've formed an intelligent opinion.
All of these religious cults who promote violence and killing are not really true followers of their religion. groups like the nazis, kkk, and al qaeda are all extremists who take their holy books out of context. If they were truly religious they would know to read for religious truth not scientific fact.
tonythetiger–
Not all relgions from flourishing. Islam is a single religion, not all relgions...
If you give me the choice of say, becoming Pakistan, or restricting Islam, I would prefer to restrict Islam...You think that is bad, make your case.
Where did this business of Moon God coming from. I am a Muslim and I assure you that when I pray five times a day, I don't worship the moon. I worship its creator.
I worship the One who created me, provides for me, protects me and guides me. I pray to the One who created me and to whom we both and all mankind will be returned. If you believe that YOU will not be called to account for YOUR action, than it is YOU that is in CLEAR ERROR. How can you claim that God has begotten a son. Look up the word begotten in the dictionary. How can you claim that God is three, when he has commanded you in your own bible that you should worship none other than him, that you should not build idols. Do you sincerely believe that it is just that a man should be punished for the sins of another, or do you believe that you Lord is unjust? Has Jesus, may peace be upon him, ever commanded you to worship before him and build Idols of him? Name one prophet of God that did not wear a beard. Tel me if Marry, the holiest of all women, may peace be upon her, did not cover her hair?
So who do you think is more beloved by God? A people who follow the examples of the holiest most righteous men and women sent to earth, or a people who use the death of a prophet to not follow his teachings.
My friend, remove the malice from you heart. Ask yourself sincerely what is truth. Ask your Lord, not calling Him by any name but God, to guide you to truth. If you speak the truth and you are sincere in seeking the truth, than you should have nothing to fear.
I ask everyone who read this to bear witness, that I have given you the message and that you have received it. Come day of judgement, you will have no excuse, and I will not be held accountable for you. My duty is done. May the Lord of all and all the worlds guide us to truth and may God forgive me for anything wrong that I may have said. Ameen.
are you stupid? why are you taking everything so personally? this is the exact problem with your religion...you guys just don't see beyond it and it is ALL of you. I grew up with a lot of Muslims and all of them are like this-why? trust you are not the solution to anyone's problems-perhaps at present you are the problem. Why cant you just be relaxed like other religions instead of imposing yourself on others. good luck and god bless you. Peace!!
Allah is the moon good. Thats why everything is done around the sighting of the moon (their god). Examples: sighting of the new moon to start ramadan, sighting of the new moon to end ramadan, to start feasts Eid Al-hoque. Why do U think this is? Why do their idols have the crescent moon engraved on the chest.The idols are in the Kabah(The Black Box) in Mecca. That why all the muslims must face the east when praying. Now this new wave of muslims are saying that this Allah is now the creator and is the same God as Jesus, Moses, and Abraham. This is a lie from the pits of hell. Jesus warned of this religion. Jesus said that he did not come to change the Law but to fulfill it. If something is fulfilled, then nothing can be added. The bible speaks on this in Revelations the last chapter. So the Bible covered itself so that Jesus is the Seal of God's Word. Anything after Jesus is False.
You are writing about next door Muslim. What about next door Hindus, Buddhists, new ager, Jainist and many more. Why all the focus on Muslims. Is it because of the the terrorism linked to them? Keep it up. People will come to know the Truth and the truth will set them free. Good job.
I meant to Granger and a whole lot of you. Shame on america
I don't know a whole lot about Islam but much of what I see has the tendency to just alienate. Not only with the radicals and the terrorists, although that is very significant, but also in things like how they don't want to translate the Qur'an into any other language from Arabic. There appears to be a whole lot of effort that goes into not being open and instead to being isolated. Then we have all become too aware of their actually condoning violence, considering women to be inferior and other actions which seem in drastic contrast to our own. So much of what Islam presents seems to be about rigid control, about stringently controlling their people and having them blindly follow. Now maybe there is merit in having people be firmly devote but I suspect that with complete control it easily leads to real abuse and, consistent with much of what has already been seen, that can be totally scary (especially when considering their aggressive recruiting and political agendas). There is considerable said about Islam being a peaceful and compassionate religion but while we don’t want to condemn a whole religion, we also really need to see actions that support those professed qualities, as so far the words have been mostly empty.
haha actually they do, I don't know about Arizona, but in NYC there is English, Spanish translations of the Qur'an.. So i don't know what you are talking about.. i'm pretty sure there are other translations as well.
Muslims do not consider women to be inferior. We consider women to be different. Men make the dough. and women have babies. the way nature has made us. and then we work together as a team. to raise healthy children. and stay together for life.
it is you who consider women to be inferior. you make them work AND raise the kids. and once they have 2-3 kids (by mistake) then you leave them and go find yourself a younger model. if that is not treating womankind as inferior I dono what is!!
So he used to rap about selling drugs and things of that nature. And did prison time. Possible jailhouse convert? Plus he says he is a "devout" muslim. I wonder how long it will be for this devout muslim to start his rap on killing infidels, beating women, claiming islamic supremacy and all the other nice things involved in this "religion". CNN is doing everything it can to prostrate itself towards mecca recently. I guess they want to follow the White House line, since political correctness is more important than truth.
Huzzah they removed it
Correction:
A recent post:
Actually, we should blame it all on Adam.
Historical perspective is interesting but has little to do with
the image of the Muslim culture today.
should have begun with::
Actually, we should blame it all on Eve.
Adam was tempted beyond resistance.
Wow...as expected, throw a controversial topic to the forum\blog gurus and watch the self rightceous, thoroughly long winded and utterly USELESS drivel unfold before you! I pressume the media is trying to highlight a completely seperate group of "percenter" muslim faction Freeway and other hip hop industry and inmates have adopted to shine some light into a very DARK reality that disgusting religion has wrought upon the world throughout history. Very simply put...ok Freeway, you're right. No entire group of people should be held accountable for the actions of a "few" individuals. That being said, since there is NO distinguishing factors to identify the "few" who do in fact consider Americas very existance as a call to war, how do YOU think the situation should be resolved? What would YOU do differently if YOU were the person actually responsible for DOING something about the problem. As opposed to being a tool that stands on his soapbox and preaches ABOUT the problem itself. Anyone not living under a rock for the last 30 some odd years knows the crap ur talking about. What are you or ANY of you other faux intellectual commentators DOING to help RESOLVE the problem?? Thats what I thought. No matter WHAT the response from anyone this pertains to, Im sure it will simply be more of the same ill informed and grossly biased without even having so much as a HINT of something useful or insightful to be found. You all do nothing but reitterate the fact that mob mentallity dictates public opinion and that humans are by far the most dominant "herd driven" species on the planet. Calling u sheep would be an insult to the animal it pertains to.
The solution is for the United States to stop being so greedy with other peoples oil supply and stop starting wars on other countries soil because payback is a b#$%h
Hey, nick we buy the oil.
BTW, Western countries developed the technology to find, and extract the oil. Oh, and we also paid to look for the oil. Then, it was stolen through nationalization. Who's the thief?
Where you aware that we let companies and people from other countries to explore for, buy land, and develop our natural resources. Just because you happen to live in a country doesn't mean you own all the natural resources. The people who owned the land, or find it first and make a claim are the owners.
@ Brian Crac ker
its not your buying the oil that is disgusting. its your shipping BILLIONS of DOLLARS in weapon systems to the irresponsible undemocratic people you buy oil from.
The enemy has CNN under his control. I will avoid going to this website again.
thank you.you won't be missed.
good bye and good riddance
its funny how christians have basically wiped out the indeginous people anywhere christians go through murder and genocide and still they have the arrogance to say muslims are the violent ones. christians are the reason for the genocide of all the americas(the holocaust doesn't even compare), remember the crusades, and not to mention the millions christian armies have been kiiling in the last century.
can you list 5 examples of christian armies killing people in the last century?
@texan – your missing the point. Whereas people and certain churches calling themselves “Christian” did some of the terrible things you mentioned – they did it in CONTRADICTION to the teachings and life example of the one they claimed to follow – Jesus Christ. On the other hand those who do such atrocities under the banner of Islam are doing them in agreement and imitating the example of their leader Mohammed. That is a huge difference!
I would also like to know where Christian armies have been k1lling during the last century. If you look closer these were secular states, which do not make war in the name of Christ. In Muslim countries it is customary to yell “Allahu Ahkbar” (God is greatest) before shooting or setting of a bomb. However I have never heard that non-muslim armies yell “for the sake of Christ” as they shoot or bomb. There is a huge difference you refuse to acknowledge!
@Rocco P - Interesting point.
When Chistians start yelling 'Christ is great" and start blowing themselves up, then we really have to worry indeed.
However, even without the acts of terror, Islam has some very vile beliefs.
>> can you list 5 examples of christian armies killing people in the last century?
I can quote you a much better example of George Bush Jr. (self proclaimed born again christian and poster child of US Far Right) and Tony Blair (self proclaimed convert to Catholicism) who together illegally invaded Iraq and are directly responsible for atleast 100,000 dead innocent civilians and who knows indirectly how many more as a result of their warfare. Which was also against the wishes of ALL INTERNATIONAL PEACE-KEEPING BODIES across the world.
I want you to tell me with a straight face that as good christians if BOTH Bush and Blair had been VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO WAR, that America & Great Britain would have still invaded Iraq? I doubt they would.
Actually, we should blame it all on Adam.
Historical perspective is interesting but has little to do with
the image of the Muslim culture today.
“It’s foolishness, it’s nonsense,” Freeway said of the recent hearings conducted by the New York Republican. “You can’t judge a whole group of people for a few people making mistakes.”
- I agree!! But you can and should judge a religious system by what its founder did and taught. According to Islam, everything that Mohammed did is "Sunnah" or, pleasing to God and worthy of imitation. Mohammed had s3xual relations with a 9 year old girl. He told his followers to k1ll a defenseless old man (al Aschraf) and a mother sleeping with her children (bint Marwan) just because they wrote poems rejecting him. He also told his followers to k1ll anyone who leaves their Islamic faith and this is anchored in Sharia - Islamic law. These people "making mistakes" are imitating and obeying their prophet, that is a major cause for concern!
Where do you get your information about Prophet Mohammad Roccco, because you sound like an uneducated fool. It's too bad that you've been brainwashed by the American-Jew media. Its people like yourself that start wars and cant finish them, thats our problem we have with our American govt. They like starting wars on other counties soil but cant handle the consequences. Wake up and smell the coffee brainwashed boy
@NICK –My information, comes mainly from among other places – the Hadith collection of al-Bukhari, which is considered to be the most reliable collection of accounts of Mohammed's life. Strange that you have never heard of these things – I have had them confirmed as reliable in mosques during discussions.
That Aisha, Mohammed's favorite wife was 9 years old (and he 53 years old when they consummated the marriage can be found in: Bukhari :: Book 7 :: Volume 62 :: Hadith 64 (and 65). I quote:
Narrated 'Aisha:
"that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old, and then she remained with him for nine years (i.e., till his d3ath)."
The mur d3r on the defenseless man, al-Aschraf in his home can be found under Bukhari :: Book 5 :: Volume 59 :: Hadith 369
In Bukhari :: Book 9 :: Volume 84 :: Hadith 57 - you will find: according to the statement of Allah's Messenger, "Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then k1ll him."
BTW you can read these accounts for yourself from Islamic sources. Google “Quranexplorer/Hadith
>> the Hadith collection of al-Bukhari, which is considered to be the most reliable collection of accounts of Mohammed's life. Strange that you have never heard of these things – I have had them confirmed as reliable in mosques during discussions. <<
its funny, that this clown believes what the Sahih Bukhari says!! how do you know what it says is true???
you idiot, you are quoting muslim sources, which also say that Muhammad was a Prophet and Quran is the word of God. Do you agree with that information too?? why not?? you just quoted other information as fact from the very same source!!
freeway is an artist,ok he is Muslim, eveyone deserves a chance in this world yes freedom of speech applys, dont hate on a person because there life has change for the good that was always in them. Everyone that does bad things in there life will be judge by the maker, what ever your religion is . freeway keep on keepin on people are going to hate till the day we die,Make your music and tell your story.and they can tell there story walking.. I applause you .some people cant make a change wether there Muslim,
Christian, just to name a few.love what your doing, prayer is the key to sucess......
Lupe Fiasco, muslim rapper who embodies what the Muslim religion desires to be viewed as. Never sold drugs and could care less about street cred. He should have been featured, not Freeway.
so true my friend!
Actually it's pretty know in the industry that Lupe did have a role in a huge Chigago drug operation. I'm a huge fan and happy that he doesn't glorify it. Freeway was great for this article because as well and deserves this. He may not have the same content because maybe his transition to righteous living is more difficult.
C'mon CNN... 2 days in a row? All rubbish headlines....Guess I better change my homepage.