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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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From all the comment I've read on here, Christians have proven how much hatred and racism they have.
Here are some Bible Verses which PROVE Islam
Deuteronomy (6:4)
Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our GOD. The Lord is ONE.
(So the lord CAN NOT be more than ONE, as the modern day “Trinity” in Christianity suggests. NOTE: the word “Trinity”, does not appear even once in the bible.)
Mark (12:29)
“The most important one,” answers jesus, “is this: Hear, O Israel, The Lord is our God, the Lord is One.”
(Again, the Lord (Allah- in Islam) is ONE. There is none other but Him alone.)
Luke (18:19)
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone.” (also in Mark 10:18)
(If Jesus [pbuh] was in fact “God,” then who is he talking about? Himself?)
John (5:30)
By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
(Jesus [pbuh] says, “the one who sent me.” In Islam, we believe Jesus [pbuh] was SENT by Allah as a prophet, and was not begotten, as other parts of the Bible suggest. So if this verse says “sent“, and other verses say “begotten“ (As in John 3:16), then which is which?)
Matthew (7:21-23)
Not everyone who says to me “Lord! Lord! Will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day “Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and in you name derive out demons and perform many miracles?”
Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away you evil doers!”
(So anyone who calls Jesus [pbuh] the Lord, will not enter heaven? In this verse Jesus is talking to those followers who bow down to him and call him the Lord. He [pbuh] is in fact not the Lord, but a sacred Messenger of Allah)
John (13:16)
“Truly, truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who Is sent greater than the one who sent him.”
(Again, the one who “sent him.” Therefore Jesus [pbuh] is not greater than God who sent him, therefore, he (Jesus [pbuh]) is not God.”
John (14:24)
He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words are not my own; they belong to the father who sent me
(Again, “who sent me.”)
James (1:13)
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
(God CAN NOT be tempted whatsoever. )
Matthew (4:1)
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
(Jesus [pbuh] was tempted. Therefore, Jesus [pbuh] can not be GOD. )
The one root-cause of every major problem in this world, is human stupidity. Listening to hip-hop, or "gangster" rap is the best way to proclaim your immense pride in being a stupid human.
How unfortunate 1.5 billion people have been deceived by the great deceiver. Read Acts 4:12. Each person will have to make the same decision like Adam and Eve as to who is telling the truth, GOD or satan. Choose Jesus Christ.
Considering how much booze, weapon systems manufacturing, adultery, war mongering and all manner of sin are openly practised wherever christians are a majority, one could argue that it is actually the 2.0 billion followers of Jesus Christ who have been deceived by the Great Deceiver!!
@ Osama.
Give us a break... Have you ever lived in the Muslim world?!!! You have no idea. You can't trust ANYONE there. I know... I've lived there for 10 years! The West is much more moral in that sense and in many more.
God or Allah are not real, end of discussion. I think the Yankees are going to the World Series.
You think you came to this life, with eyes, ears, heart, lungs, stomach, kidney's (2 of them in case one failed), hands, legs, fingers, finger tips voice to communicate with all by chance. I don't think so. Think again and don't be a fool.
Convert,
"... you came to this life, with eyes, ears, heart, lungs, stomach, kidney's (2 of them in case one failed), hands, legs, fingers, finger tips voice to communicate with...."
Speak for yourself, Mr./Ms. Perfect.
Islam is truly the religion of peace and from all the comments You proved to have so much hatred and racism towards the religion of Islam. I'm sure Jesus wouldn't have approved this.
Here are some Bible Verses which PROVE Islam
Deuteronomy (6:4)
Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our GOD. The Lord is ONE.
(So the lord CAN NOT be more than ONE, as the modern day “Trinity” in Christianity suggests. NOTE: the word “Trinity”, does not appear even once in the bible.)
Mark (12:29)
“The most important one,” answers jesus, “is this: Hear, O Israel, The Lord is our God, the Lord is One.”
(Again, the Lord (Allah- in Islam) is ONE. There is none other but Him alone.)
Luke (18:19)
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone.” (also in Mark 10:18)
(If Jesus [pbuh] was in fact “God,” then who is he talking about? Himself?)
John (5:30)
By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
(Jesus [pbuh] says, “the one who sent me.” In Islam, we believe Jesus [pbuh] was SENT by Allah as a prophet, and was not begotten, as other parts of the Bible suggest. So if this verse says “sent“, and other verses say “begotten“ (As in John 3:16), then which is which?)
Matthew (7:21-23)
Not everyone who says to me “Lord! Lord! Will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day “Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and in you name derive out demons and perform many miracles?”
Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away you evil doers!”
(So anyone who calls Jesus [pbuh] the Lord, will not enter heaven? In this verse Jesus is talking to those followers who bow down to him and call him the Lord. He [pbuh] is in fact not the Lord, but a sacred Messenger of Allah)
John (13:16)
“Truly, truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who Is sent greater than the one who sent him.”
(Again, the one who “sent him.” Therefore Jesus [pbuh] is not greater than God who sent him, therefore, he (Jesus [pbuh]) is not God.”
John (14:24)
He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words are not my own; they belong to the father who sent me
(Again, “who sent me.”)
James (1:13)
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
(God CAN NOT be tempted whatsoever. )
Matthew (4:1)
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
(Jesus [pbuh] was tempted. Therefore, Jesus [pbuh] can not be GOD. )
God help you, Convert.
Would you pleeeease GO BACK AND READ THOSE PASSAGES AGAIN IN THEIR CORRECT CONTEXT?!
I hope that you don't read the Quran like you read the Bible.
Isn't your soul worth more than this 10% effort you are putting forth to understand the Bible and its meaning? Please, do it for your own good.
It is amazing that even with all the anti-Islam press shoved down people's throat by christian conservatives, there are more and more people converting to Islam - and the pace has only quickened after 9/11. Nearly 1/4 of muslims living in America are converts.
http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_briefs/aris/aris_part_two.htm
Nation of Islam is a racist ideology, and many of those converts are from jails.
>> It is amazing that even with all the anti-Islam press shoved down people's throat by christian conservatives, there are more and more people converting to Islam <<
not really. its not amazing to us Muslims. Islam is a Religion of Inner Peace. like most other religions. And most people seek inner peace in themselves and their lives. So it comes as no surprise that people are finding Islam useful. It organizes your social life around righteous principles and a good strict moral code of conduct. Why would nt it attract converts??
Slow news day.....
I can NOT believe that this dude made the front page of CNN's website with all of other major troubles in the world right now. Why would ANYONE care what this guy is about? Really? REALLY?
Brother Ali is where its at...he speaks that truth
Yes he is a muslim and a rapper, but who cares? I don't see them mentioning Lecray or any other Christian rappers or muscians. They have to do the same "balancing act" as everyone else who chooses to make music about religion. Losing credibility everyday CNN...
Apparently, CNN has decided that the so-called "Islamophobia" of Americans is based on our alleged "ignorance" – and the only way to cure it is to offer front page islamo-interest stories 3 times a day. Really? Really? LOL.
FYI, CNN . . . My "islamophobia" is based on my islamo-realistism: the fruit of a doctoral degree in law and 5 years of near continuous study. For a crash course, read the top info bar at "thereligionofpeace." In the meantime, be sure and read about this month's church burnings and assaults in Ethiopia, Egypt and Nigeria; more church burnings and assaults – including the lynching of those recently outlawed Kaffirs the Ahmadi in Indonesia; the blasphemy arrests and apostate trials in Iran; the latest islamo-assassinations of Christians and their supporters in Pakistan; the church confiscations and recent assassination of a cathoic Bishop in Turkey, and the mass confiscations and cleansings of hindus in Bangladesh and Buddhist in S. Thailand; the systematic hunting down and killing of christian converts in Somalia , and of course, the jihadist genocide, mass enslavements, forced conversions and land appropriations of Sudan. . . We love you, CNN! Keep on truckin'!
You hit the nail on the head right there...
Omar, similar things can be said about Christianity as well. Just in past year, over a dozen Mosques were burned bown by Christians in Ethiopia and many more Catholic priests were found to be abusing kids. I guess christianity teaches intolerance and child abuse?
You see, when you take instances like this to make generalization, you are limiting your own thinking. Either you have a low IQ or you have an obvious bias.
Jesus never told Christians to molest children. Oh, and BTW, those Catholic priests are supposed to be celibate according to their own religion. Same cannot be said about the other religion. (I had to reword this to get it past moderation).
I presume all you lovers and defenders of this newly minted ghetto rapper already KNOW that muslims are told that LYING is accepted? So, how DO you street hoddies KNOW that yo main peep not be lyin to yall? The murderous pedophilic prophet mohammad (p*ss be upon him), is deceiving ALL his followers – Islam is a cult spawned of the Devil, but you with eyes do not see it. Tell me, HAS this gutter dog of islam stopped his misogynistic and criminal lyrics? Uh-huh, thought so… mohammad (p.b.u.h.), would be proud, no?
They might be wasted in the end, but we Christians shall continue our prayers for you, on your behalf, that you find your way out of his clutches, and towards Jesus Christ. Peace out.
So as a Christian can I blame you for the murder of countless of innocent ppl who Christians killed for refusing their religion?
Gabriel! You're just an ignorant. May Allah forgive you. I don't want to waste my time correcting everything you have just said because you obviously don't know anything about Islam. I just invite to read about it instead of talking about something that you don't know anything about. I'm going to correct just the first ignorant thing you said. LYING IS CONSIDERED A SIN IN ISLAM and here is the proof: This is what Allah and Prophet Mohamed peace up on him said.
Both the Qur'an and ahadith condemn lying in Islam. The Qur'an states the following in regards to liars,
“ Only they invent falsehood who believe not Allah's revelations, and (only) they are the liars. „
—Qur'an, Qur'an, 016:105
According to a hadith recorded in Sahih Bukhari, lying is one of the characteristics of hypocrisy and should be avoided.[1] Another hadith states that that person is still a hypocrite even if he fasted, prayed, and asserted that he was a Muslim.[2] The prophet Saws.gif said that if a person persistently lies without stopping or asking for forgivness, then that person is written as a liar before Allah.
“ Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to Al-Fajur (i.e. wickedness, evil-doing), and Al-Fajur (wickedness) leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar.[3] „
—The Prophet Saws.gif
Types of Lies
Regardless of the type of lie, lying in general is bad. However, there are a few types of lying that can possibly lead to hellfire. A few of them are lying about Allah, lying about the prophet Saws.gif, lying in buying and selling, lying about visions or dreams, and lying to make people laugh.[4]
Lying about Allah
Lies told about Allah and His messenger Saws.gif, according to some scholars, can even make one a kafir. Lying about Allah is the most evil of lies. Allah says in the Qur'an, which means,
“ Verily, those who invent a lie concerning Allah will not succeed. „
—Qur'an, Qur'an, 010:069
An example of lying about Allah, is saying that 'Isa is the son of Allah Swt.jpg.[5] Lying about Allah includes lying about something that which was said in the Qur'an which is not there, or by giving one's own interpretation without any knowledge.
“ He who says something concerning the Qur'an without knowledge, then let him take his seat of fire.[6] „
—The Prophet Saws.gif
Lying about the Prophet
Similar to lying about the Allah, lying about the prophet Saws.gif can result in kufr. The prophet Saws.gif gave a stern warning to those who invent lies intentionally about him,[7] and this is why some companions, such as Anas, did not narrate many ahadith.
Lying in Buying and Selling
The prophet Saws.gif is reported to have said,
“ There are three types of people whom Allah will neither talk to, nor look at, on the Day of Resurrection: A man who takes an oath falsely that he has been offered for his goods so much more than what he is given...[8] „
—The Prophet Saws.gif
Lying about Visions or Dreams
Lying to Make People Laugh
Permissible Lies
Lying is haram in all but three cases. These three cases are: lying in war, to reconcile between two disputing parties,[9] and a spouse lying to the other for the sake of love.
“ All lies are taken into account except three: 1. When husband lies in a way to his wife in order to please her, or 2. Lying to decieve (the enemy) in war, or 3. lying in order to reconcile between two people.[10] „
—The Prophet Saws.gif
The problem isn't that lying isn't acceptable. It certainly is acceptable to lie about ones religious beliefs if someone is going to kill you for them. What is unacceptable is that Mohammad said his own people could lie in this way but does not allow non-Muslims to do the same. In fact, the Qur'an refers to such non-Muslims pretending to be Muslims so they don't get their heads chopped off, as "Hypocrites". Ironic, isn't it.
I've read the Qur'an and I didn't see anything that indicated Muslims could lie in general. Only specifically about their religion, and only if they feel it necessary to protect themselves. That however is pretty broad grounds to lie in and of itself. A believer in Islam can certainly lie about the genocidal nature of Islam to an Idolator. After all he'd endanger himself the same way a KKK member would endanger himself walking in Harlem with a sign indicating his beliefs.
Hello everybody! For those who don't make a difference between Islamic terrorists and Islam or Muslims. I want to tell you this. Those terrorists are criminals and God (Allah) will punish them for the horrible things they do. I'm muslim and I have read the Quran (our holy book) more than once. I can assure you that killing innocents people is condemned by Allah's book. Islam is really about peace and love and a way of life. There is only one God that's for sure. Christians or Jews call it God and we (muslims) call him Allah (the arabic name for God). We believe in Jesus and all other prophets mentioned in the bible and Torah. Islam came to complete other religions and correct some previous message and revelations that have been partially changed or corrupted overtime. Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed at many times and places before. We all have the same God, we all have the same principles or same religion. We just call our religion with different names. Islam just means admission to God and peace. So all believers that are peaceful and submitted to God, we can call them Muslims, including the prophets Abraham, Moses and Jesus. Please don't be hateful and don't misjudge our religion (Islam) because you just don't know it. If you really want to know what Islam is, just read the book: The Quran. You can be hateful to terrorists, but not to Muslims or Islam. Those criminals/ terrorists are sending the bad message and are destroying the image of Islam. What they do is against Islam and Allah will judge them for their acts.
helena, I (and most people with at least average IQ) understand what you are saying. People that write hateful things about Islam understand it to be true as well.... but have an obvious bias and write propanda (they have an agenda).
That's the rub, isn't it. The Qur'an also defines who is and who is not innocent. Unfortunately lots of innocent people don't fit the definition. Especially when the majority of the book rants about how evil Jews, Christians, Idolators, "hypocrites" and non-believers are. I've read it to and there really isn't true limits defined, and there is plenty of defamation and incitement to murder others. Someone who says "persecution is worse than slaughter" in order to incite others into a massacre, isn't trying to protect the innocent.
Sometimes the true his hateful. Expecially when the founder of your religion is a genocidal maniac.
Sometimes the truth is hateful. Especially when the founder of your religion is a genocidal maniac.
GREAT lead story cnn. Really top notch.
I'm confused as to why he is worried about his street cred. He can still rap about AK-47's and RPG's–basically anything that has to do with an uprising anywhere.
There is a 100% certainty if we allow Islam to flourish in America it will do the EXACT SAME THING IT IS DOING IN EUROPE. Why would it be any different? It WON'T. 99% of Muslims support the Victory Mosque while most Americans don't. We do not need this BS in this country. If you must be a Muslim so bad then go to a Muslim country.
@What - Death and taxes are 100% certain....
But yes, Europe is a cautionary tale...and Americans should check there first and determine if they like what they see. I think the Islamization of Europe is bad , so I am of course against it in America.
You think America should be Islamisized?..then make your point, I and others will be happy to point out the problems with it...
So, basically you want to restrict freedom of religion to prevent Islam from flourishing???.. and maybe force people to follow your religion??
>> We do not need this BS in this country. If you must be a Muslim so bad then go to a Muslim country.
Take all the BILLIONS of DOLLARS of weapons that you ship to the Muslim Countries back and sure we will go back there. Otherwise shut up and die and let our children take over your country Since you are willing to take the time and effort and teamwork to breed, shut up and die out, don't worry about the future of a country in which you have no stake (no children).
it is forbidden to listen to music... FORBIDDEN.
Thanks to CNN for such a positivity.
What's positive about promoting a supremacist intolerant religion?
Terrorist dont represent islam, the quran clearly states suicide lands you in the hell fire. Period. They are not doing this for the sake of Allah. Islam is everything but terrorism.
Ah the ignorance of extreme Christianity... Thanks for destroying the world you worthless pukes...
And you seem to the most ignorant, most hate-filled person of them all.
Ah, the ignorance of you. Sam Harris isn't a Christian and this is what he has to say:
"I invite [those] who haven't read the Quran to simple read the book. Take out a highlighter and highlight those lines that counsel the believer to despise infidels, and you will find a book that is just covered with highlighter."
Oh CNN!!! If only you knew the dangerous game you are playing. Promoting such a dangerous ideology will only make matters worst! And where are the stories of those who left Islam ha? You CAN'T post them because it would ENDANGER the lives of those who speak about it.
wow. burned out by jealousy.