Showing posts with label hip hop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hip hop. Show all posts
Sunday, November 27, 2011
US sends America's first Muslim country singer on Middle East tour - The National
US sends America's first Muslim country singer on Middle East tour - The National
"She describes a "very expensive" tour across Egypt, Morocco, Kuwait, Bahrain, Syria, Israel and Jordan hailing from this year's budget of US$11.5 million (Dh42m) - itself lamentably small but still an increase from last year's $8.5m. Directing cultural diplomacy and so-called "soft power" towards the region has topped priorities since the US president Barack Obama's Cairo speech last June and the promise of a "new beginning" in US relations with the Muslim world."
"She describes a "very expensive" tour across Egypt, Morocco, Kuwait, Bahrain, Syria, Israel and Jordan hailing from this year's budget of US$11.5 million (Dh42m) - itself lamentably small but still an increase from last year's $8.5m. Directing cultural diplomacy and so-called "soft power" towards the region has topped priorities since the US president Barack Obama's Cairo speech last June and the promise of a "new beginning" in US relations with the Muslim world."
When State Dept. comes up short, Chen Lo makes it happen
When State comes up short, Chen Lo makes it happen « Hip Hop Diplomacy
"What actually occurred was a little bit of a cultural soap opera with “dastardly” characters from both the local club scene and the US embassy performing a “vanishing act” when the band, an expanded 6-piece group now called The Lo Frequency, arrived in Beirut in late October from Brooklyn, New York.
"What actually occurred was a little bit of a cultural soap opera with “dastardly” characters from both the local club scene and the US embassy performing a “vanishing act” when the band, an expanded 6-piece group now called The Lo Frequency, arrived in Beirut in late October from Brooklyn, New York.
Left with only a housing stipend, airfare and a paired-down version of the original Hip-Hop Academy proposal, group founder, rapper Chen Lo said the band’s “cultural refugee” status in Beirut was a blessing in disguise. “To be honest. Not only did it force us to pull our resources together in a short period of time, but also it gave us the freedom to shape our experience with minimal interference from the US embassy,” Lo said."
The Arab League of Hip Hop | The Middle East Channel
The Arab League of Hip Hop | The Middle East Channel
"So, what can Hamas do to stop these Arab hip-hop revolutionaries from taking a stage? And what can the U.S. government do to get them to promote its foreign-policy agenda? The answer to both is: very little. Nevertheless, both groups would be wise to rethink their approach to hip-hop and find new ways to get behind it, as opposed to standing in front or alongside. Whoever gets there first may discover a powerful and natural ally, insofar as hip-hop embodies both the spirit of diplomacy and that of armed resistance. "
"So, what can Hamas do to stop these Arab hip-hop revolutionaries from taking a stage? And what can the U.S. government do to get them to promote its foreign-policy agenda? The answer to both is: very little. Nevertheless, both groups would be wise to rethink their approach to hip-hop and find new ways to get behind it, as opposed to standing in front or alongside. Whoever gets there first may discover a powerful and natural ally, insofar as hip-hop embodies both the spirit of diplomacy and that of armed resistance. "
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Shahada x Shadia: bearing witness « Hip Hop Diplomacy Blog
Shahada x Shadia: bearing witness « Hip Hop Diplomacy
"In response to those who ask me, “Why Hip Hop?”, I would offer that Hip Hop, in its true form, represents an artistic expression of shahada, not necessarily in a religious sense, but in a personal one, and, moreover, in a peaceful one. It is for that reason that I continue to advocate the support of Hip Hop-related programming by cultural diplomacy organizations, as well as others seeking to “engage the hearts and minds of Muslim youth”. One such organization that seems to get it is the British Council, who co-sponsored an event this past weekend at the Dash Arts center in London that featured Arab Hip Hop all-stars from Palestine (Tamer Nafar), Lebanon (Rayess Bek), Jordan (MC Samm), Algeria (Rabah Donquishoot), and London’s own Palestinian queen MC, Shadia Mansour, and US legend Talib Kweli. The event challenged the artists (many of whom had never met before) to take themes from the 6th century Arabian poems, the Mu’allaqat, and riff off of them to create new music in workshops, culminating in a tour throughout Europe."
"In response to those who ask me, “Why Hip Hop?”, I would offer that Hip Hop, in its true form, represents an artistic expression of shahada, not necessarily in a religious sense, but in a personal one, and, moreover, in a peaceful one. It is for that reason that I continue to advocate the support of Hip Hop-related programming by cultural diplomacy organizations, as well as others seeking to “engage the hearts and minds of Muslim youth”. One such organization that seems to get it is the British Council, who co-sponsored an event this past weekend at the Dash Arts center in London that featured Arab Hip Hop all-stars from Palestine (Tamer Nafar), Lebanon (Rayess Bek), Jordan (MC Samm), Algeria (Rabah Donquishoot), and London’s own Palestinian queen MC, Shadia Mansour, and US legend Talib Kweli. The event challenged the artists (many of whom had never met before) to take themes from the 6th century Arabian poems, the Mu’allaqat, and riff off of them to create new music in workshops, culminating in a tour throughout Europe."
Cultural Diplomacy: Islamic Hip Hop from the US | Foreign Policy Blogs
Cultural Diplomacy: Islamic Hip Hop from the US | Foreign Policy Blogs
“We had a debate in the community,” said Abdul-Malik Ahmad, one of the three members of Native Deen. “ ‘Should we do it?’ ‘Should we not do it?’ Some people were saying, ‘Y’all are going to be puppets, going over there saying: ‘Everything’s O.K. We’re bombing your country, but we have Muslims, too!’ ”
“We had a debate in the community,” said Abdul-Malik Ahmad, one of the three members of Native Deen. “ ‘Should we do it?’ ‘Should we not do it?’ Some people were saying, ‘Y’all are going to be puppets, going over there saying: ‘Everything’s O.K. We’re bombing your country, but we have Muslims, too!’ ”
Michael Muhammad Knight, of Why I Am A Five Percenter - seattlepi.com
Interview: Author Michael Muhammad Knight, of Why I Am A Five Percenter - seattlepi.com
Quote: "For you, what is it that makes Islam more true than any other religion?
Quote: "For you, what is it that makes Islam more true than any other religion?
That's like asking what makes English more true than any other language. The only thing that's more true about English for me is that I understand it. English is the language in which I think. That's how I feel about religion. I don't speak the language of Hinduism, but that doesn't mean I see it as less legitimate for those who speak it. I have a couple languages that I speak; I speak a few variations of Islam, I speak the Five Percent, and I grew up speaking Catholic so maybe I can remember some of that language too."
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