Lupe Fiasco's remix of Kanye West's 'Jesus Walks'. Lupe is a devout Muslim and considered a leader by many Muslim youth in America.
Lupe on Islam and his Music: "Well, I was born Muslim, so Islam plays a part in my everything I do, to a certain extent. I'm not like the poster boy for Islam you know what I'm saying? So it's like I still got my flaws and stuff like that, so I don't really wear that on my sleeve. [But] I'm really with some underlying consciousness, no matter what it is that I can talk about -cocaine, or I can talk about carrying guns. I've been literally carrying guns since I was five, like four or five years old, simply because my father was in the military and he wanted to teach us how to shoot. I've been shooting AK's since I was as baby, you know? I don't like to glorify ignorance or nothing like that, but I know you need to – you can talk about it in certain aspects. You'll still get the people who don't listen unless you're talking about nonsense. Catch their ear, and then at the same time, teach them something, you know? It [also] plays on the extra curricular stuff that happens about, about being like a rapper and being in the music business like going to – all right, I don't go to clubs, I don't drink, I don't smoke, you know like my whole – the whole groupie situation is shut down."
When asked about why his album name was Food and Liquor, he replied: “The title reflects on me being Muslim and being from the streets... In Chicago, instead having bodegas like in New York, the majority of the corner stores are called ‘Food and Liquors.’ The store is where everything is at, whether it be the wine-o hanging by the store, or us as kids going back and forth to the store to buy something. The ‘Food’ is the good part and the ‘Liquor’ is the bad part."
His album Food and Liquor begins by him saying "A'uzu billahi min ash shaitani r rajimi Bismi 'llahi 'r-rahmani 'r-rahim" which translates to "I seek refuge from Satan. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful." This is what many Muslims say before beginning a task. Lupe then finishes the albums stating "Salamwalaikum" meaning "Peace." In one song, "Hurt Me Soul," he begins saying "Astagfirullah" meaning "I seek forgiveness from Allah." In one song, "American Terrorist," he talks about his views on Islam and how Islam is viewed in todays society. He also tries to clear up misinterpretations of 21st Century Muslims.
Lupe always tries to keep in touch with the Islamic community, for example saying "Eid Mubarak" to many people during the month of Ramadan. Although he lives a celebrity life, in an interview with AOL Music Sessions he had the following to say: "I've never drank alcohol a day in my life. I've never taken any form of drugs. That culture is still kinda alien to me."
5 Comments
rembarsays...Can't believe I missed this the first time around. Very informative, Gwaan, thanks. *promote
siftbotsays...Re-promoting this video to the front page as a VideoSift Classic. Originally published on Wednesday 28th March 2007 (promotion called by gold star member rembar)
jonnysays...*dead
siftbotsays...This video has been declared non-functional; embed code must be fixed within 2 days or it will be sent to the dead pool - declared dead by jonny.
siftbotsays...Awarding chingalera with one Power Point for fixing this video's dead embed code.
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