Jasiri X is one of the most vocal rappers making Hip-hop with an overt message in the spirit of Public Enemy, X-Clan and Boogie Down Productions. The Pittsburgh emcee tells AllHipHop.com and the Ill Community how such a Hip-Hop artist can make politically-minded music and still get to the money.

When I wrote the song “Free the Jena 6” I wasn’t looking for fame or

fortune or to “get on.” I simply wanted to tell a story I felt, at the

time, was largely being ignored by mainstream media.  I wanted to record my

frustration with the lack of response from the Hip-Hop artists from

Louisiana. I had no idea

the song would touch the nerve that it did, nor did I ever think it

would be

posted on AllHipHop.com, played by Michael Baisden

When the jury delivered a not guilty verdict in the Sean Bell case, I

was

flooded with emails from fans asking me to address this injustice.

Although I

struggled with the decision, for fear of becoming the “tragedy rapper”,

I felt like other artists would be afraid to truly address the situation

in a

strong way.  My response was a song and video (directed by NYOIL) called

“Enough is Enough”. The day the video dropped, I booked my

first show in NYC and was contacted by BET to record a spot on Rap City

called “Spit Ya Game”. It was once again verification that people

want to hear music that speaks to our hurt and pain as a people. While

so

many other artists were scared to rock the boat, I was shaking the hell

out of

it and beginning to have more and more success. But, inevitably when it came to

“getting a deal” the argument was always the same, no one wants to

hear music with a message. I needed a way to show there was a demand for

quality Hip-Hop that spoke about more than just “gettin money” while at the same time

continue to build a fan base. The idea for “This Week With Jasiri X” was

born.“This Week With Jasiri X” came out of a desire to not only create a rhyme

and

video every week, but music that would talk about topics going

on in

our communities, as well as, all over the world, far more important than the

average

mindless rap song. It seems the industry has this idea that every hip-hop fan is a

superficial 17 year old with little to no intelligence, so it encourages

artists

to “dumb it down”. I decided to take the opposite approach, and

knowing that the average radio station that claims to be the “home of

hip-hop” probably wouldn’t play it, I uploaded it to Youtube. (That’s

what

so beautiful about the new technology available to artists like me. We

can

bypass the traditional gatekeepers, who are often wrong about what’s

good

music, and take it directly to the fans.) I just happened to rap about

the news at a time when now President Barack Obama began his historic run to the White House. People

everywhere, young and old, were tuning in to stations like CNN to watch

the

drama unfold. Obama, Sarah Palin, John McCain and the collapsing economy

provided more than enough subject manner to address on a weekly basis

and the

crazier the news got, the more views I received.  Once again going

against the

grain and providing good intelligent music lead to more recognition. and by DJs all over

the

country. I never dreamed the song would help mobilize thousands of

people to go

to Jena and

that I too would be there, being thanked personally by the young

brothers and

their families.  The outpouring of love received from Hip-Hop fans of

all

ages reaffirmed my commitment to making music with a purpose – other than

just

“gettin money.” But, I also learned the power of being part of a truth

that is bigger than you. With no manager, publicist, record label, or

team I

was being interviewed and my music played by some of the largest radio stations

in the

country. With no booking agent, I began traveling and doing shows. People

demanded a

CD, so I pressed them up myself and sold thousands – The Power of Political Poetry.

 I know, I know, it’s the music BUSINESS at the end

of the day…even “conscious” artists wanna get paid doing what they do. And since I

took a

non traditional approach to the music I wasn’t afraid to take a non

traditional

approach to “gettin money”. As the success of “This Week With Jasiri X”

began to

grow, I found myself getting more and more messages from teachers saying

they

were using my video’s in the classroom. I had already gotten a few bucks

talking

to educators about the power of Hip-Hop, logically, I thought, what about putting together a

program

of my own? So, with the help of my wife, we submitted a grant request

about

teaching teens how to use media and got our first check. Next, we applied

for a

fellowship with the August

for African American Culture. Not only did I become one of the first

fellows, I

was the only Hip-Hop artist. The financial support from the August

Wilson Center allowed us to step the

game up for Season 3 of “This Week With Jasiri X”, which was directed by

Paradise the Arkitech of X-Clan, and also put out the CD “American

History X”

for free. Early in Season 3, I got a call from a friend that works for

the Heinz

FoundationWandering Worx Entertainment, a media

company based out of Canada, for my album “The Ascension” produced by

Rel!g!on, which drops in August.

  (the largest in Western PA)

suggesting I send something to them, and guess what? We got that grant

too! Not

only were we able to get even better equipment for Season 4, but also get

paid

per episode. Not stressing on the money part of it also allowed me to take

my time

when choosing a label for my next project, before ultimately deciding on

I typed all that to say this, the writing is on the

record company

wall. Especially for new rappers trying to get a deal. If you do get

signed, it’s

a terrible 360 deal where you’ll make even less money. Plus, the

dissatisfaction

with what the radio deems as rap music is at an all time high. Fans are

looking

for something fresh and new. Don’t think you gotta be some carbon copy

of

what’s “hot” to make money in this industry. Don’t ever think you can’t

speak

truth to power and be successful. Our latest video “Just A Minstrel”

just

became our most watched video in a few days. Hip-Hop fans were so happy

that we

articulated what everybody’s thinking about, which is how ignorant the music has

gotten.

I can’t imagine what the response is gonna be to the Season Premiere of  “This

Week With Jasiri X”, called “What if the Tea Party was Black?” which

drops June

23rd. So, instead of tryin to “get on” get up, get out and get

involved in your community and speak out on the issues that affect them.

You

might actually find a faster path to achieving your dreams…and “gettin

money”.

You can see watch the groundbreaking series “This Week With Jasiri X” at www.youtube.com/jasirix

and make sure to tune in for the Season Premiere of  Season 4 “What if

the Tea Party was Black” on June 23rd.

Seandra Sims contributed to this report. Rappers Loon (r) and Freeway (l) during their pilgrimage to the Muslim Holy Land (Nov. 2009). “Deep like the mind of Farrakhan” – Notorious B.I.G.“Make your wife get on the horn call Minister Farrakhan / so he could persuade me to squash it (beef)” – Canibus “I’m headstrong / at peace with myself like Islam.” – Prodigy of Mobb DeepThere are a number of profound parallels between Hip-Hop and Islam. Both are in the ‘hoods as well as the suburbs. Both are in jails as well as the free world. Both are in the community. Both are in rap music. Both offer a colorful display of personality, hues, and cultural varieties. Both are ways of life embraced by millions the world over.? Hip-Hop and Islam intersected early on in rap’s history when the young poets began to embrace the teachings of Malcolm X (also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz). Rakim was the first and most widely recognized rapper to outwardly profess the teachings of Islam, and at one time, he even rapped under the moniker Rakim Allah (or “Sun God”). Public Enemy name-checked Minister Louis Farrakhan on songs such as “Don’t Believe the Hype”: “A follower of Farrakhan / don’t tell me that you understand / until you hear the man.” And, KRS-One emulated a famous “guarding the house” photo of Malcolm X on the cover of Boogie Down Productions’ “By All Means Necessary” in 1988.During this progressive period in Hip-Hop history, rappers weren’t just talking the Muslim talk – they were living it.“All of Islam has had a very positive and progressive impact on Hip-Hop. Islam’s principles of love, unity, and do for self is the predominate theme, thus the renaissance in the early 90s until now,” said Brother Sean of Medinah Entertainment, a full service company that has produced for Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson, Justin Beiber, and more. “Hip-Hop itself was birthed by the same principle. Look at Russell Simmons and Def Jam, J Prince and Rap A Lot [Records], Diddy and Bad Boy, Master P and No Limit and so on,” he adds.While most acts didn’t subscribe fully to the Islamic dogma, in the 80’s and 90’s, many embraced Islam teachings, as well as various sects of the religion, such as the Nation of Islam, the 5 Percent Nation, and even Orthodox Islam. Rappers such as popular 90s group Brand Nubian were praying to the East, reading daily “scrolls,” and striving to live righteously. It was an empowering period in rap, and one early artist from the period, King Sun, described it as “righteous but ruthless.” Activists like Conrad “The Hip-Hop Minister” Muhammad courted the Hip-Hop Generation, encouraging them to be more socially and politically involved. The appeal was very simple says Minister Sharieff Muhammad, who heads up The Nation of Islam defense and security force The Fruit of Islam. “We don’t use your past against you,” he says candidly. “The inspiration of telling you that we are all children of God. And God don’t drink, God don’t sell dope, God don’t disrespect women. Now you get their attention and now you can teach them. But most don’t go to church, they are all in a negative environment. And we appreciate them and there are positive things that you can do in the community.” Lupe Fiasco’s “Muhammad Walks,” a response to Kanye West’s#### “Jesus Walks.”

Islam’s marketability in Hip-Hop waned commercially as so-called “conscious” rap gave way to gangster rap (also known as “reality rap”). Nevertheless, the game has not changed for Hip-Hop influenced members of the Nation of Islam. Brother Jesse Muhammad, a media expert and member of the Nation of Islam, says Hip-Hop hasn’t gotten apolitical as gangster music suggests. People are merely tired of what he calls “poli-tricks.”“Let’s be honest. Whenever a young person hears the word ‘politics,’ they immediately think of deceit, corruption, and White men in power ties,” Brother Jesse tells AllHipHop.com from Houston. “But if we took the time to define words for ourselves, we would see that it means the use of intrigue or strategy in obtaining any position of power or control, as in business, university, etc. So politicking is a part of our daily lives. However, the actions of U.S. government, exposed by many artists in their songs, has made youth turn a deaf ear to politics because we’re sick of this old order of things. Yet, we have to see that we have the power to usher in a new paradigm in everything from politics to education.”? Brother Jesse maintains that the Hip-Hop generations’ overwhelming support of President Barack Obama proves that the genre and its followers aren’t as apathetic and pessimistic as some of its music suggests.“It is evident by the election of President Barack Obama that Hip-Hop still has great power to move the masses for any strong cause but the biggest difference I see from the early days and now is the lack of unity and a clear agenda,” Brother Jesse expounds. “Some of our Black organizations barely have a youth department and rarely seek out the help of music artists because they are too busy condemning them for certain lyrics. We have to find the common denominator and unify the two again.”? The future for Islam and Hip-Hop is promising, even though the mass popularity of far less cerebral rap music suggests otherwise. Jay Electronica (aka Je’Ri Allah) and Lupe Fiasco (born Muslim under the name Wasalu Muhammad Jaco) are some of the most prominent and widely respected rappers who overtly embrace Islam in their life and times. But there are more subtle followers, like Q-Tip, Rakim, Talib Kweli, Freeway, Mos Def, Common, Lupe Fiasco, Beanie Sigel, NYOIL, Immortal Technique, Akon, Killer Mike, and many others.Jay Electronica told Scheme Mag, “Yes [I am a practicing Muslim]. Islam is a word and it means ‘longing, striving and submitting to the will of Allah.’ Allah is just a term for ‘God’ or ‘Supreme Deity,’ so in the true definition of what the word is, yes, I’m practicing it; in the true definition of Judaism, I practice it. You understand what I’m saying? I’m not necessarily a subscriber to ritual and organized ideology that is not rooted in the principles of what the thing really is.”Snoop Dogg Speaks At The 2009 Saviour’s Day?

Minister Louis Farrakhan, national representative of the Nation of Islam, has told AllHipHop.com in previous interviews that rappers are budding seeds pushing out of the soil of leadership.”Yes, they are leaders by default because they’re the generational divide. And there’s a gap between the ‘leaders’ and the mass poor of the nation. With the spoken word called rap, in the beginning the word was with God and word got force and power,” Farrakhan said previously. “So these young men and women standing up in the gap now are talking to young people who don’t listen to their families, who don’t want to go school, who won’t listen to no preachers, don’t care nothing about politics – so, gimme 50 Cent. Give me the rapper. Now that’s the leader of today and tomorrow and what I’m trying to get our brothers and sisters in Hip-Hop to see is you have the ear of young people all over the world.”Farrakhan says rappers still represent the grios who once passed the word in Africa, and their connection to people of color is unparalleled.? “The Black people are not listening to their preachers. They’re not listening to their politicians, they’re listening to their rappers,” says Farrakhan.?Influence at that level has power – so, what will artists who subscribe to Islam preach into young ears in years to come? There’s no doubt that the 5 Percent Nation and teachings of Black radicals impacted rap’s golden political years, but will Muslim-inspired rap ever return to its pre-1995 substance??Interestingly enough, the monotheism religion known as Islam still beams through lyrics today – just in a different form. As singer Erykah Badu opened up her record of Hip-Hop to the culture by chanting ‘Alhamdulillah’ (‘all praises be to Allah’) on “The Healer,” slick Arabic terms may pass the average English listener by. Busta Rhymes speaks on Islam.

Some of the most prominent Hip-Hop acts today embrace the teachings and discipline of Islam in their everyday. As an example, Lupe Fiasco explained how his music career interferes with the ethics of Islam in a previous AllHipHop.com interview.“With Islam being in the front of many peoples’ mind, though, it does get interesting. It is more the extra curricula activities of being in the music industry where Islam comes into play, with regards to the drinking, the smoking, and the women,” he said. Bad Boy rapper Loon and Cash Money’s Freeway both took the holy pilgrimage to Mecca (the Islamic Holy land in Saudi Arabia) and have several videos broadcasting their experiences. The appeal of Islam may be confounding to decidedly Christian America, but Brother Sean says, it isn’t so difficult to comprehend with a deeper look.”Islam embraces Christianity and Judaism. Islam is accepted among the rappers because of the hard line stance of attaining Islam’s core principles of freedom, justice and equality,” he says. “Islam teaches self determination and love of yourself and kind first, then others which is what the Black community needs. Thus why rappers who are of these communities have embraced Islam.”From the constant references to Malcolm X and self recognition as ‘gods and earths,’ to spitting “Bismillah ir Rhman ir Raheem (‘in the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful’) before the opening of a track, Islam has always been a prideful and passionate reflection of religion within the Hip-Hop culture. Perhaps, the two cultures will again be parallel rather than simply intersect at various places in Hip-Hop.