Friday, February 28, 2014
Monday, February 24, 2014
SHOWBIZ: Stay positive with The Brothahood
For these boys from Melbourne, hip hop is their vehicle to clear misconceptions about Islam and voice concerns about social issues, writes Faisal Asyraf
HIP-HOP is not always about glamorising a hedonistic lifestyle with fancy cars, bling and sexy women being part of the mix. Just ask members of the Melbourne-based hip hop group, The Brothahood.
Its members Jehad, Hesham, Timur and Moustafa use the poetic beauty of hip hop music to promote social justice and unity, motivate people to pursue their dreams, and touch on social issues like domestic violence. They call the music genre “positive hip hop”.
The group was formed in Melbourne eight years ago with a noble mission. “We got together to break down stereotypes and misconceptions that people have towards Muslims and Islam, as well as telling listeners about the beauty of that religion,” explains Jehad.
The response was overwhelming and soon enough, the good messages of their music spread all over the country. Consequently, The Brothahood’s current tour in Southeast Asia, which began in 2010, received full support from the country’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The group’s debut album The Lyrics of Mass Construction was released in 2008.
Jehad says the band caught a lot of hip hop enthusiasts by surprise when they heard their music ... “it is not like any other conventional hip hop. Soon enough, we managed to get the listeners to follow our journey.”
In 2010, The Brothahood toured Indonesia and performed in Bali, Denpasar, Seminyak, Jakarta, Surabaya and Jogjakarta, and even appeared on the front page of Indonesia’s Jakarta Post.
The following year, they performed at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre alongside South African singer Zain Bhikha and the Indonesian-based spiritual music group DEBU. Last year, The Brothahood was featured in the local reality television series Ramadhan di Australia on the TV channel Al Hijrah.
Jehad and Hesham, together with their producer Alexander Williams were in Kuala Lumpur recently to promote the group’s new album, Onus On Us. The tour was made possible by Mahdar Tahir of the Malaysian-based arts initiative Crescent Collective, Australian-Malaysian Institute and Melbourne Culture Art,
“Onus On Us means that it is our responsibility as human beings to live in peace and harmony, to learn about each other and make the world a better place,” explains Jehad.
Its first single O.N.E features local hip hop sensations Altimet and Seveneightsix. Other tracks include Lord Knows (featuring Australia’s soul singer Elena), Revolutionarily (featuring Young Noble), Madinatun Nabi (featuring Aashiq Al-Rasul), Don’t Let Go (featuring Tyson-Amir), Six Articles, and The Dogs Are Out (featuring Flesh-N-Bone), among others.
Jehad, Hesham and Williams share more during the interview at Alternate Plus Gig Hall Bukit Bintang:
When you came out with the concept of spiritual hip hop album in 2008, what kind of challenges did you face?
Jehad: In Australia, some Islamic groups are very conservative. Usually after the performance, a bunch of people would approach us and say, “Brother, music is haram (forbidden). Stop doing it.” But they don’t see the bigger picture. We see hip hop as a form of poetry. Unless we have bad intention that would stray us away from the message of Islam, then it would be appropriate for us to stop.
Do you think your music has changed people much?
Jehad: We never focus on that. One of our objectives is to provide alternative views for the listeners and create an understanding about Islam. We don’t really consider ourselves as teachers. We use music to express our thoughts while giving outsiders insight into living life as a Muslim in Australia.
How did listeners respond to your music?
Jehad: We received a lot of thank you messages and compliments that further inspired us. At one time, we performed at the prison in Melbourne, as part of the prison’s activity for Eid celebration. A few days later, a girl e-mailed us. She said: “My father is in the prison. He was inspired by your music when he saw your performance. He became interested in Islam. All this while, he thought that Islam was all about halal (permissible) and haram. And now he is being open about the teachings of Islam.” That kind of message makes us feel fulfilled. ”
Since the last album, how much has the group grown?
Williams: When The Brothahood started, we relied on the combination of individual strengths. Jehad has a funky rap flow and was influenced by the underground hip hop groups like Black Star and Immortal Technique (United States) and Outlandish (Denmark). Moustafa has the style of early 1990s hardcore rap, Timur is a soulful singer and has the skills for beat boxing, and Hesham is a philosophical musician who draws much of his influence from ‘80s rock bands like Led Zeppelin and ACDC.
When you came out with the concept of spiritual hip hop album in 2008, what kind of challenges did you face?
Jehad: In Australia, some Islamic groups are very conservative. Usually after the performance, a bunch of people would approach us and say, “Brother, music is haram (forbidden). Stop doing it.” But they don’t see the bigger picture. We see hip hop as a form of poetry. Unless we have bad intention that would stray us away from the message of Islam, then it would be appropriate for us to stop.
Do you think your music has changed people much?
Jehad: We never focus on that. One of our objectives is to provide alternative views for the listeners and create an understanding about Islam. We don’t really consider ourselves as teachers. We use music to express our thoughts while giving outsiders insight into living life as a Muslim in Australia.
How did listeners respond to your music?
Jehad: We received a lot of thank you messages and compliments that further inspired us. At one time, we performed at the prison in Melbourne, as part of the prison’s activity for Eid celebration. A few days later, a girl e-mailed us. She said: “My father is in the prison. He was inspired by your music when he saw your performance. He became interested in Islam. All this while, he thought that Islam was all about halal (permissible) and haram. And now he is being open about the teachings of Islam.” That kind of message makes us feel fulfilled. ”
Since the last album, how much has the group grown?
Williams: When The Brothahood started, we relied on the combination of individual strengths. Jehad has a funky rap flow and was influenced by the underground hip hop groups like Black Star and Immortal Technique (United States) and Outlandish (Denmark). Moustafa has the style of early 1990s hardcore rap, Timur is a soulful singer and has the skills for beat boxing, and Hesham is a philosophical musician who draws much of his influence from ‘80s rock bands like Led Zeppelin and ACDC.
It took a while for us to recognise our true strengths and develop the identity of The Brothahood and the messages that we want to deliver to our listeners. With Onus On Us, we have grown musically, and this is evident in our music and lyrics.
Can you tell us more about Onus On Us?
Jehad: Our debut album The Lyrics of Mass Construction was well received, although it specifically talks about Islam. With Onus On Us, we want to reach a wider audience with a more universal theme. Most songs in the album focus on humanity and social issues we face in this world.
Can you tell us more about Onus On Us?
Jehad: Our debut album The Lyrics of Mass Construction was well received, although it specifically talks about Islam. With Onus On Us, we want to reach a wider audience with a more universal theme. Most songs in the album focus on humanity and social issues we face in this world.
Hesham: I would say that Onus On Us is the result of continuous motivation and encouragement from our fans. This album is a more diverse creative outlet compared to the last one.
Williams: I’m a perfectionist. I tend to focus even on the slightest details in the music production. For this album, I made sure that I got what I wanted. If I didn’t, I would punish myself and work hard towards achieving it. I would say that I’m very satisfied with this album, and I’m sure the listeners will be too.
The Lyrics Of Mass Construction was released in 2008. Why wait five years for the second album?
Jehad: Our members were busy with their lives; some got married and others were busy with personal matters. We had to slow down. In 2012, we released a mini album, Mixtape 2.0, just to tell our fans that we were still around.
How did you come to know Altimet?
Jehad: We became fans of Altimet through his music videos but we had never met until our recent collaboration (a performance on Feb 13) at The Talent Lounge in Damansara Perdana. We thought his rap flow was awesome. We then contacted Mahdar from the Crescent Collective to introduce us to Altimet. After exchanging e-mails, we passed him our music sample of the song O.N.E and he recorded his rap parts. We’re proud to finally be performing together on stage.
What’s next?
Jehad: We are now doing the music video for O.N.E. Half of the shoot took place in Malaysia, the other half will be in Australia. We also plan to perform in Singapore because fans have requested for us. We also want to do more touring in Southeast Asia and stay longer in Malaysia.
The Lyrics Of Mass Construction was released in 2008. Why wait five years for the second album?
Jehad: Our members were busy with their lives; some got married and others were busy with personal matters. We had to slow down. In 2012, we released a mini album, Mixtape 2.0, just to tell our fans that we were still around.
How did you come to know Altimet?
Jehad: We became fans of Altimet through his music videos but we had never met until our recent collaboration (a performance on Feb 13) at The Talent Lounge in Damansara Perdana. We thought his rap flow was awesome. We then contacted Mahdar from the Crescent Collective to introduce us to Altimet. After exchanging e-mails, we passed him our music sample of the song O.N.E and he recorded his rap parts. We’re proud to finally be performing together on stage.
What’s next?
Jehad: We are now doing the music video for O.N.E. Half of the shoot took place in Malaysia, the other half will be in Australia. We also plan to perform in Singapore because fans have requested for us. We also want to do more touring in Southeast Asia and stay longer in Malaysia.
Follow The Brothahood at facebook.com/thebrothahood. Youtube url link: http://youtu.be/iMqSqYjOaaI
Read more: SHOWBIZ: Stay positive with The Brothahood - Sunday Life & Times - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/sunday-life-times/showbiz-stay-positive-with-the-brothahood-1.490596#ixzz2uI90wxqc
Thursday, February 20, 2014
The vicious schism between Sunni and Shia has been poisoning Islam for 1,400 years - and it's getting worse
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/the-vicious-schism-between-sunni-and-shia-has-been-poisoning-islam-for-1400-years--and-its-getting-worse-9139525.html?utm_source=indynewsletter&utm_medium=email20022014
On the Gallows Once by Kofi Awoonor
I crossed quite a few
of your rivers, my gods,
into this plain where thirst reigns
I heard the cry of mourners
the long cooing of the African wren at dusk
the laughter of the children at dawn
had long ceased
night comes fast in our land
where indeed are the promised vistas
the open fields, blue skies, the singing birds
and abiding love?
History records acts
of heroism, barbarism
of some who had power
and abused it massively
of some whose progenitors
planned for them
the secure state of madness
from which no storm can shake them;
of some who took the last ships
disembarked on some far-off shores and forgot
of some who simply laid down the load
and went home to the ancestors
of your rivers, my gods,
into this plain where thirst reigns
I heard the cry of mourners
the long cooing of the African wren at dusk
the laughter of the children at dawn
had long ceased
night comes fast in our land
where indeed are the promised vistas
the open fields, blue skies, the singing birds
and abiding love?
History records acts
of heroism, barbarism
of some who had power
and abused it massively
of some whose progenitors
planned for them
the secure state of madness
from which no storm can shake them;
of some who took the last ships
disembarked on some far-off shores and forgot
of some who simply laid down the load
and went home to the ancestors
Reprinted from the forthcoming The Promise of Hope: New and Selected Poems, 1964-2013 by Kofi Awoonor by permission of the University of Nebraska Press. Copyright 2013 by the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska Press.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
Did the Age of Genocide Begin in Sochi? 4k 553 28 By Joshua Keating
http://www.thenation.com/blog/178409/sochi-land-circassians-they-cant-hide-anymore?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=headline_nation&utm_campaign=Headline%20Nation%202014-02-17&newsletter=headline_nation#
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Friday, February 7, 2014
Sunday, February 2, 2014
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