From The River To The Sea…

February 1, 2024 — Leave a comment

This post has been in the works for quite some time, and while I have continued to put it off because the subject matter has been heavy on my mind, it’s about time I gained some courage and strength and finished it. You may have noticed a shift while scrolling through your Instagram feed. The world’s political affairs have most likely made their way to multiple applications on your phone, weighing down your mental health with death and despair. Comments sections are flooded with one of two flags, leading to arguments and insults. But what is going on in the world is not purely political. It should not be a religious matter of siding with your religion or another. It is not about complexion and White versus Brown. It is a matter of humanity. But that’s largely what it has become, causing a divide that is taking away from the fact that there is a genocide unfolding before our very eyes. In reality, it’s about the innocent Palestinian people, who have been enduring these tragedies regularly for decades. It is possible to feel hurt and sadness for everyone who has lost their lives. Still, in doing so, we have to recognize the more extensive issue that is causing mass murder. We must put humanity at the forefront, and that especially means we cannot sit idly by and watch the people of Palestine slowly get wiped out and blamed for the actions of extremist groups. Otherwise, innocent lives on both sides will continue to be lost, and an entire culture of people will cease to exist.

Despite feeling passionate about these matters, speaking out on a platform like this can be scary. I’m sensitive and never want to hurt or offend anyone. I also have faced repercussions for writing about similar political matters in which people feel so strongly. Still, I recognize that not only do I come from a country that was colonized, but I choose to love and write about a genre of music that is so profoundly rooted in oppression. I have also seen firsthand just how dedicated my Brown friends are in speaking up about this subject, and especially with Palestinian friends hurting the way that they are, I cannot stay quiet. So, instead, I’m going to put my thoughts on the back burner and let the music do the talking by highlighting the efforts of Middle Eastern and Muslim artists who have so courageously spoken up about the genocide in Gaza through their artistry and included how we can help support their efforts. I urge you to reflect on the critical issues and look into ways to support the people of Palestine, even if it’s done silently.

A.Rob

I have to lead into this article with someone I am proud to call my friend. Ameen’s music has been making waves while drawing attention to the issues plaguing Gaza. With videos filmed at the protests he’s been attending, he’s also donating the profits from his tracks to the children of Gaza, hoping to make an impact for his own Palestinian people. A.Rob is someone who never fell silent when the world needed to see change and hope, and he’s recruiting other Arab artists to do the same. His newest song, “Dammi Falastini,” features Waheeb Nasan, who has also been working hard to call for a ceasefire. For every stream and purchase the music gets, 100% of the profits will be donated to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. So please, do what you can and share this song.

“I try to use my music as a voice for the voiceless people in Palestine, especially Gaza. The killing of countless innocent Palestinian children, women and men should never be tolerated. I just aim to help spread the word and open peoples eyes to the truth. This is ethnic cleansing. This is genocide. A lot of people are waking up. I hope that continues.”

— A.Rob

@arobsmusic

If you would like to donate directly to the PCRF, you can do so here.

Waheeb Nasan

Waheeb is a Chicago-based Palestinian artist I discovered in 2020 on A.Rob’s project. The two artists rejoined forces on the track “Dammi Falastini.” Still, there are other places where Waheeb’s activism shines through. His lyrics are impactful and purposeful, hoping to incite change and progression with a whole album called The Come Up. With songs such as “Ceasefire,” “Falasteeni,” and “A Free Palestine,” the project uses catchy rhythms and hooks to draw attention to the issues unfolding and envision a world in which the conflict in Gaza finally comes to an end. 

Saint Levant

Saint Levant is one of the most notable names out of Palestine currently, with songs like “From Gaza, With Love,” making rounds on social media and streaming platforms. Saint Levant is not new to the conflict, and unfortunately, he experienced it firsthand when it forced his family to flee during his childhood. Tragically, due to visa-related issues stemming from the current state of Gaza, Saint Levant had to cancel the USA leg of his tour. However, you can support in other ways, such as streaming his music and purchasing his merchandise.

Lowkey

British activist and rapper Lowkey is no stranger to scrutiny when speaking against the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While his work supports peace all across the Middle East, he’s been especially active in fighting for Palestine, partaking in the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and traveling throughout the West Bank to perform at fundraising shows to help rebuild the Gaza Strip before being detained. Additionally, he’s partnered with M-1 of Dead Prez to help bring medical aid to the Gaza Strip while collaborating on tracks with him and other notable vocal artists like Lupe Fiasco to raise awareness over other injustices. He has been the target of multiple pro-Israeli groups, including having petitions to have his music removed from Spotify and having talks and appearances canceled. He is now speaking out about the cause #AirDropNowForGaza, an initiative pleading for aid to be airdropped into the Gaza Strip.

Sammy Shiblaq

Detroit artist Sammy Shiblaq first gained notoriety when his song “Champion” was featured on the Netflix show Mo. But since then, his momentum has kept up. He uses his Palestinian roots to drive some of his newest songs, such as his latest singles, “Gaza Strip 2 Detroit” and “Peace Without Freedom.” In anticipation of his new project, The Project of Liberation, which will be released in the next few months, the young artist has partnered with the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, where the streaming proceeds from his music are currently being donated. 

If you would like to donate directly to the PCRF, you can do so here.

Belly

Palestinian-born Canadian rapper Belly may be one of the most notable names in the Hip-Hop industry who is of Palestinian descent. His work, which features dozens of mainstream names, including Meek Mill and NAV, spans a wide variety. Yet, he does not stray from sharing the Muslim and immigrant stories. In some of his earlier tracks, he paints the horrid picture of what his family faced to flee Palestine, escaping the ongoing war and terror.

Genocide

Having been born in Bosnia, Genocide lives up to his name after first-handedly experiencing the ethnic cleansing of Bosnia Muslims. After fleeing with his family to Ireland, he lived a life as a refugee, continuing to suffer through racism as an outsider. Having endured this, he used these nightmares to create rugged and heart-wrenching music detailing these moments. He used these same emotions to write songs such as “Free Palestine,” in favor of a ceasefire, hoping he could have a say in preventing something he already had to witness.

Shadia Mansour

Shadia Mansour is a British Palestinian artist and the ‘first lady of Arabic hip-hop.’ Having performed at Palestine rallies since she was little, Shadia was no stranger to speaking out. She earned her collaborations with incredible Hip-Hop names, including M-1 from Dead Prez and Johnny Juice Rosado from Public Enemy. While she mostly raps in English, one of her most-known tracks enlisted the help of Lowkey to rap in Arabic about protecting and preserving the Kufiyyeh, an Arab scarf, after an American used the idea of the garment to create one with the Israeli colors and the Star of David. 

Anees

Born in DC, Lebanese-Palestinian artist Anees has been extremely vocal about what’s currently taking place in Gaza. Although none of his current songs incorporate themes of Palestine, he’s hinted that that may change soon. In fact, he mentioned that he dislikes performing his upbeat song, “Sunny Days,” but now performs it in every set because of one Palestinian journalist named Motaz Azaiza.

MC Gaza

Multi-faceted artist MC Gaza is a rapper who is thought to be the ‘Eminem of Gaza.’ As someone who lived through multiple wars in Palestine and had to flee as a refugee, he made it his life’s purpose to share the stories of Palestinians through his art, no matter how dangerous it could be. He communicates that through his bold and graphic music videos, rapping with real-life war zones as his backdrops to illustrate the realities of the situation. In addition to the Israeli violence, MC Gaza faced his own aggression as the Gaza Strip’s conservative nature disapproved of the presence of Hip-Hop.

You can help support the artist here.

Mic Righteous

Fleeing as a refugee at an early age, Irani artist Mic Righteous resonated with the Palestinian fight for freedom after his mother had to endure parts of the Iranian revolution. Similarly to Lowkey, Mic Righteous faced a censorship issue with BBC when he performed the lyric, “I can scream Free Palestine for my pride/still pray for peace,” which was masked by glass-shattering sound effects. This moment raised a lot of awareness surrounding the genocide of Palestine in the media, where large networks such as BBC were censoring certain words to avoid backlash. Unfortunately, Mic Righteous continues to face these issues as his newest song, “Letter To The IDF,” was rejected from streaming platforms.

Dugri

Although their music isn’t in English, I felt extremely compelled to include this duo, even if it may lead to some discomfort and anger. Uriya Rosenman, an Israeli Jewish educator, and Sameh Zakout, a Palestinian Israeli singer and actor, first made waves on the internet for a rap battle. From there, they formed a group known as DUGRI, where the powerful duo used rap and song to further educate people on the conflict. While younger generations of Israelis and Palestinians are coming into the world even more divided and extreme, some youth-driven groups comprised of both Israelis and Palestinians believe that with increased violence and death, they will have similar fates. As a result, groups such as DUGRI have arisen to demonstrate that it is possible to create a space for people from both backgrounds to come together and share their experiences with one another. While this may not resonate with everyone who has educated themselves about the conflict, this video was impactful enough to be heard. After spending 3 years traveling across Israel to interview both Jews and Arabs to get some of their thoughts and beliefs, “Let’s Talk Straight” was the outcome.

Activism takes form in many different ways. It could be sharing artwork featuring watermelons or journalists braving their lives in the rubble amidst bombings. You could attend protests or opt for a local coffee shop instead of picking up your regular order from a Starbucks. It is alright to advocate for a Free Palestine in a way that is within your capacity, but I encourage you to do so somehow, even if it is just reading up on what is occurring and staying up to date. You could follow these artists and show them some extra support, considering all they are going through, to keep this issue relevant and talked about. No matter what you do, please do not look the other way. This is far too important.

Subscribe below for more dope content straight to your e-mail♥

Join 509 other subscribers

Leave a comment