It’s hard being a kid these days, what with social media telling you how much fun everyone else is having when you’re not.
It’s hard being a Muslim these days, what with countries like the United States trying to ban your fellow worshippers because they think you’re a terrorist.
What’s a kid to do, but take their plight to the screens of millions of Malaysians on TV morning show Nasi Lemak Kopi-O, and rap about the hard-knock life of being a Muslim teen in this country.
That’s exactly what Nasyid Rap have done, creating a teen super group with a message so strong to stay woke, it’s not been seen since Tribe, De La and every other great rapper from the early 90’s banded together to form Native Tongues.
Set to the tune of Jidenna’s timeless banger Classic Man, the kids from the religious school Maahad Tahfiz Al-Hidayah want you to know what it’s like being a MUSLIM Man, albeit one who probably hasn’t hit puberty yet.
All rappers thank the Lord above, so it would seem natural that the Almighty one would provide inspiration across faiths.
The performance itself is a crescendo of yet-to-crack voices, telling you what’s up in their teen lives.
Yet it’s sitting foul with some Facebook users who claim that a bunch of kids trying to find parallels between their religion and modern life is tarnishing Islam.
One user wrote that this was the non-believer’s agenda, and that he would rather be seeing them read the Quran on TV.
I’m not sure if he’s familiar with Mos-Def, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, or gosh even French Montana, if that’s your vibe. Being Muslim, and being a rapper, isn’t exactly new.
Honestly, this is cute. They’re putting themselves out there, doing something that our eyes have literally never seen before, and their messaging comes from the heart.
Choice lyrics that include, and are not limited to, – “Doin’ everything for the righteous one,” and “Prayin’ all night, just to get to paradise.”
Seems to be pretty faith driven, guys. I don’t know if this religious Blazing Squad is our biggest worry.
Like any rap song, the most important part comes at the hook, and this one is pretty good.
If you remember one thing, and one thing only, that these kids have to say, it’s: “No, I am not a terrorist. No, I’m not terrorist…. I’m a Muslim man.”
Word.
