I am not afraid to admit, that when Kanye West came out with his debut album, I really didn’t like him at all. A friend of mine gave me a copy of his album ‘Graduation’, and that changed my opinion quite quickly. Now, with his new single, Love Lockdown, I look forward to hearing what Kanye will come out with next.
This video was just too cool. I had to share it on the blog.
Ok, I am excited! I have been a fan of Native Deen for close to 10 years now, from the time when they were just known as MYNA Raps. Their second album as Native Deen is set to come out later this month. Check the link below to find out more info. And then check out themusic video for their first single from the album below.
Native Deen have release the final version of their new video, and mashAllah it is an amazing one at that. Check it out, and leave your feedback in the comments.
Finally!!! At long last, Sami Yusuf has release the FARSI version of Mother after it long being announced on his official website. For all those fans who waited so patiently, the wait is over. Just wait till the television stations get a hold of this in Iran. Sami Yusuf was popular when I was in Iran in May of this year, and they kept playing his supplication song which was in English and Arabic. Now to have a song in Farsi and English… Sami Yusuf’s popularity is about to increase ten fold in Iran.
Ran across this, and found it very interesting, and motivational. I don’t speak arabic, but I have picked up bits and pieces over the years, however I hope perhaps to find the lyrics translated somewhere. If I do, I will post them.
Source: International Herald Tribune
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: The Arab world’s hugely popular music video industry often features sexy performers in revealing clothes crooning about love.
But the first clip to be fully produced in Saudi Arabia has a message of a different kind: You can be cool and devout.
The video is unusual because it was made in a country where the religious establishment considers music un-Islamic and bans it in public places. And the main cast includes a Saudi woman, something rare in a work produced inside the kingdom.
But in a sign of Saudi impatience with the restrictions, “Malak Ghair Allah” or “You Only Have God to Count On” was a hit when it was launched at a popular mall in the western seaport of Jiddah last week. Hundreds of people showed up to watch it on a giant screen in the mall’s main hall.
“People didn’t stop clapping. Some had tears in their eyes,” Kaswara al-Khatib, the video’s director, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
The video is expected to air on most of the Middle East’s more than 30 music satellite TV channels this week. Despite fears among the Saudi clergy over the corrupting influence of music videos, the clip had implicit government approval. The credits thank “those who helped make this work a success,” including the Information Ministry.
“You Only Have God to Count On” uses upbeat music to tell the story of a successful man who had strayed from the path of true Islam. He smokes, flirts with women even though he’s engaged and doesn’t join his colleagues at work in performing the five daily Muslim prayers.
Things slowly start to go bad: he has a flat tire and problems at work and his fiancee leaves him when she sees him talking to another woman. He then has a serious accident while recklessly driving his motorcycle. After he recovers, the man starts to pray, stops smoking, wins back his fiancee and excels at work.
Significantly, the man, played by Salah Abul-Jadayel, a tall, fit third-year medical student sporting a hip goatee, doesn’t grow the big, bushy beard favored by fundamentalist Muslims. He still wears T-shirts and jeans and sticks to his old friends, including a man who favors the much-frowned-upon ponytails.
“I wanted the youths to understand that it’s not the looks that count. It’s what inside that matters,” al-Khatib said.
“The video also has this message: Don’t give up and think, ‘I sinned, therefore I’m going to hell,’” the director added. “Think that there’s a God and he is always there to help you.”
While there’s no lack of production crews, dancers and singers in Lebanon, Egypt and other Arab countries that produce music videos, things are different in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom follows the strictest school of Islam that bans the mixing of the sexes and all forms of entertainment, including music in restaurants, concerts and movie theaters.
Al-Khatib, 37, who heads an advertising agency, has previously produced music videos, but this is the first that is an all-Saudi work. It was filmed along Jiddah’s boardwalk on the Red Sea, a popular hangout for youths.
The lyrics of the song, performed by Muhammed al-Haddad, say in part: “If things go bad … if your dreams have been lost … you only have God to count on.”
Al-Khatib, said that for the lead female part, he had to get permission from the parents of Ruwaina al-Jihani before he could cast her in the role of the fiancee.
“They consulted with the extended family before giving their consent,” said al-Khatib.
Al-Jihani, an attractive university student, appeared covered in the traditional black cloak and headcover, with only her face showing. One shot showed her all in white at her engagement.
Al-Khatib said that while music is controversial in Saudi Arabia, he has heard fatwas (religious edicts) from non-Saudi clerics who say music for a good cause should not be illegal.
Plus, al-Khatib said he wanted to give Saudi youths an alternative to music videos produced abroad but popular on satellite TV.
“The problem is not the music. It’s how you utilize it,” said the director.
“We wanted to talk to them in their own language,” he added. “Instead of saying, ‘Don’t listen to music,’ we’re saying, ‘Listen to music that’s good for you.’”
This is one of the funniest videos I have seen on YouTube in a while. If you want to see more of Remy’s videos, like the one below, check the link: http://www.youtube.com/user/GoRemy
Visit Seven 8 Six’s Official Website at www.seven8six.net
The name SEVEN8SIX (or 786) is a popular numeric shorthand for the Islamic bismillah,or saying, “In the name of Allah,
the Beneficent,the Merciful.” The talented singing group consists of Shahaab Quraishi, Omar Razzacki, Zafar Razzacki, Muhammad Saadullah (Saad), and Muhammad Saeedullah (Saeed). These five guys come together to share a single stage with a single voice. SEVEN8SIX is the definition of harmony.
SEVEN8SIX first began in the summer of 2001 in the suburbs of Detroit. The group began as the guys unknowingly came together to sing at a friend’s wedding. They received such a positive response to their performance that the five decided to stay together as a group and direct their talents towards delivering an Islamic message. The group performed as SEVEN8SIX for the first time at the 2002 ISNA convention in Washington, DC. Most of the group’s subsequent public appearances have been at large concert events organized by Muslim groups, including major events co-sponsored in part by the Islamic Society of North America and other community organizations around the United States. Omar is currently studying at the University of Michigan in preparation for law school. Saad, who plays the tabla during performances, graduated from Eastern Michigan University, where he is a double major in Economics, Fine Arts, and is in the process of going to dental school. Zafar has a B.S.E. degree in Chemical Engineering and an M.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering. He currently does research at the University of Michigan and is planning to pursue an MD and a career in medical research. Shahaab, who attended the University of Michigan-Dearborn, majored in Economics and minored in Computer Information Systems. After working for a prestigious consulting firm, Accenture, he now does marketing strategy at Ford Motor Company. Saeed is a pre-med student at Eastern Michigan University and plans to pursue a career in medicine.
This group is working far and wide to please Allah (SWT). As Shahaab says, “We are using SEVEN8SIX as a tool for propagating Allah’s message. Although we all love to sing, that is not the reason for the group. It is something we do well together and share a passion for, but more importantly, we share a passion for being Muslim and spreading the message of Islam. None of us claims to be perfect, or that we do everything correctly, or even try to preach to others. We just want to open people’s eyes to what Islam truly is about and to tell the youth of this country that we know what you are going through and simply…we understand.”
SEVEN8SIX has grown tremendously since their first performance. Not only have they grown as singers and performers, but also as people. Each member of SEVEN8SIX is extremely thankful for everyone’s support and dua’s. “Insha’Allah, we look forward to a lot more together as a group and hope that everyone, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, can share in all that we put out. Ameen.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — 07/24/07 — “Allah Made Me Funny – The Official Muslim Comedy Tour” which features three of America’s top Muslim comics including Preacher Moss, Azhar Usman and Mohammed Amer will be made into a feature-length concert film that will showcase the comics’ on-stage performances and shine a spotlight on their lives, announced Dave Chappelle, the project’s executive producer.
Chappelle along with Unity Productions Foundation’s Michael Wolfe and Alex Kronemer will serve as the film’s executive producers. Moss and Usman will serve as producers through their jointly-held production entity, Handshake Productions LLC. Established indie filmmaker and documentarian Andrea Kalin will direct.
“Allah Made Me Funny is one of the funniest and most important comedy shows in America today. These guys are pioneers in the world of Muslim comedy and I am proud to be attached to this project,” said Chappelle.
The film will include live stand-up performances from each of the comics, along with some stylized documentary elements. Principal photography is scheduled for August 24 and August 25 at the Heritage Forum in Anaheim, California. The film’s producers also intend to incorporate an original musical score, ranging from jazz to hip-hop to R&B, with contributions from prominent and independent musical artists. A soundtrack based on the film is also under development.
Since launching in 2004, “Allah Made Me Funny – The Official Muslim Comedy Tour” has performed hundreds of shows throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The Tour was initially created to relieve tensions and serve as a bridge-building tool between Muslims and non-Muslims to address negative stereotypes about the Muslim religion and culture in a post-9/11 world.
“Comedy gives people of all cultural backgrounds an opportunity to drop their guard and open their minds. Our goal with this film is to make audiences laugh and think,” said Preacher Moss.
Since its inception, the Tour has gained international recognition and praise by cultural and religious organizations globally and has attracted significant media attention including stories by The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX News, The San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post, Time Magazine, Newsweek International, BBC, CBC, and dozens more.
Much respect goes to Yusuf for returning back to his music after a more than 20 year hiatus, and spreading his love and message to fans, old and new.
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