We’re almost halfway through 2021 and we’re still in dire need of better representation of Muslims in the entertainment industry.
But representation doesn’t mean we need more Muslims exclusively playing Muslim roles and solely speaking about Islam-related issues. Naturally seeing other Muslims thrive makes other Muslims feel more comfortable and proud, because representation is what forms minorities’ self-perception. And that validation feels good.
Besides prominent figures like Mos Def, Swizz Beatz and Yasiin Bey, the world has seen quite a few Muslim names rise to the top and make history, yet not everyone is necessarily aware that they share something in common with these worldwide known rappers.
Rumors surrounding many famous american rappers have been circulating the net for quite some time now, as people wondered whether rappers like Future or Asap Rocky were Muslim. But here are the ones we know for sure.
You bet we can’t name more than two rappers who are Muslim? Well, here’s our list. From rap legends to newcomer artists, these are the ones we look up to.
Westwide Gunn
Co-Co-signed by Virgil Abloh, the Buffalo rapper just made his return with the best release of his career, Pray for Paris. Songs like “Allah Sent Me” make his stance pretty clear. Muslim rappers in the US are a growing community, and the influence and visibility is worldwide.
NBA Youngboy
The teen rap prodigy who has been number one on YouTube’s US charts for 22 weeks in 2019 converted to Islam at age 18. He surely doesn’t speak much on it now, but making his girlfriend wear a burka back then, might not have been the slickest of moves. The converted rapper announced he was making a formal conversion. He also got ‘Allah’ tattooed on his left shoulder.
Kevin Gates
Another American Muslim rapper, the Baton Rouge rapper, who dropped his second album I’m Him last September, has long spoken out about his religion. Gates is a practicing Muslim along with his wife Dreak Gates, and went in September 2016 to Mecca for Hajj.
“We’ve unknowingly been Muslims our entire lives,” said Dreka. She went on to explain that the two of them didn’t just pop up one day and decide to practice Islam. Instead, she insists that there was no decision, but more so a way of life that they were already living.
T-Pain
Grammy Award-winning Muslim rapper T-Pain was born Faheem Rasheed Najm and grew up in a Muslim household in Florida. Having expressed broad beliefs in aspects of many religions, the rapper still identifies as Muslim.
Busta Rhymes
Busta might have a 30-year-old career behind him, but he has no plans to retire. And we love it. “I live my life by Islam,” he said. “At the end of the day, I think that’s pretty much what grounds me in the way that I think most people should be grounded.
Lil Durk
While growing up and going to church, American rapper Lil Durk had so many questions about Christianity. Giving thought to the matter for years, he finally converted to Islam in 2016 at the age of 24. The Muslim rapper practices Sunna. His beliefs are said to be motivated by his time in prison, and just simply by the Chicago demographic. In an interview, he said he exposes his children to Islam but would never force any religion on them, and that he would rather they do their own research and be comfortable with their beliefs.
Swizz Beatz
The producer, rapper, entrepreneur and art collector has always been an advocate for minority visibility. The rapper who converted to Islam does it all, with one of his main goals being to inspire others and ‘to show them the blueprint of what they can do,’ he said in an interview. ‘I have no bosses, only Allah. The most High is my boss. That’s it,’ he continued.
Big Daddy Kane
The best muslim rapper? Definitely Big Daddy Kane. The dubbed most skilled rapper in the history of hip-hop is indeed Muslim.
Q-Tip
The Tribe Called Quest member converted in the mid 1990’s and changed his name to Kamaal Ibn John Fareed. Nicknamed The Abstract, the muslim american rapper is most known for his innovative jazz-influenced style of hip hop production and his philosophical, esoteric and introspective lyrical themes.
Lupe Fiasco
Very few rappers manage to create such a unique sound that is still in line with his faith – other than Lupe Fiasco.
Jay Electronica
Muslim American rapper and producer Elpadaro F. Electronica Allah, known as Jay Electronica professionally, has converted to Islam in the late 90s. Having dropped his first mixtape in 2007, he recently released his first album in 2020 ‘A Written Testimony’. The Jay Z co-signed rapper is certainly one of the hottest acts of the decade. References to Islam in his work have been consistent, throughout his entire career.
Fredo
Is Fredo Muslim? This one question might remain unanswered, as he said the words ‘Al Hamdulilah’ on an IG live where he also stated that he doesn’t want to convert.
