Islam is one of the fastest-growing religions in the world—according to statistics, the global Muslim population is expected to grow to nearly 3 billion by 2060, making up about 31% of the world’s population. Owing to that fact, it’s hardly surprising that some of your favorite rappers are embracing the faith.
In recent years, the hip-hop scene has seen a surge in Muslim rappers, including prominent figures like Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def), Swizz Beatz, and Lupe Fiasco. But why are so many more rappers converting to Islam than, say, country musicians or rockstars?
For starters, Islam’s appeal to rappers comes from the way it connects with hip-hop’s roots in social justice and empowerment. Historically, the religion has strong ties with Black culture. Rap and hip-hop began as a voice for the African American fight for civil rights, and in the history of Black liberation in the USA, Islam was fairly popular thanks to influential figures like Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam— a Black nationalist organization— making it a natural choice for many artists.
Rumors surrounding many famous American rappers have been circulating the net for quite some time now, as people wondered whether rappers like Future or A$AP Rocky were Muslim. But here are the ones we know for sure.
Ty Dolla $ign
In 2023, a TikTok video surfaced of the Paranoid hitmaker at Friday Prayer in a mosque in Dubai. He was also spotted at a mosque in LA during Ramadan.
Lil Jon
Similarly, the American rapper Lil Jon appeared in an online video reciting the Shahada (the Islamic declaration of faith) in both Arabic and English at a mosque in Los Angeles back in May, during the first week of Ramadan.
Pop Smoke
Also known as Bashar Barakah Jackson, Pop Smoke was fatally shot during a home invasion in Los Angeles in 2020. He had a Muslim funeral prayer in Brooklyn. His brother confirmed in an interview that he reverted to Islam before his death.
Shek Wes
The Mo Bamba hitmaker of Senegalese descent was born Khadimou Rassoul Cheikh Fall to a Muslim family. In 2016, his mother sent him to Touba, Senegal, a highly religious city with ties to the Sufi sect of Islam because she wanted to get him out of New York. In a 2018 interview with The FADER, Sheck talked about how his time in Touba strengthened his faith. “I practice Islam. I was always into that, my whole life. I always believed in a higher power,” he said. “But they solidified my belief.”
PnB Rock
PnB Rock responded to a tweet through a video asking if he practices Islam. He replied, “I’m a Muslim and I’m proud to be one.” The late rapper was robbed and fatally murdered on Sept. 12, 2022 at Roscoe’s House of Chicken ‘N Waffles in Los Angeles. He was laid to rest during a Muslim funeral service in Philadelphia, just over a week after his death.
Westside Gunn
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.
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
The Baton Rouge rapper 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
Many people are curious about the Grammy Award-winning rapper T-Pain’s religion, and he is in fact a Muslim. Born Faheem Rasheed Najm, the hitmaker 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—who changed his name to Mustafa Abdul Malak— 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
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
American rapper and producer Elpadaro F. Electronica Allah, known as Jay Electronica professionally, 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.
