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Interview with Suhell Nafar (member of the first Palestinian Rap group)
Interview by Pepe Haze
Suhell Nafar is a member of DAM, which is the first Palestinian rap group. DAM currently consists of Suhell, his older brother, Tamer Nafar, and Mahmoud Jreri. The group officially began late 1999 in the slums of Lod (a mixed town of Arabs and Jews, 20 km from Jerusalem), where all three members grew up.
So far the trio have two albums in the bag, "Stop Selling Drugs (1998)" and "Min Irhabi" (Who's the terrorist?; 2001), whose title track of the album got the group an impressive over 1 million downloads on the internet within one month.
Suhell (25) is regarded as one of the finest rappers from his region and a major driving force in the Palestinians’ struggle for freedom and equality.
Q: How would you define your music?
A: It is Arabian Hip Hop, a combination of Arabic percussion rhythms, Middle Eastern melodies and the urban Hip Hop/Rap music.
Q: What is the meaning of DAM?
A: DAM in Hebrew means blood, and in Arabic it means immortal. And then there are the initials which mean Da Arabian Mcs; put that together and you have it. It’s a name that means that regardless of how much blood my group will see, we will carry on our mission for eternity. DAM music is immortal.
Q: Who inspires you?
A: Numerous people but just to name a few I have to mention my man Tupac. Though, his struggle was different from mine, we have a lot of similarities. His music, I believe, is the most powerful in hip-hop, and I think I’m speaking for everyone living the hip-hop culture when I say that he’s the best rapper to ever bless the mic. I look up to him. Also, I’m inspired by Mahmood Darwish (a poet) and Najialy (a painter and political activist).
Q: The media always portray Arabs as people who lose their cool quickly but in the Slingshot documentary, we see your group many times staying composed in situations that to be honest are simply unacceptable… What would you like to say to people who still believe in the image portrayed by the mass media?
A: I understand it’s very easy to have a bad image on people especially Arabs because of the war and the protests that are going on… but I’d like to see people not judge before walking in someone’s shoes. Good and bad people come from everywhere, judge me and every other person in this world as an individual.
Q: What are some of the major challenges you’re facing?
A: I have quite a lot to say on that subject matter but to shorten it, I want to narrow it down to the fact that Arabs in some places still treat me like I’m an Israeli and Israelis treat me like an Arab… Life is a bit more difficult when you’re trying to belong in your own home.
Q: What are your future plans?
A: I would like to finish my group’s first international album. I’m also doing a lot of work with the youth in Israel and hope to get a label started as soon as God allows me. Pretty much, I want to keep doing the same thing I’m doing but bigger. My goal is to continue helping Palestine people - not just for musicians but everyone else doing something positive in their lives.
Q: Any last words?
A: Tupac said, “I won’t change the world but I will spark the mind that will”; I am that mind
During the Your City International Crime Prevention & Cities Summit, the Baobab team and the 20 winners of the competition are reporting live from the summit premises! Keep checking back for daily updates.
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susie slu 09/07/2008 16:19 wrote:
If you know how difficult it is for Palestinians to get from one (check)point to the other, i feel blessed to have met these guys all the way in Durban!
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johny o 03/07/2008 08:24 wrote:
big up suhell... brrrr
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Ewok 02/07/2008 17:31 wrote:
That documentary has not left my consciousness. Those stories are most relevant in South Africa where people still bear the wounds of apartheid. To see how apartheid still exists in this world makes me believe that the struggle really does continue. I havent figured out yet exactly what it is I can do but im thinking about it all the time. Meeting up with you cats made all of the other bullshit around the conference worth it.
peace
stay safe
will be in touch
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rumbakali 02/07/2008 13:54 wrote:
I saw the documentary, well worth watching.
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