Mecca2Medina

Mecca2Medina
Origin	London, United Kingdom
Genres	Islamic Hip hop, Nasheed
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Crescent Moon Media
Website	mecca2medina.net
Members
Rakin Fetuga Ismael Lea South
Past members
Imran Kazi Daoud Saifallah Abdul Kareem Talib

Mecca2Medina were the first Islamic Hip hop/Nasheed group in Britain.^[1]

History

The group was started in 1996 and produced their first EP, entitled "Life after death", the same year. Since then they have released three nasheed albums and two hip hop albums and one mix CD. They make music for both Muslims and non-Muslims. Rakin Fetuga created Mecca2Medina after leaving his previous rap group, Cash Crew in 1995.

The group aims to make music which expresses their Islamic views and they also comment on social issues related to 'ghetto life'. They rap over a music style which uses African drum rhythms aimed at conservative Islamic audiences. And for real hip-hop fans they use soulful rhythms and electronic beats. The first members to join Rakin were Ismael Lea South and Imran Kazi. Later Doaud Saifallah and Abdul Kareem Talib joined. All of the members converted to Islam^[2] apart from Imran Kazi who was born as a Muslim. All five are married with children. As a group of five Mecca2Medina (M2M) performed at many Islamic events around the United Kingdom.

Many non-Muslim community organizations also invite them to perform at events. The group contains youth workers Daoud and Ismael, a social worker Abdul-Karim, a teacher Rakin and a civil servant Imran, these qualifications led the group to do many workshops around the country with disaffected young people and prisoners. The first member to leave the group was Doaud Saifallah. He now works with the youth and is also doing solo Islamic rap music. Imran Kazi was next to leave and now has formed a duo called 'The Planets'. The remaining trio went on for many years and travelled outside of the UK to many countries including Nigeria,^[3] USA,^[4] France and The Republic of Ireland.

They also are community event organizers and use the name 'The Salam Project'. They have organized grassroots events in the community such as talks with prominent Islamic scholars such as Sheikh Abdul Hakim Quick, Shaykh Ahmed Ba'biker Abu Bakr As-Sudani and Sheikh Michael Mumisa. They also have organized Muslim Comedy events with comedians such as Prince Abdi and Jeff Mirza. Along with comedy events they also arrange many tours around the country with the influx of new Islamic rap artists. They have worked with many new artists including with The Blind Alphabets and Mohammed Yahya, Missundastood of the USA, Poetic Pilgrimage, Pearls of Islam, Masika Feesibillah and Muslim Bilal. They have collaborated on Malaysian group 'Raihan's' album.

Abdul Kareem Talib was the third member to leave the group leaving the duo Rakin and Ismael. They still perform together whilst also working on solo projects. Rakin Fetuga has produced a solo album "The Road Less Travelled" under the name 'Rakin Niass'^[5] and Ismael organizes community events and tours.

See also

Black British British hip hop Islamic music Nasheed Ismael Lea South Rakin Fetuga List of converts to Islam

Fun-Da-Mental Native Deen Blak-stone DAM (band) Dirty Kuffar Soldiers of Allah Poetic Pilgrimage

References

1. ^ Timmerman, Christiane; Johan Leman, Hannelore Roos (2009). In-between spaces: Christian and Muslim minorities in transition in Europe and the Middle East. Peter Lang. p. 156. ISBN 9789052015651. 
2. ^ Pargeter, Alison (2008). The new frontiers of Jihad: radical Islam in Europe. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 182. ISBN 9780812241464. 
3. ^ Gilliat-Ray, Sophie (2010). Muslims in Britain: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press. p. 241. ISBN 9780521536882. 
4. ^ Curtis, Edward E., IV (2010). Encyclopedia of Muslim-American History, Volume 1. Infobase Publishing. p. 406. ISBN 9780816075751. 
5. ^ "Rakin Niass". http://rakinniass.bandcamp.com/album/the-road-less-travelled. Retrieved 10-09-2010.  The Road Less Travelled

External links

Official Website BBC Radio 1Xtra on Islamic hip hop Yvonne Ridley on Mecca2Medina Muslims in the House. emel. Issue 8, November/December 2004

Mecca2Medina on Myspace Mecca2Medina on Facebook Mecca2Medina page on Facebook Mecca2Medina on Twitter

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