Native Deen
Encyclopedia
Native Deen is an Islamic musical group
from the Washington, D.C.
area
. Native Deen's music combines a hip-hop
style with lyrical
themes grounded in Islam
.
The group uses percussion instruments and synthetic sounds. They do not use wind or string instruments.
s and shalwar kameez
. They say there is more than one way to identify as a Muslim, both by etiquette and dress. Their music typifies the subgenre "positive hip-hop".
"Evening of Inspiration", in Costa Mesa, California
, Muhammad narrated a powerful slideshow, projecting images of needy, hungry children from around the world to illustrate why Islam demands that Muslims give to the less fortunate. He said that Islamic Relief "helps the most vulnerable people from all walks of life. People don't understand how much a dollar can do. That's why this event is more than just a concert – it's a call to action."
and Eid-ul-Adha). The group is relatively well-known among Muslim youth in North America
, and has toured internationally.
Native Deen's music typically features drums, synthesized instruments, and vocals. Due to the belief of the majority of the Islamic scholars on the matter, wind, string, and metal instruments are never used. Some of their more popular works include Intentions, Paradise and Not Afraid to Stand Alone. The Youtube
music video
for Not Afraid to Stand Alone has attracted more than two-million views.
).
Native Deen's most recent album includes the track Still Strong, featuring Isam Bachiri
of Outlandish
. In support of this album, the group toured Australia, performing in Sydney, in Queensland, and at the "Sounds of Light Concert" in Melbourne.
The group's newest album is entitled "The Remedy."
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
from the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
area
Washington Metropolitan Area
The Washington Metropolitan Area is the metropolitan area centered on Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The area includes all of the federal district and parts of the U.S...
. Native Deen's music combines a hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
style with lyrical
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
themes grounded in Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
The group uses percussion instruments and synthetic sounds. They do not use wind or string instruments.
The band and its music
"Deen" in Arabic means "religion" or "way of life." Native Deen comprises Joshua Salaam, Naeem Muhammad, and Abdul-Malik Ahmad, young Muslim men who were born and raised in the District of Columbia. Their music seeks to inspire young people to keep their Islamic faith amid the pressures and temptations of daily life. Group members identify themselves as Muslim, and wear traditional Islamic dress such as kufiKufi
A kufi or kufi cap is a brimless, short, rounded cap worn by many populations in West Africa of all religions and throughout the African diaspora.-African and African-American Usage:...
s and shalwar kameez
Shalwar kameez
Shalwar kameez — or salwar kameez or shalwar qameez — is a traditional dress worn by both women and men in South Asia and Central Asia. Shalwar or salwar are loose pajama-like trousers. The legs are wide at the top, and narrow at the ankle. The kameez is a long shirt or tunic...
. They say there is more than one way to identify as a Muslim, both by etiquette and dress. Their music typifies the subgenre "positive hip-hop".
Charitable work and activism
At the third annual Islamic ReliefIslamic Relief USA
Islamic Relief USA™ was founded in California in 1993 as a 501 tax exempt charity involved in international humanitarian relief efforts...
"Evening of Inspiration", in Costa Mesa, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Muhammad narrated a powerful slideshow, projecting images of needy, hungry children from around the world to illustrate why Islam demands that Muslims give to the less fortunate. He said that Islamic Relief "helps the most vulnerable people from all walks of life. People don't understand how much a dollar can do. That's why this event is more than just a concert – it's a call to action."
Performances
Native Deen performs at Islamic conferences, fundraisers, and holiday gatherings (often during RamadanRamadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
and Eid-ul-Adha). The group is relatively well-known among Muslim youth in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, and has toured internationally.
Native Deen's music typically features drums, synthesized instruments, and vocals. Due to the belief of the majority of the Islamic scholars on the matter, wind, string, and metal instruments are never used. Some of their more popular works include Intentions, Paradise and Not Afraid to Stand Alone. The Youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for Not Afraid to Stand Alone has attracted more than two-million views.
Origins and development
Native Deen's members met through Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA). Each appeared on MYNA RAPS, an album produced to spotlight the work of aspiring Muslim songwriters and recording artists. Salaam, Ahmad, and Muhammad, who were performing as solo acts, joined together to form Native Deen. Their music was produced under the "Mountain of Light" label, which was founded by Yusuf Islam (previously known as Cat StevensCat Stevens
Yusuf Islam , commonly known by his former stage name Cat Stevens, is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, educator, philanthropist, and prominent convert to Islam....
).
Native Deen's most recent album includes the track Still Strong, featuring Isam Bachiri
Isam Bachiri
Isam Bachiri is a Danish vocalist, rapper and songwriter for the multi-award winning hip hop group Outlandish. His family hails from Nador in the north-eastern part of Morocco.-Early life:...
of Outlandish
Outlandish
Outlandish is a multi-award–winning hip-hop group based in Denmark. Formed in 1997, it consists of Isam Bachiri , Waqas Ali Qadri , and Lenny Martinez . All three members are religious, with Isam and Waqas being Muslims and Lenny being Catholic...
. In support of this album, the group toured Australia, performing in Sydney, in Queensland, and at the "Sounds of Light Concert" in Melbourne.
The group's newest album is entitled "The Remedy."
External links
- Native Deen - The Deen You Know Native Deen's first album.
- Native Deen - Not Afraid to Stand Alone Native Deen's second album.
- Native Deen Website
- Listen to both Native Deen albums for FREE