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SubhanAllah, it takes me back to my roots. Hard hitting, east coast beats under fresh, pleasantly poetic lyrics. He transcends boundaries of race and religion and delivers exactly what the dying hip-hop community needs. It is rich with a tapestry of self-reflection, calls to action, lamenting the suffering of the down-trodden, and foretelling of a victory for the righteous. Absent is the typical lyrical bravado and self-aggrandizement of most rappers (even many Muslim rappers).
Make no mistake about it, he is Muslim and apparently a lover of Ahlul-bayt (peace be upon them), and it is not unusual for him to fall into the ecstasy of his own lyrics and start chanting la ilaha il-Allah (there is no god but Allah). In that way it has the symbolic texture of classical Islamic poetry as though it were the modern-day qasida or ghazal.
Still, his lyrics are also very political, very pro-black, and very anti-oppression. He is part of the new wave of hip-hop artists trying to reclaim the culture that was abducted and molested by the mainstream music industry. And with guest appearances by cultural pioneers such as the Last Poets and hip-hop reformist and fellow Muslim Mos Def, the message certainly hits home.
TRACK LISTINGS
1 Like a Thief 2:09
2 Change Gonna Come 3:05
3 I Love You 2:10
4 We Are the Revolution / Abi Adun 4:00
5 Make It Through / Lisa Garza 4:57
6 Head to the Sky 4:06
7 They Don't Know 2:48
8 82nd & Macarthur / Sugar Johnson 4:18
9 Danger 2:46
10 When I Die 4:07
11 Spit (Let It Be Know) 1:46
12 Can't Hold It Down 4:27
13 Brother 4:38
14 How Beautiful 2:11
15 Killers 5:05
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