| Native Deen | |
|---|---|
Performing at a school in Ramallah, 2007 |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Washington, DC |
| Genres | Rap, R&B |
| Labels | The Native Deen Group, LLC |
| Website | NativeDeen.com |
| Members | |
| Joshua Salaam Naeem Muhammad Abdul-Malik Ahmad |
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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.
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"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.[1] Group members identify themselves as Muslim, and wear traditional Islamic dress such as kufis and shalwar kameez. They say there is more than one way to identify as a Muslim, both by etiquette and dress.[1] Their music typifies the subgenre "positive hip-hop".[2]
At the third annual Islamic Relief "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."[3]
Native Deen performs at Islamic conferences, fundraisers, and holiday gatherings (often during Ramadan and Eid-ul-Adha). The group is relatively well-known among Muslim youth in North America, and has toured internationally.[1]
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.[1] 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 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.[1] Their music was produced under the "Mountain of Light" label, which was founded by Yusuf Islam (previously known as Cat Stevens).
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."