Badu Identifies With Palestinian Hip-Hop

Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:43 PM EST
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TEL AVIV — Sporting a huge, billowing Afro and a T-shirt with an anti-Iraq war slogan, Erykah Badu said she identifies with Palestinian hip-hop and expressed support for Louis Farrakhan before a crowd of Israeli fans and journalists Thursday.

"I come from across the water bringing light and hope," the 36-year-old singer said. She is scheduled to perform in Tel Aviv on Saturday night.

Badu commissioned a poster for her visit. It features a large hamsa — a traditional Middle Eastern good-luck charm — that appears to be growing out of her hair. At the bottom, the words for peace in Hebrew and Arabic appear side by side.

The singer, who couldn't name any Israeli hip-hop artists, said she identified best with the Palestinians and their hip-hop scene, saying they are part of her "tribe" of hip-hop.

"They use (hip-hop) as a form of liberation, as a form of pre-resistance, as a form of therapy," she said.

She defended Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam, whose statements have been labeled "bigoted and anti-Semitic" by the Anti-Defamation League.

"(Farrakhan is) not an anti-Semite. He loves all people," Badu said. Her next album, "Nu AmErykah," will be released Feb. 26, the date of Savior's Day, a Nation of Islam holiday.

Israeli reggae-soul group Karolina and Funset, who will be opening for Badu's concert, posed for pictures with the singer, then joined her in raising the black power clenched-fist salute.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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{"commentId":1422882,"authorDomain":"ehad-aham"}
ehad aham
The singer, who couldn't name any Israeli hip-hop artists, said she identified best with the Palestinians and their hip-hop scene, saying they are part of her "tribe" of hip-hop.

Thanks Badu, for really looking into the subject. Because HaDag Nacash, a huge Israeli hip hop/rap group, regularly has shows in the US. And if she ever tried to listen to it, she'd realize how closely related their brand of hip hop is, maybe she'd even see how progressive they are and the amazing things they've done to her line of work.

And P.S. HaDag Nacash also "use (hip-hop) as a form of liberation, as a form of pre-resistance, as a form of therapy."

{"commentId":1422882,"threadId":"211987","contentId":"1269444","authorDomain":"ehad-aham"}
    Reply#1 - Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:09 PM EST
    {"commentId":1423104,"authorDomain":"jaawalla"}
    Jace

    I really like Badu, but I thought her comment was pretty weak. Like she doesn't have the time to do a little research into Israeli hip-hop? Her lack of knowledge makes it sound like she's endorsing a side in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or something.

    {"commentId":1423104,"threadId":"211987","contentId":"1269444","authorDomain":"jaawalla"}
    • 1 vote
    #1.1 - Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:04 PM EST
    {"commentId":1426503,"authorDomain":"ehad-aham"}
    ehad aham

    That's exactly how I took it. The AP didn't help with their headline, which on its own is an endorsement, and a fine example of the media causing conflict.

    {"commentId":1426503,"threadId":"211987","contentId":"1269444","authorDomain":"ehad-aham"}
      #1.2 - Fri Feb 1, 2008 3:25 PM EST
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