Palestinian Rapper Tamer Nafar And Orthodox Jewish Rapper Ohad Cohen Talk About The Israel/Palestine Conflict

posted on: Jul 20, 2015

Noisey presents Noisey Israel Palestine: Hip Hop in the Holy Land. This series directed by Mike Skinner combines the talent and passion of musicians within the Israeli Palestine crisis. Combining social issues with something that connects the world creates a truly unique experience for viewers to educate themselves on these world issues with how they relate to music.

Episode One begins with Mike Skinner interviewing Tamer Nafar. He is a Palestinian living in Israel. Afar is the co-founder of DAM, or Da Arabian MCs. DAM was a huge breakthrough as the first Palestinian rap group to really hit mainstream media. From songs like “Mama I Fell In Love with a Jew” and “Who is the Terrorist?”, we have some hard hitting messages told with powerful music. It’s stated that rap music is forged on the edges of society. It’s a voice of the marginalized, the oppressed and those who don’t have as strong of a voice. This is why it’s such a powerful tool with social change and used often.

When discussing using music and art versus violent protests, Nafar finds it frustrating that it put him in a position as the musician taking the “moral high road” by protesting peacefully. He states furiously that this isn’t true, and relates to situations in Gaza where they can’t record in a studio because their homes are being sieged. Nafar takes it upon himself to emphasize that he’s just a voice in the movement, stating that he’s not afraid to share his opinions. Music is a powerful tool, and he wants to spread awareness of the severe issues happening within this crisis. By using music, he can relate his passion for music to his passion for fighting for social change with truly incredible results.

Source: music.mxdwn.com