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(FinalCall.com) - Last July, one month after Kanye West dropped “Yeezus,” featuring the thought-provoking single “New Slave,” The Final Call ran a perspective called “The God’s of Hip Hop : A Look at Spirituality in Hip Hop.” In that perspective I wrote:
Both Kanye and Jay Z lyrics and business moves are “layered” and coded like the old spirituals developed by “southern slaves that carried a coded message. Only the slaves knew their meaning. It was through these songs that important information was passed along a system of communications. Coded songs conveyed messages about rebellions or escapes throughout the Underground Railroad. They were also a way for the slave to “sass the Massa” without fear of retribution. … They were the soul cry of Black slaves over haunting melodies … rich with emotions – longing for freedom.”
Without hesitation I answered him that there is a movement underway to “Reclaim Our Culture” and the first name I mentioned was Jay Electronica, who I believed would lead the movement, despite the fact that we have been awaiting his album release for the last two years. This was Thursday, March 20, 2014. And on Sunday, March 23, 2014, the long awaited “messianic” voice in Hip Hop made his return in the release of Drake’s remix “We Made It.” Now he’s back spittin that “he could pass a polygraph”—that Reverend Run rockin’ Adidas out on Hollis Ave—That FOI. Marcus Garvey. Niki Telsa. He shocked us like an eel, electric feel, Jay Electra.”
In less than 24 hours Jay Electronica’s declaration that he’s “The Farrakhan of Rap and I get it from The Wheel,” was the bomb dropped that has now erected a mountain a mile high that caused editorial heads at some of the biggest music news outlets to take to the Internet. Not only did they attempt to cause mischief by stirring up a “so-called beef” between Drake and Jay Z; but due to the fact that the “We Made It” remix is laced with bold declarations from The Supreme Wisdom, Lessons by Master Fard Muhammad to his Servant, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad for The Lost-Found Nation of Islam in North America – they attempt to DECODE the lyrics and lessons. So for the first time the Nation of Islam’s teaching is receiving an “apparent” mainstream audience through MTV.com who not only mentions Minister Farrakhan but makes its audience aware of Master Fard Muhammad—after Jay Electronica’s proclaims he’s the son of W.D. who hung around in the “D” (Detroit).
But they don’t stop there—they go on to say that Jay Z’s mention that he is ready to run Yacub back into the caves—which he takes straight from Lost-Found Muslim Lesson No 1.—is referring to the NOI teachings on the father of the race of devils. Ironic since many are under the notion Jay Z and his entire Roc Nation is Illuminati.
Those who aren’t fully aware of the influence of The Nation of Islam on Hip Hop are experiencing shock waves. Those who have little knowledge of the influence of the Nation of Gods and Earths on artists like Jay Z are also shocked. But as I wrote in the prelude to this potent moment in Hip Hop, “There would be no “Clarence 13X” or Nation of Gods and Earths – if it were not for The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Lessons given to him by Master Fard Muhammad.”
So “We Made It” is dropped – and many are debating its merits. Did we make it? If so, now what and why now? Surely we know that this is not the first time our Brother Jay Electronica has delivered the teachings through his music in such a compelling way. Surely we “should” know that it’s not the first time that even Jay Z has referenced the teachings inside of his lyrics. Surely we must know that this isn’t the first time that the open enemy to the rise of our people has heard or known about the influence of Islam on Hip Hop. Remember the 80s with the introduction of crack cocaine into our communities at the same time rap music was causing the ranks of The Nation of Islam to swell?
And do you recall the reports on the meeting that took place on the “deliberate” introduction of so-called “Gangster Rap,” which led to the commercialization of the art and culture that has captivated the world.
Recall my opening of this article with the Russian student who expressed that Hip Hop was at the root of social and political uprising of young people in Russia. What I didn’t say was that he also stated that today, Russian youth continue to mimic what’s coming out of the West in the form of Hip Hop – and that it’s not so consciously driven anymore.
So surely we must know that the open enemy DIDN’T obtain a copy of our Lessons (The Supreme Wisdom) last week? So why now? Recall the FBI files on W. D. Fard Muhammad and the attempt to discredit the NOI.
Now what? What is our proper response to our brothers who are on the front line? Also recall the very public Jay Electronica - Rotschild-Goldsmith entanglement? Does it have anything to do with Master Fard Muhammad’s vision as a young child? And what is our response to our open enemy who wants to make mischief once again by creating an atmosphere of so-called “beef” between Jay Z and Drake? While we know the duty of the 5%—what is our response to the 10% exposing the Lessons to the 85%? Certainly it has caused the Google searches about our teachings to go into the millions—thus exposing this teaching to those who “may” have not otherwise known. There’s a lot of mathematics in this problem. But Can A Devil Fool A Muslim? Look in your Problem Book. Regardless to which way we answer the above said … The Mahdi Is Present and they plan and Allah Plans and Allah is The Best of Planners.
(Iman Muhammad Ali is a television writer/producer and entertainment marketing executive. Follow her on Twitter @ImanMuhammadAli.)