- Many hip-hop artists have been exposed for fabricating their personas, creating a false image, having crafting deceptive lifestyles to maintain their public image.
- Recently, the darker side of the music industry has been revealed, with prominent figures like R. Kelly and Diddy facing severe allegations of sex crimes.
Will the real Slim Shady please stand up!
Many hip-hop fans revere the lyrics of their idols, aspiring to emulate their lives and envisioning a world of fame, fortune, and prestige. They accept these words at face value, believing that the lyrics authentically represent the artists’ true selves.
While distinctions can be made between mainstream rap and conscious rap, mainstream artists emphasise narratives of self-made success, coming from a life of crime, often perpetuating the objectification of women. Moreover, boasting about their material possessions and lifestyle.
However all is not as it seems…
Rick Ross has cultivated an image through his lyrics of being a hardened gangster. But before rising to fame as a rapper, he studied criminal justice and worked as a prison guard. He also held a position as a construction worker. Additionally, he adopted his stage name from a notorious drug dealer named Rick Ross. The real Rick Ross subsequently filed a lawsuit against the rapper for appropriating his name and image.
Tyga long portrayed himself as having grown up in Compton, living a life of poverty. However, he later disclosed that he was raised in the San Fernando Valley, where his parents drove a Range Rover.
Plies is another artist who fabricated a narrative of a criminal past. In one of his songs, he rapped, “Pants hanging off me ’cause my pistol heavy.” However, an investigation by Hip Hop DX revealed that his criminal record contained only two misdemeanours, one of which was a traffic violation for running a red light.
Furthermore, in 2015, 50 Cent filed for bankruptcy after admitting in court that his lavish lifestyle was merely for show and entertainment. He revealed that he had borrowed jewellery and rented luxury cars such as a Bentley and a Ferrari.
A more ominous reality is now being uncovered about certain Musicians
In recent years, it is not only the former lifestyles of rappers that have come to light; rather, something far more dangerous and sinister. Allah (swt) is revealing the true nature of many music artists who are idolised by many. They are being exposed as reprehensible sexual predators.
Some of the similarities in the cases brought against Sean “Diddy” Combs this week and Robert Sylvester Kelly several years ago are evident at a glance: Both are world famous, powerful and influential musicians who were accused of sex crimes by federal prosecutors in New York City.
“Verily, what I fear most for you is the desires of your stomachs and private parts, and the misguidance of desires."
— (Musnad Ahmad, 5/264)
Islam was given to mankind as a guide for all of humanity.
Indeed, as the Prophet Mohammed (saw) says, the ruin of an individual can often be observed in the actions of those who live solely to satisfy their desires.
Combs’ case mirrors R. Kelly’s in a significant way. In both instances, prosecutors have employed an innovative application of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act, or RICO. This was to indict them on allegations of leveraging their power and fame to manipulate resources, businesses, and individuals at their disposal to commit crimes and conceal their actions.
“There are certainly parallels in these cases,” remarked Nadia Shihata, the former federal prosecutor who led the 2021 case against Kelly in the Eastern District of New York, one of two that ultimately precipitated the R&B singer’s downfall.
Kelly is currently serving a 30 year sentence for the New York case following his conviction on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. In addition to 20 years for a separate case in the Eastern District of Illinois, where he was found guilty of child pornography and enticement of a minor. He has since appealed both convictions and, in July, petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn his Illinois conviction, asserting that the charges should have been precluded by the statute of limitations.
Combs indicted in the Southern District of New York on three counts: racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty and could face a potential life sentence if convicted.
Prosecutors from the Eastern District of New York alleged that Kelly would select girls and women from his concert audiences, directing members of his enterprise to escort them backstage. These orchestrated encounters allowed for the commission of sexual crimes, including the production of child pornography.
In recent weeks the Southern District of New York prosecutors allege that as the leader of his own enterprise, he engaged in a variety of crimes. It alleges that the enterprise was also involved in sex trafficking, kidnapping, forced labour, arson, obstruction of justice, and bribery. It also states that for a decade, Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct.”
Many of you may have devoted a significant portion of your life to listening to lyrics about individuals who were not even real, or idolising musicians who were disingenuous. And even more troubling, living in ways that inflicted harm on others.
The Prophet Mohammed (saw) said: “The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk and the blacksmith. The seller of musk will either give you some of it or you will buy it from him, or you will at least enjoy its pleasant smell. The blacksmith will either burn your clothes or you will be exposed to its foul odor.” — (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 78, Hadith 62)
This Hadith underscores the positive influence of virtuous company, likening it to the pleasant fragrance of musk, while contrasting it with the adverse effects of detrimental associations. However, the concept of companionship extends beyond our friendships; it encompasses the books we choose to read. As Imam Al-Ghazali aptly noted, “Books provide solace during times of loneliness.” Moreover, what we expose ourselves to aurally also constitutes a form of companionship. Therefore, those who are drawn to rappers or music are, in essence, inviting that companionship and influence into their lives and permitting it to shape the condition of their hearts.
Allah (swt) guides who he wills: We must always be grateful for being Muslim and being guided towards righteousness
Our brother Amir Muhadith aka Loon was formerly associated with Diddy’s Bad Boy Records. After being guided towards the truth, he embraced Islam and chose to live a righteous life which will impact his entire lineage in shaa Allah:
I would like to leave you with this Hadith concerning the permissibility of music:
Sunan Ibn Majah The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “There will be among my followers, people who will seek to make permissible illicit sexual relations, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks, and the use of musical instruments. Allah will cause the earth to swallow them and will turn them into monkeys and pigs." — (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 4020)
Studies demonstrate that music can reinforce unhealthy coping strategies among adolescents struggling with depression, potentially leading to increased rumination. The impact of music is profound and cannot be overlooked. Furthermore, we should perhaps take this opportunity to assess who our role models are and who we aspire to be like. Surely a role model ought to be someone who you know to be honest, trustworthy, and beneficial to others in society.
