Arab Musicians

The Musicians I chose for this project is a Palestinian Rap group/band. The Group is called DAM. I was recommended to this group a couple of months ago and have become a pretty big fan since. Especially the song I have linked down below

The group formed in the early 2000’s following the second intifada within Israel/Palestine. There are three members of the group Tamer Nafar, Suhell Nafar and Mahmoud Jreri. Suhell is the little brother of Tamer. All three are Arab Israeli’s a large minority group within Israel from the town of Lod. in 2000 Tamer had released his first official single “Min al Ta lal Alef lal M E R – From the T to the A to the M E R” over the R. Kelly’s instrumental feat Nas “Have you ever thought” the song hit number one charts in all of the Arab radios bringing DAM to the Palestinian mainstream and making them the group with the largest following and to a non stop shows. After this release the Palestinian Hip Hop scene started to spread, studios were opened and workshops for self-expression though rhymes started around. Around 2001, after a Palestinian suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, a few Extremist Israelis gathered around the Hassan Beck mosque in Yafa throwing stones at it and screaming Death to the Arabs, and Terrorists, DAM released their breakthrough single “Min Erhabi?

Min Erhabi, is the song I’ve chosen to focus on because not only is it rhythmically satisfying but, it is also lyrically genius and deep.  It’s easily one of my favorite songs despite the harsh realities of the lyrics which can be seen translated in the video. The essence of the song as mentioned before talks of the sentiment of Palestinians when being fronted by the accusations of terrorism and the rationalization.

Whether you agree or disagree with the message there is still some truth to the lyrics, that the plight of Palestinians is that of David and Goliath; Yes I do understand the irony of the role switch in this situation.

Dam hasn’t produced anything major in the past six years, yet they do occasionally perform their older songs. Along with their music, they have created several documentaries one called Channels of rage which discusses the friendship between Subliminal, an Israeli Jew, and Tamer Nafar, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, as the events of the second intifada unfold.

Overall I think Dam has done well to give a new to express the feelings of Arabs in the region as well as expressing their own personal views of the Isreal-Palestine Conflict.