Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Immigration Education Program

Peace,
chiming in with a serious issue that is facing our country right now, that's right immigration. I got love for our immigrant brothers and sisters. This country is based on the immigrants with our immigrant forefather Chirstopher Columbus leading the way, Immigrants have had a major impact on the shaping of this country. This is where my concern begins. I had the pleasure of visiting a certain city which should remain nameless for protection of the innocent, people have been raven about this city for a while, with it's beautiful orioles and claim it is a great land to get mary'd in (if you don't know where I'm talking about, you should try reading kermit the frog blog). I was brought to a fast food place by a close brother. I was told the hamburgers were bomb. I haven't had a burger in years so I start to get very excited (I know it's sad when burgers are the highlight of your day). So I order me the biggest burger they got, I want onions on that joint, lettuce tomatoes, the works. A few minutes later the brother comes out with my food. I get in the car happily anticipating my date with this lucious piece of fried cow. 10 minutes later I give in, I can't wait any longer, I'm going to devour this burger right in my homies car, it's bout to get ugly, there will be ketchup spilled, onions dropped, grease stains on my clothes, it's on for real. I open the carton and what do I find, a hamburger on some freaking pita bread, that's right some freaking pita bread.
I look at the brother driving and as politely as any man can ask "yo, what the hell is this?" he says "what it's a burger?" a polite "no the hell it aint!!" was my response. I went from puzzled to furious all in the matter of seconds. The brother responds "yo, they immigrants ahk, just chill", that's when I decided to take action, seeing my brother from another mother accepting this culinary injustice was more than I could stand.
Some might think I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill, but think about it, what if you went to a mexican restaurant and ordered an ice cream and they gave it to you on a taco shell? What if you went to a kosher deli and ordered a hot dog and they gave it to you in a fajita wrap? It's just wrong, people should be educated about the culinary customs of it's patrons. Now check this scenario if you still think I'm tripping.
A puerto rican drives by a restaurant opened by an italian man, he sees a sign outside advertising "spanish rice and beans", the young boricua flips his wig, he hasn't ate a good plate of rice and beans since he was released from the juvie home in old san juan. He calls up two of his homies, yusef and Elias. They get all hyped up to get some rice and beans. They show up in the restaurant and order three big plates of Rice and beans, the poor italian man shows up with three plates of rice pilaf and green beans. Now technically it is rice and beans but when he gets a look at the face of the three starving latinos he starts to panic. Yusef grabs the plate and politely says "yo, what the hell is this?" then chaos insues, chairs are thrown through windows, tires are slashed, cops are called and latinos get sent back to jail. Not pretty, not pretty at all. It's do the right thing all over again. So please educate these store owners, you'll be doing your community a service

Friday, May 1, 2009

suli's new workout

peace and love to all,

got some good news, your brother has lost 30 pounds in the last 5 months. How do you ask? No it's not the economy putting a dent on my kebob and bacalao budget. It's a new diet I've come up with, there is no need for exercise and the diet is super cheap and easy to implement. You want in, sounds to good to be true? Ok maybe I didn't invent it but I am one of the first to implement it. It's all natural and has been implemented for at least 1oo years (maybe even longer, I just can't speak the same language as it's originators or I would ask them) So what is it, can't stand the suspense? I call it the "Gorilla Diet". Think about it, Gorillas are some of the strongest beings on the planet. Do they lift weights, no. Do they drink creatine shakes, powebars, gatorade? no, no and emphatically no.
Well how do they do it? the eat nuts, bananas and berries. That's all you have to do, forget about hitting the treadmill for 30 minutes. You ever see a gorilla on a treadmill? Do they drink fiji water, evian water, do they pay 6.99 for a gallon of smart water? no, no and probably not (seeming how they don't even have pockets, let alone bank accounts). What do they drink? water out of puddles on the ground, water off of leaves just lying around in the jungle.
next week I'll lay out a extensive plan on how you can implement my gorilla workout, I'm just going to give your brain a couple of days to wrap around the reality of this groundbreaking workout regiment.
your brother,
Go,Go Gorilla

Friday, February 13, 2009

Human Torch Video

Peace, to all my family
The Human Torch Video is just about done, It was a very interesting process. First I'd like to thank everyone who helped out David, Chris for shooting and the sound. Bukahari for bringin his Daughter through to Hold his Rotweilers on steroids (the dogs were on steroids not his daughter0. Khalifah and Rashida, the shadow lounge, The nothing but Juice crew for the rides, Hamza and BLM who made their Directing Debuts (it was like watching Scorcesee and Spielberg at work, If Scorcesee and Spielberg argued all the time and confused the actors alot). The women on the Motorcycles (who could not be shown for the fact that we didn't want a fatwah passed on the haramness of M-Team). All the People of Pittsburgh who showed us Mad love when we were dressed as homeless people (Hamza's shirt smelled like he hadn't showered in months).
Why were we dressed as homeless people you might ask? Besides the fact that it was hilarious and allowed BLM to live out some sick fanatsy of his, the deeper meaning was to show the contrast between the state of the soul and the outer appearance of a person. You can look fly on the outside but inside be the ugliest person in the world. It goes along with the concept of the song, "she needs a rescue, she looks so fly" on the outside she's fly but the inside needs to be rescued cuz it's "up in flames" IF your buying it, then I'm selling it.

For the video itself, I would like to get your feedback. We decided to go with a remix beat that some thought would be more accessible to a larger audience. I'm fonder of the original beat. Once you check the video, Let us know what you which you like better the album version or video.

your brother
Zhivago

Monday, February 9, 2009

NEW ALBUM OUT NOW



NOW ON SALE:

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Just got off the stage in Houston

Peace and love,
 
Just got off stage in houston.  The After Hijrah brothers are tearing it down right now,  Mustafa Abdul Basit and Khalil did their thing with a beautiful song about the Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him.  I got to give it to the sisters in Houston,  they definitely held the show down, they were live.  Sorry Oakland, Chicago, New York and Philly but Houston sisters repped their deen tonight.  Thank you for that. BelikeMuhammad gets a special shout out for working the sound board like a double jointed octopus. Getting ready to record and have some sesssions with the brothers at the hotel,  We miss you Ty we definitely could have used your presence during and after the show.
 
Your Brother,
Doc Zhivago

E. Bollywood Stories!!!! Exclusive

E. Bollywood Stories!!!! Exclusive

Breaking report. Just discovered by our crack staff, Bay area rapper Tyson, also known as Brother TY, also known as smooth brother #4 was the third member of the notorious group known as the M-Team. These two chunky revolutionaries have a deep dark secret they have been hiding. Discrimination!!!! Brother Ty was a devoted MC in the group, to insiders he was considered to be the backbone. So what led to his untimely departure? Weight loss!!! When the two brothers realized their partner in rhyme was losing weight they ultimately voted him out of the group. "It was a betrayal that was unforgivable" said one of the members in a distraught telephone conversation. Stay tuned for further details

Friday, January 16, 2009

Why Tyson would never understand M-Team life

...

Just touched down in houston...

Just touched down in houston, tripping on the statue of Super Bush we seen in the airport, He looked like a superhero with a cape flapping in the wind. One day there will be a statue like that of belikemuhammad. Maybe in Peoria Illinois there will be a statue of BLM with a jamaican beef patty in his hand and a pakastani kufi on, well one can dream. Being the Hungry Puerto Ricans that we are, we went on a mission looking for some food. We found a Mexidorian sea food spot (beleive me you don't want to know). We'll let you know how that works out. Houston we have a problem!!!!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

MTEAM at U of Houston




Radio Raw Deen's "Back to Reality" Muslim Hip Hop tour

www.RawDeenConcerts.com -

The "Back to Reality" Muslim Hip Hop Concert Tour blasts off from Houston on Jan. 17th at the Univ. of Houston, Houston Ballroom Doors open at 7pm - Show starts at 8pm

Featuring:
M TEAM ***
SLAK MADEEN
AFTER HIJRAH
MUSTAFA ABDUL BASIT



RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=53571220519

Register Online here: http://mybausa.org/registerB2R.htm



Brought to you by:

I.M.A.N. (Inner-city Media Arts Network) - Empowering Muslim Youth through Broadcast & Media Arts www.IMANbroadcasting.org

Radio Raw Deen - a unique perspective on news, talk, and urban art forms. www.RadioRawDeen.com

Saturday, January 10, 2009

MuslimHipHop.com Interview - About MTEAM

Source: MuslimHipHop.com


From the depths of Puerto Rico to the mean streets of New York, M-Team is tearin' up the Muslim hip hip scene with a unique latin vibe. Few Muslim artists bring the raw fervor this duo generates. With the forthcoming release of "Wretched of the Earth", M-Team is planning to drop hits like never before. Check out our exclusive interview:

MUSLIMHIPHOP.COM: Why are you called M-Team?

M-TEAM: Our group name is M-Team short for Mujahideen Team... A mujahid is one who struggles in the path for Allah and that's what are music consist of the struggle of poor and oppressed people.

MUSLIMHIPHOP.COM: Where exactly are you from? Where did you grow up?

M-TEAM: We were born in Brooklyn but we are from a section in Puerto Rico called Loiza Aldea. After being born in NY and living there and getting our first encounters of the birth of the whole hip hop scene we began making frequent visits back to P.R. then my mother decided to move us to Puerto Rico. Then we moved to Massachusetts and lived there for a while as well.

MUSLIMHIPHOP.COM: What are your main musical influences?

M-TEAM: The Poetry and works of Shehu Uthman Danfodio, Hector Lavoe, Ismael Rivera, Afro Boricua, Ruben Blades,Kool G Rap, Gang Starr etc.

MUSLIMHIPHOP.COM: What inspired you to do Muslim/Islamic music?

M-TEAM: When we first became Muslim we stopped all music because we was mc's before we took shahadaa.. We was taught one sided views on the rulings of music so we left it all to do what we thought was best. Then we began to sit with traditional Scholars who taught us various opinions and we began to understand more about Islamic views on music. In Islam we believe that those of you who were the best in jahileeya should be the Best in the deen so we began to form the M-Team

MUSLIMHIPHOP.COM: What are some of the key issues you are tackling in your songs?

M-TEAM: Allot of issues.... Poverty, Injustice, Tajdeed (Revival of The Sunna) Human rights, Racial issues, Freedom for political Prisoners, Honoring our women etc, on top of a platter of pure raw hip hop.

MUSLIMHIPHOP.COM: Do you feel that you are making a difference with your music?

M-TEAM: InshAllah.. We have fans who Allah has inspired them to take shahadaa from listening to our music. So we pray that Allah will bless what we are trying to do.

MUSLIMHIPHOP.COM: What can we expect from you in the future?

M-TEAM: Allah knows best.... We pray that Allah will bless us with much success so we can have money to fund youth programs and dawah programs that we have designed.. I would like to go study with some traditional ulema in different parts of the world and help finance brothers and sister who are trying to do the same.people can get a peak at some of our programs at www.myspace.com/shehuprogram

MUSLIMHIPHOP.COM: Without giving away any secrets, how do you produce your songs? What software do you use?

M-TEAM: You want the iron mountain secrets huh? Well the first piece of weaponry we use is whudu, then I all ways make sure that before I write every rhyme I begin with Bismilah hi rahman ni raheem and alhumdulilahi rubeel alameen.

MUSLIMHIPHOP.COM: How would you say you are different from the other 100 or so Muslim hip hop artists?

M-TEAM: We have a different population that we are attracting. Allah has blessed us to have allot of non Muslim Latinos loving our music. So I think culturally we have a different angle that we can address at the same time addressing Muslim youth and adults as well. This opportunity has come at an important time with the increase of Latinos accepting Islam.

MUSLIMHIPHOP.COM: The Muslim community has been ailing for quite some time now (external oppression, internal division)…what do you think can combat this?

M-TEAM: The things we are going through is our faults as Muslims. I heard Habib Ali say that it's our lack of us reflecting the true nur and image of the Prophet Muhammad pbuh is why people have a bad image of Islam. As Muslims we need to listen to the Prophet pbuh and be gentle to the believers and firm against the Kufar, but to day we are doing the opposite we are kind to the non Muslims at work and harsh against our brothers and sisters. We need to make dua for one another and unite what we agree upon and leave the difference in the deen to the ulema.

MUSLIMHIPHOP.COM: How has Islam influenced your life?

M-TEAM: Islam has changed our life in a way I cannot completely explain to you. From discovering the oneness of Allah to the amazing Lamp of RasoolAllah suadalahu alayhi wasalam....I would never be able to explain with words the favor that Allah has bestowed on us by making us Muslims.

MUSLIMHIPHOP.COM: What would you like to say to your fans?

M-TEAM: To please make dua for us and our families. Ask Allah to forgive us for all our sins in the day of reckoning. Ask Allah to make us or our children to be among those who will be in the armies of the Mahdi. Be respect full to the Muslims and non Muslims. Sit with a scholar and learn Islam, command the good and forbid the evil in yourself then in others. Do not examine the faults of others like you were their lords but examine your own faults like you are a slave, treat your parents with love if their Muslim or non Muslim.