dam

Stewart Hume,

Correspondent (Music) 

 

DAM are the first ever Palestinian Hip-Hop crew, and among the first artists ever to rap in Arabic. Their name comes from an anagram ‘Da Arabian MCs’. Formed in the late 90’s and inspired by American rappers such as Tupac and Public Enemy, the rap trio has gone from strength to strength over the last decade. Seeing parallels with some of the imagery used by the rappers of the ghettos in America with their own surrounds in Israel,  they compelled to created their own form of Hip-Hop.

They made their first step into the lime light with their release  Meen Ehrabi (‘Who’s the Terrorist’). The song dealt with issues that resonated with many in their country and resulted in the track become viral in the Arabic speaking community. The song talked about the use of the word ‘terrorist’ against people, whose lands where being invaded, a hypocrisy that is often ignored in western society due the uncomfortable reality.

Like their western idols, DAM use the medium of music to express anger at their situation.  It seems that the trio believe that this is a much more desirable form of protest than violent action. They channel their anger and have been known to run workshops with children to show them the ropes of this genre of music. They believe Hip-Hop is a constructive, peaceful, and enjoyable way to express anger and emotion, the workshops are seen by both DAM and the communities they work in as immensely valuable.

It is not just anger at western treatment of the east that DAM uses as inspiration for their work. In one of most recent singles, If I Could Go Back in Time tackles issues of domestic violence and crimes against women, an issue considered taboo in this part of the world. In the song, a woman resists her family’s decision that she must marry her cousin, and is then shot by her brother. DAM point out the unfair reality, that in her family’s eyes, her ultimate crime was to be born a woman.

Nobody is out of the line of fire from these three Israelis. Using smart word play and musical understanding they have broadcast material for over a decade pointing out issues in the world that may have not been covered in Hip-Hop before, but it seems fitting that it is this genre of music be the vessel for their message. If you look at the history of Hip-Hop we see that it came for the down trodden in society and gave them a voice in the mainstream. Hopefully,  it will do the same for DAM.

Image Courtesy: alternativenews.org