Islamic Month of Ramadan? Hip Hop?

Islam? Hip Hop? what do the two have to do with each other? Great question.

To answer we go searching through the origins of Hip Hop where the only way to even hear Hip Hop was at your local park with only your local MC's in what is called a cipher.We've heard rappers like AZ say " Knowledge it completes the cipher.." and NaS with "..Cause only knowledge makes a cipher complete.." What is a cipher? According to Oxfords English Dictionary's first definition
noun
1a secret or disguised way of writing; a code:
he wrote cryptic notes in a cipher
[mass noun]:
the information may be given in cipher.

numerically speaking cipher came from the Frech word chiffre which means number or 0 which both originate from the Arabic word for zero which is ṣifr = zero. This is why ciphers are done in circles to represnet the number 0. The number 0 in earlier times represented infinity until the sideways figuire 8 replaced it. The circle shape of rhyming in a cipher represents infinite knowledge being given as Nas said "..Knowledge makes a cipher complete..". Although most rappers are not orthodox Sunni or Shi'te which technically does not make them Muslims, they have found Islamic teachings in 5% Percent teachings , Nation of God's and Earths , and The NOI. Many rappers in the late 80's and early 90's came from those branches. Such as Rakim, Capone-n-Noreaga, Tribe Called Quest, Tragedy Khadafi, Nas, AZ, Ice Cube, amongst others.Check out some of these lyrics.

"A lot of rules, some locked in solitude
Curse the day of they birth confused, who's to be praised?
The mighty dollar -- or almighty Allah" -Nas

"Might act up, but I still can pass dawa
I'm usin' new ways to try to reach these better days
Instead of tryin' to take you under I just make you wonder
I still fast, make salaat, and pay zakat
I didn't make Hajj yet, but that's my next project
Livin' two lives, one of turn and one with true lies
Keeping up hope knowing he's answering to my du'as." -The Roots

" But I praise the Lord of the world that's unseen,
respect me for that and let me do my thing.." - Q-Tip

"i'm headstrong, at peace with myself like Islam" -Prodigy

" it's 1 O-clock, making salaat, I catch Jumua'ah
lay down my towel, slide off my suede Pumas" -Tragedy Khadafi

"are you talkin' to me
I can't hear you with a mouth full of pig's feet
Thy shouldn't eat swine flesh.." -Ice Cube

"Much more than bowties and bean pies
Kickin' knowledge at 7-11
And they won't call me a nigga when I get to heaven" -Ice Cube

"What you know about, how God comes first in our lives
everything we do is for Allah" -Akon

" See Allah's got me back on my deen you cant
break me" -Stalley


Again, I repeat, technically most of these rappers are not Muslims regardless of them calling themselves so because they contradict the teachings of the Qu'ran. Loon, Napolean and Freeway, Akon are 4 which follow orthodox Islam, although 1 of them deviates. Check these videos.