HAhmed.com

The following is my review of the 11th track of Outlandish’s latest album: Sound of a Rebel.

11. Crash N’ Burn

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Crash N’ Burn is a direct response to Outlandish’s critics, specifically those that hold Outlandish to, in their mind, unreasonably high standards.

Waqas:
yeah, you know these people say we got the solutions for everything out there that we can walk on water,
but were just human, man
you are now officially entering the critically acclaimed, so expect the unexpected

watch your dreams come down
to crash and burn
cuz when theyre not fulfilled you’ll only feel let down

In general, these words can be used for all idealized solutions that many of us seem to have to our problems. Whether the issue  be financial, educational, personal, vocational, etc. We shouldn’t put all of our eggs in one basket, and we should not expect to be flawless in our attempt to solve whatever problems we face.  When we do that, and when we don’t succeed, we will inevitably ‘crash and burn’.

Next Waqas directly responds to the criticism he has received, apparently from many Muslims:

Waqas:
but akhi, you know music is the devils work
plus when’s lenny gonna convert
how do you make it work?
2 muslims 1 christian
and why dont u put in more work fisabilillah?

damn…
im not the way Im often spoken about
so dont u dare try to put words in my mouth
just like youre putting self made artificial facts about me in your head
see I never said
that I cared
…
see all i did
was spit my heart out

Remember that next time you try to make me a part of your world
cuz then your dreams come down… crash and burn

I can empathize with Waqas with these lyrics. It is unfair how critical Muslims always tend to be of their fellow brethren. Yes, the music issue is something that there is a legitimate difference of opinion on, however I am sure Waqas and Isam have studied the issue well enough to feel comfortable with their decision to pursue their career in music, and other Muslims should respect that.

Furthermore, it is unreasonable to ask why Lenny hasn’t converted to Islam. Only Allah guides (and misguides) whomsoever he wills. It seems as if Waqas is upset by being put on a pedestal of a spokesperson for Islam in peoples minds when he never intended ot take on that role. He is just a rapper who speaks his mind.

Isam:
Ain’t no Islamist
or date merchant
Dont try to hate on me
for soul searching
Even though Im off to China
Imma go do my thing
study the Shao Lin
screamin “Free TIbet!” high on Ginseng
Dont live in a tent
or keep my wife in it all day
And for the record I knew who she was before we got married, okay?

In my closet I have more than just ropes and sandals
Never, ever rode a camel
except when I went to the pyramids and I got hustled
Ate a falafel I crumbled down- food what a gamble
No I dont think you an infidel
you should know that by now
I aint gotta tell ishhht
cuz there aint nothing to tell

Midterms coming up
I look out the window like Malcom
tell the Feds to stop tapping my phone, son
Gimme some peace of mind and I go back to my country
the only problem is that Im already in it, G

Here Isam seems to be addressing those critics who think hes “too Muslim”. Although he is a proud Muslim, he does not like to be stereotyped or labeled because of his heritage and religion. He is proud of his vast interests which isnt limited to Arab culture. Moreover, he clarifies any doubts of whether or not his marriage was arranged. (Waqas has rapped about his arranged marriage in “If Only” [Bread and Barrels of Water])

He ends these verses attacking islamophobic criticism.  He isnt an extremist and doesnt think non-Muslims are infidels. And to those haters telling him to “go back home” he assures us that the west (Europe [Denmark]) is his home.  Im sure most of us in the west, especially those of us who look particularly non-western (beards, hijabs, brown skinned, etc.) often are asked ‘where we are from’, when in fact most of us were born and raised here and consider this our home.

Would anyone else like to write up and share an exegisis of any of Outlandish’s new songs? or old songs? or any music/poetry by a Muslim artist? If so, please contact me. Inshallah I will review more Outlandish tracks in the upcoming weeks (or months, perhaps years), as well as songs by other artists including Yusuf Islam, The Faculty, Kareem Salama, and more.