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All in Music Edition
Phay, who goes by Phayweather on social media, is a hip-hop artist based in East Atlanta and has been creating music for over ten years, alongside creating a clothes and accessories brand titled MAMA. As a big ‘90s R&B fan, Phay likes to incorporate the era’s sounds into his own music. “I try to pay homage to artists so if they were to hear my tracks they would be proud.”
The life and times of a Palestinian punk-rocker-turned-hip-hopper in New York City
Producer for Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, and The Game celebrates the life of his childhood friend, Zane Musa.
Clarissa now works as a studio musician and has turned her classical oud style into exciting collaborations with artists of many different genres including Massari, Elyanna, Omar Offendum, Mona Haydar, Sandhill, Nasri Atweh, and Rotana. Recently, she produced a joint poetry-oud EP with Palestinian poet Mohammed el-Kurd titled “Bellydancing on Wounds.”
I’m Sama’an, the guest editor for this special music issue of Palestine in America. I want to tell you a bit about where I’m coming from and how I got here before you dive in.
“I think it’s really important to be very vulnerable and very transparent with your pain and with your experiences, so that other people, if they are going through something similar, or if they need to relate to something, they can. I was offering [healing sessions] because of COVID-19. I just wanted to give people a free — because of the economy — a free, safe space if they needed to talk.” - Mama Yaya
I'm from outside the DC area. Ethnically, I’m half Palestinian half Lebanese. Just a little background on myself, I’m an artist. I make hip hop with indie pop vibes to it. I started making music about 2 years ago and [I] have 3 songs out right now. I just released my song Maybe which was release just a month ago.
“So originally I'm from Columbus, Ohio. That's where I was born and raised, but when I was 18, this was after I graduated high school, I decided to move [to Chicago] and it was a really, it was an impulse decision.”- Amira Jazeera
In his guest verse on Headie One’s “Only You Freestyle,” Drake raps, “Arabic ting told me that I look like Youssef, look like Hamza / Habibti please, ana akeed, inti wa ana ahla /With Pop Skull in Gaza, but not that Gaza, but still it's a mazza.”
“Palestinian American from New Jersey, a singer songwriter, a musician former, or whatever you want to call it. You know, I'm just trying to make the world a better place. One song at a time.”- Zach Matari
Thanks to major contributions by Sama’an Ashrawi, Shirien, and Yasmeen Sheikah Palestine in America music edition is ready for pre-order and digital download!
“Ever evolving, but always passionate about music, art, women, spirituality, human rights, and mental health.” -Merna
“I'm from the DC area originally, so have loved growing up in -- and into -- the city's rich music scene. There is a long jazz history here, ever present when I get to perform at notable jazz venues,”- Lena Seikaly
“First and foremost, I identify as a proud Palestinian woman. Secondly, I am a floater between the worlds of music and service, working to create a synthesis between art and community.”-Laila Fakhoury
“At the time of this interview I am a simple sympathetically pregnant North Carolina kid with a stereo-typical Palestinian aggression that I channel exclusively into being a cuddly care-bear dissident with a love for all things cozy or hostile.”- Sijal Nasralla
“I’m a second generation Palestinian American born and raised in Houston, TX.”-Ramzi Beshara
“I am a Palestinian-American composer and multi-instrumentalist. (Oud, violin, buzuq, percussion)”- Wanees Zarour
“I’m a proud baba to my amazing daughter Asmahan… I have a loving wife. I have a great life, which makes it hard to make angry music lol. I’m also one of the first Palestinian Arab MCs and producers in America. My brother Rhythmatik and I started releasing tracks on tape in the Bay Area and Detroit in the mid 90’s. I’m as well an Oud and Guitar player and sometimes bassist and drummer depending on the project.” - Tarik Kazaleh