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Inside the Middle East
October 5, 2010
Posted: 957 GMT

From CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom

Upon arriving at the Yemen Music House, I was completely surprised. From pianos to guitars, mixing boards to sound booths, everything's available to the aspiring Yemeni musicians who come to this music school and studio. In this deeply conservative country, it’s a haven – not only can women and men sit together here, they can play together too.

Photo CNN/Dane Kenny. Mohammed Jamjoom, producer Gena Somra and cameraman Farhad Shadravan interviewing rapper/producer Nadeem. Also in the picture is rapper Ziad.
Photo CNN/Dane Kenny. Mohammed Jamjoom, producer Gena Somra and cameraman Farhad Shadravan interviewing rapper/producer Nadeem. Also in the picture is rapper Ziad.
Photo CNN/Dane Kenny. Nadeem, who is half-Yemeni and half-Russian, says there's a misconception among Yemenis that hip hop is only drugs, naked women and saggy pants.
Photo CNN/Dane Kenny. Nadeem, who is half-Yemeni and half-Russian, says there's a misconception among Yemenis that hip hop is only drugs, naked women and saggy pants.
Photo CNN/Dane Kenny. Mohammed, Farhad and Gena shooting outside the Yemen Music House that houses a recording studio.
Photo CNN/Dane Kenny. Mohammed, Farhad and Gena shooting outside the Yemen Music House that houses a recording studio.
Photo CNN/Dane Kenny. Mohammed Jamjoom talking to rapper AJ, the self-styled Godfather of Yemeni Hip Hop.
Photo CNN/Dane Kenny. Mohammed Jamjoom talking to rapper AJ, the self-styled Godfather of Yemeni Hip Hop.

And then there was the rapper. The one who had what I can only describe as Sana’a Swagger.

AJ is considered Yemen's godfather of rap. This Yemeni-American fell in love with and started performing hip hop while growing up in the US. When he moved back to Yemen, he wanted, more than anything, to start a movement. But it wasn’t easy.

“When I first came here,” AJ told me, “it was kind of awkward, cause I see they have 2Pac in these stores and they have all these people doing gangsta rap and cursing and they're selling it. But here I am and I come and all of a sudden they want to censor what I have to say. You know, but I know that this is just part of Yemen. TIY – This Is Yemen, you know, you have to roll with the punches.”

AJ encountered many Yemenis who thought only negatively about hip hop. The complaints he heard most often?

“All their sagging with their jeans, it’s half way down their butt,” AJ said to me in a voice mimicking his early detractors.

But there was more: “You know they’re gonna have shows with girls and guys and they’re gonna do drugs and drink and they’re gonna curse.”

AJ was getting tired of trying to counter the misconceptions when he first discovered how to win over locals. Utilizing traditional Yemeni melodies and instruments in his songs is what did it.

“I had a lot of success with incorporating mismar (a wind instrument) in one of my first songs that was very popular,” said AJ, “because I figured, the mismar is used at weddings and celebrations, and it’s sort of like the pied piper. Once you hear it, you have to come out and see what’s going on … And so, I figured, if that works, let me try it with the oud, let me try it with the flute … So far, I’ve been very fortunate.”

Then he realized he’d have to refine his message, and more specifically, his lyrics. According to AJ, Yemeni audiences pay attention to more than just the beat, they scrutinize the words. “They’re really listening,” AJ told me, “So if you're saying something, you have to really say something.”

AJ started writing and rapping about more homegrown issues, like chewing qat and combating terrorism. And in a country with a growing threat from Al-Qaeda and a staggering amount of poverty, he started to feel a responsibility to the next generation.

“I figure 65% of Yemen is under 30,” AJ explained to me, “A lot of the bad things that go on, they use people that are young, insecure, uneducated, and they’ll fill their heads with a lot of nonsense, and some poor kid is out there blowing himself up. Why? Because he doesn’t have anywhere to turn – no one else to turn to.”

Which is why AJ considers the Yemen Music House so important – more than a home base for his country’s aspiring rappers, it’s a place where he can mentor, they can learn – and all of them can rap.

Tune into Inside the Middle East premiering tomorrow to watch Mohammed's full story.

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Filed under: Culture •Yemen


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Smith in Oregon   October 7th, 2010 10:28 pm ET

Yemen is a relatively small country with pockets of population within it. With the US Military drone's constantly flying over Yemen armed with fatal weapons, the chances of being hit as a bystander in a Hel Fire missile attack are quite high. I see nothing to rejoice about such Israeli inspired terror on the Yemen people with death flying over their homes day and night and rarely does a week go by when one of their neighbors is not struck by a drone attack and killed in the dark of the night.

miriam   October 9th, 2010 8:25 pm ET

Smith,

What" Israeli inspired terror"?

Give the conspiracy a break!

The terrorism comes from al Qaeda and the like who try their best to ruin the attempts of youth like these rappers to express their opinions and freedoms.

John A   October 10th, 2010 12:17 am ET

Smith as you are getting to grips with these subjects, here's something more for you to think about.

Have you noticed that America has engineered many crises which all have a "global label"; Global warming, Global war on terror, Global economic crises...

Have you noticed America also asks for a global response and global regulation? This can only be managed by a global government. A global government means by definition a few elite controlling the world i.e. dictatorship.

Now look at recent history and think of past dictators such as Nazi's and Communists. These were atheist regimes. Totalitarian dictators needed atheist societies because you cant be totally submissive to Government and God at the same time.

Now think about how the western world is largely non practicing, regardless if your Christian or Jewish. But we all know that Muslims would rather die for God than their president. Hence Muslims need to be controlled and destroyed before a world government can totally control society. Thats one reason to bomb Muslims, its not just about oil, its more to do with global domination and enslavement. And trust me, we are all the target for slavery for the new global powers i.e. banks and mega corporations whos global influence is owned by a small amount of super rich families.

Such families have corrupted world politics through bribes and campaign funds and their aim is the same as many who have gone before them. The lust for world power didn't end with Napoleon or Hitler, the lust for world power has been here since the world was created. So watch your democratic rights being eroded, watch control grids being put in place (supposedly for your security) and wonder how free will your children be?

Filipe   October 11th, 2010 6:12 pm ET

John A,

A little paranoid are you?????

It appears it's way past time to take your meds!

John A   October 13th, 2010 12:22 pm ET

Filipe, Shame you always fail to address issues with any intelligence. But never mind, we cant all be expected to have fully functional capacities. You always believe what they are told, even when its obvioulsy false.

Sasha   October 13th, 2010 5:24 pm ET

Filipe its past your pillow biting bed time. Are you a specialist on paranoia, meds and sex changes?

I ask because of this link:

http://insidethemiddleeast.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/03/bahraini-teens-launch-sex-change-bids/#comments

I might not always agree with John A, but at least he can use reason. Unlike you Filipe and your Zionist propaganda buddies. If you're going to write, why not answer blogs? Instead you prefer to write dribble and then think yourself clever. Man, it’s just sad, really sad.

Sasha   October 13th, 2010 5:25 pm ET

Filipe, Are you a specialist on paranoia, meds and sex changes?

I ask because of this link:

http://insidethemiddleeast.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/03/bahraini-teens-launch-sex-change-bids/#comments

I might not always agree with John A, but at least he can use reason. Unlike you Filipe and your Zionist propaganda buddies. If you're going to write, why not answer blogs? Instead you prefer to write dribble and then think yourself clever. Man, it’s just sad, really sad.

Filipe   October 14th, 2010 1:25 pm ET

John A/Sasha,

I fail to see where either of you have made any attempt to discuss the subject of this blog !!!

And Sasha–you say that John can reason!!!! Reason with what, who,....himself ??? That's funny !!!

Yet, you call me out when I am critical of off topic tirades!!!!

Further more.......there is no "issues" to address that relates to this blog. It's simply an information piece about Yemeni musicians.

Get over it !!!

Wilson   October 15th, 2010 10:38 am ET

Filipe, no need to wet yourself.

Let people talk.

We are not in Israel, so you cant simply shoot and bomb everyone you disagree with.

And to be honest your blog is extremely hypocritical. You add nothing but personal remarks about other bloggers. Is that the best you pro Zionists can do?

Filipe set up your own blog page and stop telling CNN and other bloggers what to do here.

We are not in Israel, so we don't need to listen to fascist dictators.

You can kick defenceless Arab families around for 60 years, but don't think that makes you strong and don't try to kick others.

You will be surprised how quickly your dictatorial behavior can be flattened if you try to kick others.

miriam   October 18th, 2010 1:44 pm ET

Wilson,

Your psychological projectionism is going wild.

The real fascist dictators of the world are feeding you myths, lies and false propaganda, brainwashing you with so much disinformation that you cannot see the tragic comedy you are composing.


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