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Fish, Grits and Couscous: Islam and The African-American Experience

The following are some web quality stills from the event held at Rutgers University in the Fall of 2009. I was commissioned to do some photography for the event. Below are two photo galleries. The first focuses on the audience at the event and the second focuses on the speakers. This will give you a bit of insight into how I compose shots. All photos are under creative commons license.

Audience Pics	Speakers Pics
Audience Preview Pic	Preview Pic For Speakers
Photos by Brother Dash	Photos by Brother Dash

The ChaiPod has a conversation with Muslim rapper Miss Undastood one of only a handful of Hijab wearing rappers. Miss Undastood discusses the triumphs and challenges of being a scarf wearing, Muslim female rapper. She discusses the unique issues facing Muslim female performers and the subject matter in her lyrics. Never one to mince words this native New Yorker answers the ChaiPod questions with honest bluntness and wit.  Listen to one of the only interviews on the web featuring a Muslim female rapper!

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Part 2 With Shaykh Abdallah Adhami

Shaykh Abdallah Adhami continues our discussion on Islam, Culture and Society. In this episode Shaykh Abdallah starts with an explanation of the word poet in Arabic which is Sha’ir. He breaks down the roots that make up the word which according to the Shaykh would mean that the poet emits feeling and light in order to negate fear and terror. He continues with some discussion on the Arts and Islam and what an artist can do.

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Part 1 With Shaykh Abdallah Adhami

We have a conversation with Shaykh Abdallah Adhami, founder and director of Sakeenah, Inc. on these are other issues related to culture and identity in the West. The Chaipod was a series of podcasts I produced. We had 6 episodes. This first episode deals with culture, identity and Islam. As Muslim converts and 2nd generation children of Arab and South Asian immigrants forge their own Muslim identities in the West you will inevitably run into clashes, both real and perceived, between what Islam says and what America or Great Britain says.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Spoken Soul Intro

Spoken Soul is my new Spoken Word Poetry album released in September 2009. The album is my most personal and most vulnerable series of poems which came as a result of a challenging time in my life and the lives of those close to me. As such this album is not so much a “commericial” release as it is a very personal release (figuratively and literally). In this video I give a little insight into the album and provide some context. Please check out YouTube for other related videos including the first two Spoken Soul intro videos.  The album is now available for sale on www.brotherdash.com or through CDBaby, iTunes, Amazonmp3 and other retailers.

This poem is off the new album Spoken Soul and it is called The Most Beautifullest. The video you see was recorded live in London, England by Soul City Arts. The Most Beautifullest follows in the tradition started on my last album of including one track that is an ode to Women.  On my previous album Poetically Speaking the track is Muslimah which is specific to Muslim Women. On this album The Most Beautifullest is about Women in general. Enjoy!

This page will be updated this week.

-Dash