 So 155 We back Like we never left during this blessed month of Ramadan. Hamdulillah, you know It's been a very blessed Ramadan. We're doing this podcast In this holy month shawl all come out on on Eid Ramadan Mubarak Eid Mubarak to everyone who's participating in this blessed month of Ramadan Pray Allah answers all your do us and continues to shower y'all with with his blessings so And Ramadan Mubarak and Eid Mubarak How you feeling Doris? It's wild, but before we get into that we got a shot at the pot. We got a shot at the picture on this stuff because this is a An epoch in hella black we will talk about a lot of a lot of hella black history today And as y'all who have been following us for a long time You probably just gonna be able to relate to a lot of this, but Okay, don't go to our patreon don't go to South Korea's listen to it right now, but we need it Hey, you know, it's why I'll go to our South Korea. I was a go to our patreon Yeah, I was I was looking at a podcast recently And I was looking at me it's a super big podcast right and just seeing like how many ratings they got Then I realized how many ratings we have so I just first want to say thank y'all Bro, I really am grateful for this podcast I mean, of course this while cuz I was having a rough day and I will have to assume it's because of prayer and now this podcast I just feel a lot better, but I just feel like I don't know. I'm feeling emotional right now talking about this, but I Just want to say thank y'all to anyone who supported our podcast I think I Feel there's like the duality that I'm feeling and as I reflect on the podcast, right? It's that we've been blessed enough toward the podcast is just but one vessel of Means of organizing and expression and education that we have been allotted as organizers You know, like there have been so many organizers before or so many organizers right now who just do not have resources You know, and so I think that the fact that we have a platform as they say a platform that people Can break bread to listen to just like yeah people that people that engage with us You know whether it's just like I've seen that ratings on my mouth and we have I don't want to get I think was like 900 or something But just on Apple on Apple podcast, right? You're like 900 and some ratings on my matches 900 people. I'm sure all of them not positive, but 900 people whoever like there's a lot of positive ones on there But people just taking the time to engage with us in this way. I appreciate it all the folks that show love and yeah, I'm just Grateful for y'all and it does come with an ass, you know, if you haven't Shared the pocket or haven't given the podcast a rating or comment on Apple or Spotify Please do so if you have the ability to Please support our patreon patreon.com backslash hella black pie Yeah, man, I'm just I'm very grateful for the folks that have supported again Very grateful for the folks that have supported our podcast over the years, you know It's been what how long because our first podcast episode was recorded in January or December of like 2015 So we had a recent birthday is what I'm saying, you know, like we just we've there's been But in the last four months the podcast very first podcast. Yeah, when was it wasn't this year? No, no in general of 2016 June 1st 2016 first, okay, so yeah in a couple months. We're gonna have Eight years since whoo, that's cool. Oh my god. I'm saying we We are definitely some veterans in this podcasting game, especially when it comes down to new African Podcasters, you know, I'm saying everybody got a podcast now, but like we we did near some we some vets Yeah, I'm doing love, you know been eight years in this game You know making I'd say a lot of evolution Personally, you know, I think honestly if I'm reflecting now like that's But yeah, the podcast is great and to see our evolution as thinkers But I just think about all the way we we've evolved as human beings through this podcast, you know, I'm saying Uh Yeah, it's actually pretty wild. You know, a lot of people talked about this podcast like oh You know, it's healing for them to hear two black men come and talk and do these things and be vulnerable or whatever and I'm like, okay That's cool. Yeah, but I think reflecting now as I reflect more upon I was like, bro We've grown a lot bro as individuals and I think that's You know, of course the things the impact we've had with other people is important I think we always say that but I think too. It's important to understand the impact We've had on ourselves as individual people and how, you know, I feel through this podcast, bro So yeah, I appreciate you and the brotherhood, bro. No, I'm saying lady, bro I mean what that's what I was kind of alluding to earlier in terms like folks who have followed us Yeah, whoever been listening to the podcast for the last few years like I Think they've been able to I mean if all things are centered around politics like seeing our political growth right now that manifest in our daily lives, you know Yes, wow, cuz I mean you go from but we was If this was almost eight years ago, he was 22 when we started 23 when we started the podcast I was 24 Push out of college, bro. No, like it's man I'm very grateful, but appreciate all your support now through All the loyal people who listened over the years, you know, that'd be wild though You know what I'm saying cuz it's like people will remember things that I don't remember and I said it You said this on this episode so I said for real It's been folks. I don't even know if I agree, but it's been folks who've been patrons Probably since our since we started patron on folks who've been giving us $5 a month for four, you know eight years I appreciate y'all. Oh without question. Like like and y'all should know y'all money is going to support people's programs supporting hella black supporting the community, you know, like this is a That's that's one thing I value about the about the pot a lot and even upon my own self-reflection is that and then we talk about political education being with a like a torch right being something that can clear your path and Allow you to take I guess like more refined more polished more impactful actions And so yeah, I'm I'm grateful for the fact that This space has allowed us to gain an analysis that then allows us to go out and Impact the world around us, you know, cuz I look back and there's a lot of people who I've been Following for a long time or let's say like Twitter cuz I Twitter was a big instrument for my for our for my political education Part of it was like pseudo political education But some of it I actually have learned a lot from that from that app But there's people who I've been following for a long time who are either Presenting as if they're like developing an you know a revolutionary Analysis, but I've either just continue to Participate in integration as politics or continue to just be like armchair folks You know who like fully have the ability to go outside and get busy, but when I say I'm like lower-level stuff You know, I'm we still see people acting like it's 2016 Conversations on Twitter Is still talking the same way and like like It's just kind of sad, you know, so I'm glad that I Think the the number one thing if I could say I want somebody to take away from this pop is That use what you learned to go do some You know, I The number one thing that yeah, well, we can see upon our own podcast is that The conversations that we have on here amongst each other Are carried over into the cadre and then Manifested through the programs, you know, so I just I'm thankful that we have had this platform that has allowed us to work through Processes and methodologies and analysis together and then have an organization that can also be a I guess like a material for lack of a better words like playground, you know, we put it all into play special nice, I Think that's the one thing that the spirit of Ramadan Brings upon us is a state of reflection, you know, and because you know with Ramadan is slowing you down and Really make you look at yourself and your life in a different way. You know what I'm saying and I think Reflecting upon the podcast and you know, it's like even right now, you know, we we sinning You know to your right is this article of us, you know, I'm saying that when we just started off Yeah, you know I'm saying and used to recording youth radio and They got that point is like, oh, yeah, you know, they have a mass 30,000 plays on SoundCloud and it's like, okay We over and now, you know, but just to See the growth, you know, I'm saying like Who knows what's in that cup I We only so I probably got rid in 2017 and then came out because it came out January 2018 We had Nine episodes at that time. Yeah, nine episodes now. We you know over a hundred and fifty episodes tales of the town film Art exhibit all from that book. Yeah, you know, I'm saying album Mm-hmm Lectures All really that came from the podcast, bro You know, I'm so I still vividly remember that day walking down. I should be like, man, I just came back from New York, man I do this pie. It's all right bit, you know, that's a lot of I think it's just the power when you decide You want to do something and sticking with it for real and having the right intention? You know I'm saying even back then I feel like we had the right intention, you know I'm saying like, I know personally obviously wasn't where I wanted to be, you know in terms of My reflecting about like all my past self. Okay. Yeah, it's changes. I needed to make in my life Which I'm do we love made a lot of those changes, right? But just seeing that reflection in the growth From where we started to where we are now. I think it's just When you have that right intention, you know, I'm saying then you get active and get busy and you know Turn that idea into a material reality Only good could come from it, you know I think I speak to the power of shit really education too because what happens? I Saw something I saw somebody doing something like always this is a podcast Learn we learned what it is we learned how to put it together And we put it into practice, you know, that's what happens when you you take the time to learn something and then Try to put forth try to put forth what you learn again in terms of like Yeah, that's first if you look at our first few live podcasts, you know, we went from Yeah, those first few live podcasts like not so much I mean, I think it's a byproduct of whatever information we've been exposed to at that time in terms of analysis But you know, like drinking before everyone, you know, I think comes with being young too But I definitely have come a very long way huge Get loaded And this ain't coming from no my whole year than now I think it's just I don't know personally the way I'd be thinking about it a lot of times is like how much I used to promote negative behavior I'm kind of embarrassed. I'm gonna be filming I'm actually just embarrassed. Well, yeah, you look I mean, that's just maturity though You know, you're looking back on you know, my amen Context is everything, you know, but I think like hey, you know Like shoot what used to promote, you know, I'm so used to promote the Tennessee and stuff like that You feel me so if I could have promoted that back then I'm like look at them all photos of my Instagram with me holding the bottles Okay, I could talk about my sobriety at least you know, I'm saying we even in the show You know, I'm saying we would get loaded and I'm gonna record and go to Lake Shaval You don't say but now it's our man. We sober, you know, I'm saying like thinking about us, bro Like we sober right now, bro. That's also from a boy to a man. You don't feel like You know, but that's actually like a lot of because you look at Sometimes people just staying doing the same thing, bro. You know what I'm saying? And like we could have easily stayed doing the same thing You know, so that's why I'm just proud of both of us In choosing, you know, I think again it comes back to education because once you know better you're presented with the opportunity To do better, you know, and I think a lot of times once we know better We do our best to do better, you know, you still might fall short, you know But I think it's just just think about that, bro. I'm like We used to get loaded and now we both here fasting. Yeah and recording like That's like actually insane to compare The reason why I feel embarrassed is like when you think about The positioning and contextualizing of ourselves that we were doing, right? Like I think about even our live podcast the new parish You feel like what you essentially had was two co-founders of a community organization That were supposed to be presenting like guidance and analysis to a people Who were drunk? Like that's like that's like sad, bro. You feel like that's like You know and I think Yeah We built it grew into something very real like I'm not like there was some positive like everything has It's kind of a negative you know positive in it, but there was also, you know, it was like looking back at that looking back on that That's insane. Like that's just like that's dangerous. You know that we got up here and then we had so many kids listening to us So what are we promoting to the kids? What we promote like what a revolutionary spot? What a community organization looks like especially, you know being fresh out of a bsu was like Oh, they doing this doing that was like, oh man, you ain't You ain't giving them proper guy. We were actually going to colleges, bro And and that's not to say that the analysis like, you know, we were all The analysis was good, you know, but like what was type of example where we said like somebody drunk talking about the eddies capitalist These neoliberalists and I'm up here literally Engaging in very neoliberal behavior. I swear on the writer. It was Chick-fil-A in Tennessee You know Like to go on to talk to some 18 year old kids around like this is how y'all need to be serving our community And I'm drunk Yeah You know, it's just Dangerous No, it's very like that's why I sound embarrassed and again like You you can't be embarrassed no more though, man. Yeah, yeah You know I got that off me, but you know, but I you feel it but hey, but that's I don't know for me I just feel that responsibility to do better. You know what I'm saying like I feel the responsibility Okay, if I could could have promoted that now I gotta promote this You know I'm saying like I why did I not question promoting that but then sometimes I question like oh, am I coming off the wrong way If I'm promoting sobriety, I mean intention is attention is everything our intention wasn't to mislead people No, I was like our teacher actually good like we finna come up here and we like to speak the truth And it was the truth to some extent, but like, you know, again, that is just very very dangerous and Again, we talk about everything having contradictions like we did a lot of great organizing work You know, like in the midst of all that, you know provided Free COVID-19 tests into the community before the county did You know providing Thousands of meals. We did a lot of great, you know, but it's just again. It's a way to struggle If you actually analyze it, you know, it's like you got to be real with yourself around. Hey, man We just kind of just cat. Yeah, it's like you can do positive things and cat off at the same time You know what I'm saying? But again, I think through that it's Uh again the education aspect if we understand how to struggle You know I'm saying like ultimately it's like all right. We're doing all these good things For everybody else. You know what I'm saying? We're doing great things for the program great things for the community But then we're actually having negative actions towards ourselves because ultimately And towards other people if you think about it like go for a promo promote something that ain't good for us And we're doing something good for us when we're almost promoting that to other people in some ways You know I'm saying post up with a bottle or something you feel me It's like that's promoting something to some kids or something you feel me Like but we just being just always being solved my statements Always being self-destructive. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? But then talking about self-determination You feel me so I was like a self-determination for the community But I'm being self-destructive to myself backwards and the name of what liberation liberation for who I'm trying to liberate the community But I won't liberate myself from my own Lower desires you know what I'm saying from my own of ices My own addictions It's a contradiction if we truly talk about Liberation freeing the land truly talking about independence Quees, you know become independent of Of our own Self-destruction, but a lot knows best because experience is the best teacher. I'm doing that. That's why I'm grateful Yeah, but because of what we've been through it's like now we can relate to a whole generation of people You know like there's just like it's more people who do this than who don't You know like that's just reality And there's there's people who can still like who can I think now it's like It gives the it gives the It creates the possibility at least it doesn't it's not like A definite, but it gives people at least the possibility like okay if they can change So can I like there's like, you know, and I think the thing that I that I value about my experience is it's made me very empathetic as well I think what happens sometimes is like when folks Can't relate to I'm gonna use the word right now Even though we've just been having talks around this for so much What relates any given culture? uh They they messages don't be landing with the people You know, but it's because a like I know how to talk to somebody because I've been in that space before you feel me like I'm not Even with the you know, even if I wanted to have a conversation if I wanted to get somebody to stop drinking I know how I will go about it You know, and it wouldn't I wouldn't even have a conversation to sobriety first You feel me like, you know, I would just introduce them to another way. You know, like it's just certain ways I'm a boy by the because I know exactly You know, yeah, no, I think you were sober for a whole year before I got sober You know, I'm saying it's just like you it's sorry. I just know how to Give it to people Yeah, I mean, that's why like you were saying like a lot is the best of planners and I think For me personally, I feel like a lot decreed For me to go through certain struggles to go through certain things to experience life in certain ways To make me a have more understanding of other people, you know, I'm saying because it's like If I lived a certain way and I know what the mind said I was in during that time period Like you said, you can relate to someone in a whole different way of someone who might not have experienced that, you know what I mean? Yeah, because if you ain't been through something You know, it's hard for you to then be able to Help lead people to something that might be different, you know, if you've even thinking about like I think one of the greatest examples We have is Malcolm El-Hajmalk El-Shabazz He went through so many different personal transformations and in many ways that was a lot of decree for him to be Detroit Red I was a lot of decree for him to be Malcolm X You know, I'm saying it was a lot of decree for him to then transform in El-Hajmalk El-Shabazz But through him going through all those different life stages that those personal transformations He then was able to understand how to a best resonate with the people And be help people change the conditions of themselves to reach their highest form Because of going through that You know, yeah, so it's even a You know, even if you think about it Islamically it's like originally Alcohol wasn't Haram, but there was later on revealed So even if you think about that time period like that was happening in that time period and then Allah's not said This is Haram This is forbidden But some people in that time period knew what it was like to experience that, you know what I'm saying? So it's like similarly now. It's like, okay. We knew what it was like to experience it We made changes in our life. And now we know how to uh Sha Allah best help support people to You know, uh being better for themselves And being better in the community, you know what I mean and not coming off no Hullier and now but this is just uh All all all signs point to there's a proper way to struggle Yeah There are two things that come up consistently throughout the Quran, right grace in reason right What can make you more grace? I think Having grace with someone is a direct byproduct of empathy Right, what is empathy based are based off of like empiricism like lived experience. I think I think uh lived experience Is something that allows you to be more rational, right? Like it isn't always the basis for Rationalism, right? Like there are some things you should just know like I can look at a fire and know it's hot And or I can know not to touch a fire, right to you know, like what I haven't been burned I just think it's hot. I've been told it's been hard or you watch other people, right? Like there's a different ways to I guess like gain reason Um, but I think again if you go back to what made Malcolm someone who could be so graceful and so rational Using his ability for reason was through all his lived experience and I think especially with us trying to Create a strong youth cadre like we're going to have to be able to know What move them and what they've experienced, right? Like So yeah, you could easily turn into them old niggas be like man, man in mute man They so lost man, you know, I'm saying all they doing all this they doing this new dad They doing rather than understanding my hey You know, I'm saying having a certain understanding. I mean even amongst our own peers though You know, like it's never no, it's no it's it's people in our own peers who we have who we have to struggle with in terms of Trying to get them to Recognize you know What is actual like you were getting that earlier? What is actual self-determination? What is actual liberation? Who's morale and eat those in my living by like I think We're not we can't we've reached a point quote-unquote the left or whatever black nationalist pan-africanist We are at a point In the struggle in the movement. We're like we need to actually clarify what the west is And what their culture is Right and like how we've been able to values is you know a quote-unquote morality morality is what there's quote-unquote Humanism is we have to understand that we there's a very what there's secularization is what the religion is what? Yeah, you know, we just have a very limited scope Of what the west is and how it has empowered penetrated itself into all elements of our life right and so I think What we've been able to do a good job of Is ground ourselves in what Malcolm said right where he says who taught you how to hate yourself We're trying to start having conversations around what is this who taught you what this is All right, and I think that's just that happens to be the Time period that we find ourselves in as a byproduct of Uh, you know neocolonial neocolonial subjugation and where the new african independence movement and the pan-african subjective Currently finds itself in the 21st century yeah so I know we've Kind of just dove deep into it very organically and naturally, you know, but uh, I wanted to ask you like how's this rumble on being for you I mean, you know, uh Me and you have already talked about this a few times then of course uh folks Who are hip to my shahada? uh, are asking me, you know what? I think folks who knew that I did Ramadan last year and then folks who are hip to my shahada are asking me Uh, what's like being the biggest differences and I mean number one is a declaration of faith, right? um so you doing That's like even in conversations. I'm just I'm I'll be trying to be careful because The number one thing I didn't like was I felt like niggas was trying to reinforce like force religion on me So I'll be trying to be careful about how I presented to people because I'm like I don't want to be one of them type niggas, right? But I mean hey I asked for guidance from my tongue right now, but I would say that There is a big difference between doing Ramadan as a non-muslim and being and doing Ramadan as a Muslim I don't even care if you pray you feel like of course number one thing is like I wasn't praying I wasn't a Muslim last year when I did Ramadan and I wasn't praying but I mean, I've never I've prayed I've never done like um Because we got non-muslims that pray with us, right? Like who are doing fadr who are doing Matt griffin each and you know, like who are doing I've never done that as a non-muslim But just based off all the Muslim all the Islamic things that I was doing as a non-muslim I just like there's just a different feeling once you do it. You know, it's all I have to assume even though I've prayed Uh to God Not the way That Muslims pray, but like it's just there's a different it's different prayer, you know, it's a different feeling you're playing blank um So I would say like prayer is different Uh, of course, you have the decoration of faith and then going to the mosque You know the first time having my first Juma is like all these things just um And I get and I was like the umma is the biggest thing too It's like an actual community like my shahada was probably the most intimate male experience I've ever had in my life, you know, um and I Got a lot of men in my life, of course Play sports my whole life and you know how the locker room is, you know, I'm saying That ain't You know, that ain't under God, even if you think you want to do this out You know, but it's still like it ain't it ain't under God though. You know, like it ain't it ain't the same feeling You say it just ain't the same feeling bro Even though y'all might have y'all unity and y'all working towards the same goal and y'all y'all really shedding blood sweat and tears together nigga shahada was the most Intimate thing would amongst is yeah amongst men I've ever done and it's definitely one of the top like communal experiences I've ever had uh I think because it's so I'm like I don't want to downplay any of the other things that I've done like with my family and stuff like that I could think of like birthdays and Shit funeral stuff, you know, but like that is just gonna always have of Very special place in my heart, but Uh, yeah, I just been enjoying praying, but honestly, uh Uh, I really enjoyed praying Um, I really enjoyed going to the mosque, especially where we went last Friday um The email was just saying some very powerful stuff. So yeah, I say juma shahada uh Making salat these have all been uh some of I say like the top experience I've had doing Ramadan for sure I'm doing a lot of man. It's like Even just hear you talk about it again. It's just Makes me emotional, bro No, you know, it's uh, it's deep Brother whole week up to shahada, bro. I could not stop crying. Like I would just be Bro, it was every single day. No for real. It was crazy for us. Like the most I've like Cryed as like has been as a Muslim. Yeah You know what I'm saying? Like to really Sometimes cry but not even be like, you know, like a boo-hoo type of cry But it's just like you just get emotional, you know, I'm saying like, I don't know I feel like shahada just opens your heart up in different ways to allow you to be more vulnerable Uh, at least for myself, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, to where it's just like, okay I could experience these things. I could feel emotions in a different type of way. You feel me, but nah, bro, I'm just Uh I'm proud of you, bro. I know it's been a journey. It's still the journey still is continuing You know But just to see Again, like you've seen my transformation and I've seen your transformation You know, I'm saying that's like the beautiful aspect of like the brotherhood that we have, bro It's like for us both to see it having that, you know in different times in different ways and different experiences and just even the way that Uh You know, there's Ramadan obviously different from last Ramadan, but like the way our Like relationship has changed. I mean, it's impossible to frame somebody and not get closer. Oh, yeah. Yeah, you know, but like Just but think you know, I don't know brother. Like you think about how fast You know what I'm saying to me. It's like, all right, you took a shot in Ramadan, but like Obviously you picked up on things so fast Yeah, you know what I'm saying to where it's just like this is normal You feel me like it don't feel you know, I'm saying praying what you feel normal Yeah, I also haven't realized how short of a time period has been it's been such a short time But it feels like You know, I'm saying Ramadan even you know, I'm saying like you didn't even experience idiot as much You know, I'm saying so it's like hum to rely so it just uh You also taking shot is like uh People would always and I never really there's certain lessons that I'm getting in it For myself, you know, I'm saying or like certain things that I'm seeing differently now Because of you taking shot. You know, I'm saying like I remember Taking shahada and people ain't man. I'm trying to be close to you man. Why you just took shahada like man Peer of my man. Yeah. No, I know how to feel on my man. I'm trying to be close to this, bro Man, he got less sin on my man. Like You know, uh So it's uh, that's a bunch of blessings, bro and being able to pray because that's that's really what's most important You know, I'm saying is making them prayers, you know and uh To be able to pray with you, bro, it's like Bring me to tears, bro, bro. I'll be reciting the prayers sometimes and like really be smiling bro Because I'm praying next to my brother, bro. Yeah, it's like I got almost tears coming. I'm like trying You know, I'm saying hold on the back You know, because it's like too For me, you know, I'm saying like I've been praying alone for the most part in the house when I'm at the house You know, so it's like it's changing Maya even like the spirit of the house feel different You know, so it's uh Yeah, I'm just uh, I'm just grateful for a lot and Great for you, bro. No same. I mean, I hope that I pray to everybody I love gets experience something like this, you know, like the feeling that that I've had um And it's it's helping me realize like what community really is, you know, like Even if you got like, okay your birthday if you look at the Jerusalem pop-up that we did by like It's still these very communal Uh like They're the they're the same kind of communal events that we've been having but like You got groups of people praying together Before in the middle of them after, you know, it's just like it's That's what real community and unity I would say look like You know, and I've been in spots like we're You know, like Been in a club like we didn't been we didn't be like communal things together. You know, I'm saying like But it ain't you know, it's it's it's different when y'all coming together for something positive Bro, I mean only thing I can say is like when you come together for God Like that's that's what I can say that's missing from you from those things, you know You're coming up for the sake of a law, you know, they allow, you know Like it ain't like we you know, we was coming together doing very Uh You know doing a lot of harm like realistically, you know, like you talked about uh, thank you So like self-destruction earlier, you know, I do a lot of things that were like for just like a science if like not even if you took out like Religious decree out of it, you know, like we're just doing a lot of things that was bad for ourselves Like on a like an organic material level Like it was actually bad for you if you think about what some of the things that we did does to your body in your mind Yeah, I mean, that's that's why that's part of the divine science from a loss upon a wautaba Because all those things that we was doing bad from a scientific level could have been prevented if we just fall The sharia you know say like But that's why like You know, he's talking about the fire like we are you can understand you don't gotta put your hand in the fire You know what I'm saying because you know that's going It's hot it's gonna burn your hand, you know what I'm saying, but that's Part of a law's mercy It's a lot tells us what's good for us It a lot tells us what's bad for us You know what I'm saying? but Sometimes we have to Go through the bad to I told you that was one thing. I'm not just mad. I didn't do this earlier, bro All right, that was that's that's what I'm like, man. What took me so long But of course, you know, we've already had conversations around like, you know, I was baptized at like 17 years old, you know And I think what happens is you like you start to judge God by humans, you know And so like that I mean that claim that show you that that shows that I wanted a relationship with God But then of course like through my own political education and starting to understand like the new african relationship To christianity, which we ain't got to go through too much on the pot or whatever, but like I just knew that that wasn't you know yeah, I mean, it's uh even Think a lot of times especially as it's like reverts as new african reverts like a lot of the You know, we don't got to go into it too much, but even for myself a lot of my trauma or religion was based off of me growing up Catholic and at a baptist school And like I personally just blanketed all things, you know, my eyes is this is that okay You know But uh, I mean, this wasn't the truth Like it's just it's wasn't the truth Then you had the historical understanding that you get from understanding the papal decrees and The quote-unquote doctrine of discoveries coming out of the catholic church and now my man I went to a catholic high school and these are the people That you know got all this money from enslave and african people from enslave and african muslims from essentially launching a war on islam To enslave african people and to stop the expansion of islam you know that's why you know To me the way I look at it a lot of times is for me the biggest way I could be anti-west about being a muslim By being a phone when the law says to do Because it is diametrically opposed to every aspect of western life every aspect supposed to To me the most revolutionary thing I could be is to be a good muslim. Yeah You know That's all I would say like people some folks was asking me I mean Okay, we'll lead to it. I'm okay. Well, some of this stuff is like things that I can't necessarily explain Right, like it's that thing that can't be detached that can't be touched that you can't see right like a lot of the times Even with like the materialist framework, right? Like it says like all things are knowable, right? Like This thing that I'm talking about You can't know it. You feel me. It's a pool. It's a it's a it's a force. You feel me now. I have to say it's You know God, you know, um, but then also it's very much like a lot of historical material right, um A lot of historical material a lot of me recognizing How the war on Africa Specifically the parts that Probably we came from What west Africa was a was a world islam, right? so I think uh And then looking at I be telling people all the time like it'd be historical materialism that led me to islam You feel me and it's like the historical truths that I found through the quote unquote secular sciences Of analysis it all led me to islam You know, so I'm like, okay, then what what is this? You know what I'm saying like then you learn about it. All right When you partner that like historical material Well, I lived experience Like there was a void that I felt that I'm like no material thing like no human no No amount of success No achievement no material thing Could feel what I'm what I'm what I'm what I'm Could feel what I'm missing. You know, it couldn't fill it up. Um and then Like one day I was just like bra about to read the Quran. You feel me? It was like two weeks before Ramadan I was like bra. I'm gonna just try to read the Quran I'll just this time I was able to That the last time I told him like bra couldn't get through the first like six pages You feel me? Like it's just like I just wasn't feeling it. You feel me? I just I don't know And this time I just got through it and then I had a conversation with left I was like it's it always says like the first thing I did for myself because all the only reasons why I didn't want to do it Was like all things that wasn't me like was okay. How is this going to impact the organization? How is my family going to feel about this? What I'm trying to say is that you know, it was I just wasn't worried about what Other people's expectations. You know, I just want to come down to because a lot of times That's what we put upon us is other people's expectations Other people's thoughts caring about what other people think but you're just saying bro I just did it for myself for me. It's like every time I will pray. I'll just start crying You feel like bro. What is this? You feel like I'll read the Quran just start crying if I'm like, okay Yeah, bro, this is It's ain't got nothing to do with me. You feel me? Like I'm clearly not in control of this, you know And then someone I think left like basically asked me like You feel me like Do you believe in God? Do you believe there's only one god? You feel me like of course all the things that I know about paganism You feel me? And like I would I would consider like what we talk about a time like spirits or anarchy like he asked me these questions and it's like bro like What do you know about shahada? I'm like, I don't know. He's like that's basically what shahada is You feel me? I'm okay. Oh, yeah, then I had a dream. You feel me? Like I had it like Shit was crazy and I ain't even I I ain't no mystic type of nigga. You know, so like I Don't be talking about it, but I had a dream. I was like, yeah, bro. This is going down You know, like it's it's going down like without question I'm grateful bro. I've Um Either you said something that I was going you said I was gonna feel this one When Ramadan was over like if I wasn't careful in terms of uh Like wishing I wish I didn't because of capitalism, but I wish I didn't work as much You know, and I wish I would have slowed down a little bit But it's all things like it's all learning experience, you know, I I really wish But then I told you I respect like this what happens. You don't live in a Muslim country You feel like specifically when you live in this motherfucker Mm-hmm. When you when you live when you live in in America post 9 11 in the middle of The Islamic genocide that's taking place, you know, uh it's Like I've you seen all the Muslims that's like happened to like, you know Like live within the confines of the west right now and how like how hard we got to work You know versus like I hear stories of people who've done Ramadan in in Muslim countries, you know, just like This shit burnt, bro. No for real. It's just so ancient. I mean if you think about it From a religious perspective We would identify America as the great Satan So we're essentially You know what I'm saying? So it's like we're experiencing literally America in a satanic, right? And so even if you think about like, you know, people in Darren Ramadan, it says, uh, you know, satan is uh The gen of the satan and the shaitan is the is locked up but the physical Shaitan they still out and about so we over here trying to practice Ramadan in the land of shaitan And if you think about how America was founded It was founded on everything anti Islam Literally the national project of America This nation that was created Was all at the foundation of being anti Islam Literally, right? So we're trying to practice Ramadan Like we can't even truly practice Ramadan in the way that a lot decrees it, you know, I'm saying like we do our best, right? But Uh, because we ain't free as Muslims. We ain't free as new Africans. How can we truly practice? Ramadan in this, you know, I'm saying in a land that is governed by by satan You know, like our our religious and spiritual development then becomes underdeveloped because of the system of satan the system of capitalism the system of imperialism this uh System of Pharaoh that Transplated from one generation to the next like we still living under that, you know, but Yeah, inshallah, you know, I'm saying next Ramadan, you know We make it to another Ramadan inshallah, and then we able to make the changes that we want to make, you know I'm saying but then again this Ramadan for me is just like We've also seen what's happened in the Palestinians right now I've seen people when like Sudan You know, I'm saying only to break that fast. They have like Like where do we like grasshoppers breaking they fast bro because of famines. You feel me? So it's also for me. I'm like I don't know before like in Suhoors, you know, I'm like, I'm having protein shake. I'm having oatmeal. I'm having eggs I'm having me. I'm like, man. I don't need all that You know but yeah They trust like they're again, we've talked about All the positives that I've come from but like I really been trying to wrap my mind around like what it would be like where like your whole life is Uh Structured around God right because right now our whole life is structured around the dollar You know, like everything like you know, like our whole life is it's a structure on the dollar. You know, like everything it Yeah, and so Like what would it mean for you know, like stores opening up later? Or things staying open later. Like as some of the spots that's happening, you know, like Like it's the only brothers coming in from the mosques. They running from their job. You know, it's just like, yeah, bro Or I'll be the meeting like, okay. I wish I could Buzz down prayer right now, but like What would this how would this actually go? You know Or I wish I could just leave the meeting to go. You know, you got to schedule everything, you know, just like Having to combine your prayers, you know, it's just like I'm you know, Alhamdulillah, I'm blessed. Yeah, we blessed bro without question But I do want to experience that oh, yeah, inshallah, you know, we're able to go to a muslim country and Be able to experience that a certain way, you know because this uh Yeah It's the way, you know, we're just spiritually. I think uh Every muslim should be able to experience that, you know what I mean, uh versus being You know inshallah we free the land As well, you know, I'm saying to where we're able to experience You know, but uh Yeah It's been I've also just like felt better too, you know, like Just move wise because that's a I think when you get, you know, like when you have to step into that spiritual realm like you literally have to like You step into that realm outside of this It forces you, uh, you I don't know A lot of the times even with like a like a revolutionary national Let's say if you have a revolutionary national ideology, uh Are you claimed to be? like a socialist right like There still isn't like a Like what does it mean to believe that like all humans are equal? We should all be able to contribute to society We should all be able to uh Yeah, what does it mean to have like equity and equality? I like because you see that thing talked about but then you're not actually materialized in the spaces in the way that folks folks acclaimed to right um And I'm bringing this up to really say that What I've noticed The difference between some of these um I guess like revolutionary texts that I've read and the Quran Is there is like an actual program Like actual moral and standard of like how you're at like This means you need to be you need to have grace with people You need to be fair you need to be just and this is what fairness and justice looks like because people use the The words all the time, but then why in our spaces is there's so much But it's a secular like negativity and like it's a secular review of justice You feel me because their justice isn't coming from a divine inspiration if justice is coming from only human explanation rather than from The divine mercy of a loss upon a wautava The divine justice aspect it's always going to be lacking you know i'm saying like to get humanism from A secular viewpoint You're still looking for humans for the answers Rather than looking to a law or that's the thing about islam uh compared to the other Abrahamic religions because islam gives a clear program a clear way to live a clear way to act It's very Distinctful the science of the halal versus the rom is very clear like it leaves nothing untouched From how to go to the restroom from how to clean yourself You know i'm saying from what to eat From what to forbid From how to talk you know i'm saying for how to have good character for how to have mercy For how to pray For how to establish a political system For how to establish an economic system For how to govern a nation For how to distribute wealth Every aspect that we look for in terms of revolution is Is in the crown as well a law is decreed every aspect you feel me and then even the books You know we are all liberators That is heavily influenced by jaleel being a muslim Right the code of conduct and frowning on these standards You know i'm saying that that's the that's the sunnah prophet muhammad so it was so Many ways you know i'm saying like don't drink Shri ala Don't gamble shri ala don't back by shri ala You know i'm saying so even the way things sometimes be secularized. This is also the influence of islam Hambuk revolution at warfare You don't think incruma was Influenced by akhmet seco terrain. He had to because he wrote it while he was in uh Conarchy So he wrote it there while he also was reported to have a prayer rug You feel me where he's also reported to uh, he reported to kashahada as well You know so all these the ethos of islam a lot of times even for myself Right as we study history you begin to actually see like oh now the ethos of islam was all through the rest of the earth Phenom not to just set it every single time You know i'm saying or even if you probably seem like even the way You know i've talked about islam with you And not always said islam And you're probably seeing a little bit more now. You know i'm saying as you go into your process You know i'm saying like even with you know, but i'll learn that from a mirror You know i'm saying like you just talk you talk about islam all the time when i was saying it It was always influencing Because you you'll peep how like okay We for us right we use new african as a political national identity And what new african is supposed to come? a morale value and practice that's Completely opposed to the morale's values and practice of the west, yeah But even with this like I would still be feeling like all this like Negativity right like not carrying myself as like As a new african right like what does it mean to actually have like that revolutionary favor that revolutionary positivity that revolutionary kindness that revolutionary love like just that revolutionary energy and You just have so many people claiming to be quote-unquote like revolutionaries revolutionary humanists and they just like Got the worst attitudes They got the worst attitudes like they complain a lot. They whine a lot right and the corona says don't be miserly right like You know like it's like and I was like reading this i'm like, oh i'm catin. You feel me like It says move from gratitude. You know, it's like we just got like a lot of people I realized like I but I was poisoning this from like a revolutionary standpoint All right, and I would say like in them texts i'll be reading And you know in whatever political theory political science book you reading it ain't giving you that And I didn't read a lot of I ain't read them all I didn't read a lot if i'm like you get close to it. I think in ujama where you know Nairi is talking about like the kind of ethos of a socialist and like how to you know be kind and treat people but a lot of that shit That shit ain't coming up a lot of niggas just analyze the economic systems and leaving it in there That was that was coming from his religious background as well. Mm-hmm. You know i'm saying so like he was taking his Religious some of his religious philosophy and like yeah be good You know i'm saying but that's what I say is missing from them from like the revolutionary nationalist spaces or Two of these claiming like it's like break just People was just negative bro like an hour really have to check my there's whole people calling themselves revolutionary and the identity is called afro pessimist You know i'm saying But we got to think about again like the spiritual warfare Right even the way it happens when I say from the both sides of the coin What I mean is the capitalist coin and the socialist coin both sides uh at you know Are secular and engaged in the level of spiritual warfare that take you away from god In the name of what materialism of the things you could touch feel right? We're experiencing a level of spiritual warfare Uh That we honestly can't fully even understand But then you think about fenon why was fenon doing the psychoanalysis? because he understood The spiritual warfare being enacted That the colonials was using that the imperious was using That's what we think about this this is scrolling on instagram and issues of self-worth and issues of meaning and stuff like Or even like the the existential crisis is sometimes that we'll have in life a lot of that is because of spiritual warfare You know i'm saying the the images we were seeing All the time on our phones the way tv's the Music, you know, it's like bro. What? spiritual warfare And how do we actually have a spiritual system that is grounded You know i'm saying that it's really grounded By divine decree We got to have spirit and as as african people we've always had a spiritual system Always had it, you know We got to have a program You know you manage me all mean talks about anybody develop a program swan gives you a program How to eat how to pray I'm saying in every aspect of life. We have to be very disciplined Why wouldn't we want our spirit spiritual practice to have discipline as well? You know it's a hadith that talks about Prayer and why we pray pray five times a day and they weren't for words. So please forgive me, but it's uh Essentially prophet Muhammad So it was so my likens prayer five times a day if you was watching yourself in the stream five times a day If you watch yourself in the stream five times a day in the river You're gonna be clean if you pray yourself five times a day you're gonna be clean and you know Those negative thoughts you might be having. Okay. Oster just came in now. It's time to pray Oster Now you just reminded yourself. You just did woo-doo. You know what I'm saying You just prayed your forward cause and you might have made, you know, your extra cause after After that feeling you but okay. I'm reminded about me being a creation Uh, something something that guy created and I'm serving my ultimate creator I'm taking myself away from everything else And then when you praying and that five times a day like The bad things you might have thought about doing it become different You know what I'm saying? All right. I came into prayer like man. I'm a little mad about this this this I completely forgot all about it after making forward cause You know I'm saying like it's So I just Yeah, again, we just talking about our experiences. Yeah, it's like and I wish I kind of damn you don't even have all the words, right? I mean if I I kind of don't even have all the words. This is something like you got to kind of experience yourself I mean the number one thing that I would give people is I would just say read the Quran Uh, and I would say like you need to study Uh, the world on Islam Especially for new Africans, right? We need to study um What Islam has historically meant for us, even if you think about what one of the strongest like chapters of the black panther party Was ran by muslims If we talk about uh, and I'm referring to you know, like lamumba Zade in matoo and seiku We talk about the east coast Panthers, right? If you talk about the members of the bl a lot of them was muslims, right? Ended up becoming muslims if we talking about the rna, you know the rna, you know muslims if we're talking about um if we're talking about West Africa, right when you refer to i made a seco two right earlier And if we talk about like what's going on right now Who are the the people that are actually challenging the nations that are challenging western imperialism? uh It's a lot of muslim countries, right? but I will just say study the Quran and I wish I I wish I had the words to to Tell y'all exactly what this has been for me But if any advice, you know, I've accomplished a lot. I think like in the material world Right, especially like before the age what they would say people like oh by the age of 30, right? like what was things like I've probably lived out like some of my Like things that I prayed for things that I've dreamed of but if I had any advice for Success and what I deem success I would say bro. You just got to get right with God Like I've been even talking to Prada recently right. He was like bro I always felt like The thing that me and you just wouldn't get right on or couldn't align on is like God you feel me like And I'm probably ain't religious but like he always bringing up God right and he and I was just he'd be like Sometimes you wouldn't even respond. He wouldn't say nothing. He feel me is like now I just feel like We can just like bond even closer now, you know Yeah, so I would just say if I have one piece of advice for anybody, bro I don't know what You pick your whatever religion you want to find right because even in this just say like in the book or in the Quran Talk about like the believers, right? Like you might not necessarily subscribe to Islam You may not even subscribe to Christianity, right? But if you actually follow with the pillars of Islam like you praying, you know you Doing good deeds. You got good intentions. I don't know how you can go wrong I'm all knows best, you know, I don't know how you can go wrong But I think you got to figure out like what God is because this is a godless society by default This is a godless society where we find ourselves. This is Yes, you know hell on earth arguably hell on earth, but I've uh Enjoy Ramadan and I'm definitely blessed to To have you because it's like you talk about If I was my biggest influences over the last, you know, a few months and a lot of years or whatever, right? That led to this decision, right as I have to say like you left And raw because you're like probably, you know, you're Muslim and who I hang around the most, right? um But the reason why I've been able to pick up on things so so quickly is because I just been studying y'all for so long you know like I've been I've been studying y'all for so long and then even like just the way you've been able to teach me like the last uh This month, you know, like post my shot. I just been able uh Like you really taught me in a way that has allowed me to You know, like even from like the first day you share all those apps with me, you know You bought me my first Quran. You feel me and left bought me my second Quran, you know Uh Left got me my first prayer, you know, so it's like y'all two have just The first person I prayed with That wasn't you was left, you know, so it's like I actually just had like Uh, that's why I said that um, you feel me like it's just people, you know without question It's like for us as believers as Muslims is The um, uh You know, that's the people was was important You know, I'm saying like because it's everything about like Doing good in this world is about doing good for Not only for yourself, but other people, you know, it's like a it's about Doing good because I'm at the end of the day. I'm responsible for me at the end of the day You responsible for you or we're responsible for our own souls And that gives us you a certain individual Uh commitment and an individual relationship to a law But how do you get good deeds is by serving the ummah You know, I'm saying ain't necessary about serving yourself. Okay. Yeah pray and do those the aspects the obligations that we have as individuals, right, but What does a lot talk about feed the orphans You know, I'm saying Make sure the people who are uh, who have the need are supported monetarily, you know, I'm saying like It's about the ummah. It's about the people. It's about the relationships we have. That's all we pray and con You know, it's blessings to pray and con con congregation. You know, I'm saying like for me to Now be praying with you every that's like that's blessings for both of us You know, I'm saying versus praying one is better to pray in congregation for us, especially as Muslim men You know, so it's uh I'm happy you're feeling this feeling, you know, because I I know what the feeling is to my own You know, I'm saying like what it feels like for me at least right but just I just remember the first time's going to the mass shit and it's like It reminded me, you know of when In shalom we could experience hajj, you know, but when Uh, el hajj malakos shabazz was talking about going to hajj and seeing all these Muslims of different colors And you know, everyone was still wearing, you know, uh The white material to make the pilgrims, you know, I'm saying everyone was still doing the same rituals And if you think about it, that's like the Oneness of humanity, you know how we're all, you know, a progeny of Adam, right? Uh, but for me like going into the mass, you don't remember Because it's uh, I took my shot over soon. Yeah Then I went to the bastard after like, you know what I'm saying? So it's like Seeing all these different people of different races All doing the same thing You know, I'm saying why you have afghans, you know, I'm saying Africa is new africans, mexicans Arabs, you know what I'm saying Iranians, you have all these people all praying to Allah And you just see the community of that you see the interconnected nature of us as humanity You know, uh, and that's that's what Islam is about this humanity You know, this ain't word for word, but Imam Ali said You know, we ain't uh, since we've made brothers in religion, we're brothers in humanity That's what Islam is about as a humanity and about uh, I think the best part about I can't even say the best but one of the greatest parts about Islam is that I think for me, I found my humanity And I found my humanity in the way I feel like a lot a lot Wanted it to be, you know, so like to I that that's some revolutionary thing. Yeah to be able to find your humanity You know, because a lot of times that's really what we are searching for Is our actual humanity, bro. Yeah Like as african people as new africans, we've been dehumanized so much so much to levels of like We can't even explain bro. You think about what we would call animals all types of things, bro But then to actually find your humanity Under a loss upon a batala. That's something that no one could take away You could subject us to whatever you might whatever these oppressors whatever these shaitans want to subject us to But you could never take away our humanity You can then the Mala makes that clear in the Quran You they try to rid us from this world The martyr Can't take away the humanity of a martyr Martyrs still alive. What's we even know it? You know, so it's uh Hey, I'm just uh, it's been a blessing this Ramadan, bro. It's been a very blessed Ramadan Yeah, and it's like I don't look like so I feel like I found my humanity in the in the same way but also in like a different way in terms of uh, like I don't know if this is if I should say humanity or I just like my humanness. I don't know if those are synonyms or um but you know, like the thing about uh materialism, which is the um Philosophy of the west right materialism is the philosophy that governs the west, right not And you might not hear joe bride and get up and talk about or you might not hear like the democrats and republican parties talk about Like materialism as philosophy, right? But like not the materialism that people talk about like cars and clothes and shoes But like actually this thing where you have to dominate nature and make it bend to your wheel Right, like I found the humanity in a sense that like we are not the center of the universe Like we don't control everything. It's like what that is like taking off this pressure off me, you know Like and it's like it's that the god complex that the west gives you let them know we talk about it You know I'm saying the man's character syndrome like we talked about the type of stuff before, right? So that's part of finding your humanity. That's what I'm saying to a law is like understanding your position. Mm-hmm You know, I found it in that way to where it's like When you realize like this thing isn't all that's to it That in itself is a very revolutionary and liberating feeling because The west benefits of you being consumed with this reality Right, because if you're consumed with this reality, you not think about the afterlife you'll do whatever you can For this one. You'll you'll you'll think this is like the primary thing and then I'll also say that uh So I wanted to say, okay thinking about understanding that This is finite that you know, I guess with if we talk about the materialist framework that matter is primary uh Or what you were saying made me think like the materialist People just bought into this reality of this life In many ways This for us as believers is this is a finite, but they treat this life like it's infinite You know I'm saying And like the dunya right this life for us is just a step to the next to the akira to the next life You know, so for us the akira that the next life afterlife. That's what's infinite You know, I'm saying but here we know that it's finite. We know a lot has prescribed a time for us on this earth Where he takes us home, you know, I'm saying where we die and to God we return shalom, right? But I think when you understand that aspect is like, what are you doing this life for if you're doing this life only for worldly ambitions for trying to gather success success in this world, but not doing things with a consciousness of the law and trying to do things for the next life That's where you get corrupted Ultimately because who's who's trying to you know, you see all these billionaires man trying to do Freezer chambers and all this stuff and trying to they just want more to stay here so bad You know, it's like I believe it's a hadita says Uh, this world is a heaven Uh for a disbeliever to hell for the believer You know It's just The disbelievers cling on to this You know and for us we know it's finite And it comes to what's in you know a lot made us in clay and Breathe life into us and ultimately we go and return to the soil. You know what I'm saying our our bodies these vessels that we're in is going to turn into Turn into dirt and soil and we're going to be back in the dirt until a lot raises back up, you know So we know it's finite But we know the next life is infinite So when you're living for that and you're trying to do good to reach it to the next to what's infinite to Make it to jannah inshallah If I could change just the way you move through this life How much time yet 110 weeks Yeah, I mean last thing I was gonna say you mentioned we talked about humanity earlier and I was gonna say part of it when I talked about uh I know what I want to say but okay, we was talking about humanity and you were saying I said I found my humanity in another way in terms of uh Me feeling like I'm not me recognizing. I'm not in control of this thing, right? Uh, but it also what Islam has made me do is like I guess reconnect to that feeling of like submission right Because when you When you when you when you when you are moving from the materialist Uh, philosophy of matter being primary of humans being able to manipulate matter to their liking Of all things being knowable with that you develop a god complex whether you want to admit it or not Right and like so much of what the materialist philosophy has uh imbued On us in us is uh Like this this Always needing to be number one Always needing to be me being in control and with that thinking that you can just take take take And not have to give or that you only have to give him under parameters that you see fit Right, but it's like nah, there's just there's a specific way that we've been that we need to give There's a specific way that we need to live uh and us being accustomed with submitting to that Right, like the west and its spiritual anarchy is all about creating a program that fits your desires This is why so many people picking choose. This is why I realized I had a problem With it was okay. I wanted to believe in god, but I wanted to believe in god my own way What is that some western shit? Like what do you mean you want to believe in god your way? Also for real shit though. Yeah, like that's that's what I really I was like looking for Uh, you know, I like well, which one is like for me. It's like bro. No, no, no, no Which one is for humanity bro? You are a part of this thing You're a part of something and there is a certain way that you have to do it Right, but it also was like once I study Islam is okay. I already do I have like not even half already do like 95% of this stuff I just don't pray You feel me like I don't pray this way I'm already like even when I see the way you supposed to clean yourself. I'm like, uh, like when you piss I'm like this hella funny. You feel me like this is like basic like Common sense. I feel like you know, but for some people it ain't but I'm like, all right, this is like you feel my heart already bust down Oh, this is like this easy for me. You feel me like this is like That's why I like it. So it's like Feel me just like being like Especially when you put like the uh The struggle against our pressure elements into it. It's like bro This is but yeah, I think that's what I value so much if I have to sum it up. It's like umma I value prayer I value it being rooted in reasoning gratitude. I feel like if you got those like with those pillars, you know, like As a human if you constantly thinking And you constantly moving from a price of glad gratitude like that's just like a vibration that I just I value so much um So the umma prayer reason gratitude submission Detachment And not pure detachment. I like Islam is also rooted in the material because it says use reason, right? Uh, so like but it's like a balanced approach. It's not obsession with the material It's not obsession with the material. It's how to live in the material world, you know But it's not an obsession how to enact justice in the material world, but understand that it ain't the same it's ain't all of it I love it. I'm just grateful bro and again like you know If we have to look back at the day we met We'll have to say we met you know for this for us to be Eventually guided to the path of god and the path of righteousness Uh and not righteousness in the backwards holier than thou that the west has presented Uh folks who believe in god to function as but like actual like real revolutionaries Real revolutionary humanists real people who actually want to contribute to the most positive way to this realm You know and it's like who would have thought From that interview I still have to I could pull up the first email ever sent you You feel me like that's like if you were to that was nine years ago May around because we we did we did abc for a year before we did hella black, right? 2015 so 2015 was nine years ago, right? Yeah Yeah, because if it's 2015 a 20 year almost nine years ago Yeah, I'm almost nine years ago that A song would have set us down like all right and nine years Y'all both gonna be muslims You ain't finna drink no alcohol I would have never believed it because you couldn't have told me I wouldn't I would have been able to not drink I wouldn't have believed you bro. What would almost stop me from shahada was Wallahi bro Wallahi bro, that was literally would almost stop me from like I can't I can't stop drinking The same way you had a conversation with left. I had a conversation with left. Yeah I'm I believe in god I believe prophet Muhammad said we'll saw him as a messenger of wallah But I don't want to be no fake. What's up? I don't know if I can give up drinking a partying And he said everything starts with shahada Take shahada everything else will fall And you could say they started with your shahada if everything starts with shahada I became sober because of Seeing You'd be sober you feel me. I'm okay if this nigga could do it I for sure could do it even about because I hadn't seen nobody who like Did what I did and had the problem that I had you know, like okay And then you you know, so I have rest of Simple again, they would have told us nine years ago, you know Allah is the best of planers Like a man and that's why it's beautiful and not knowing everything That's why I'd be saying like all all things are noble. I sometimes it's just best not to know Like what is it? So we see knowledge from the cradle to the grave But ultimately you feel me when we bow down and prostrate to our creator We're in submission to our our lord And part of that submission is knowing that we will never know enough That Allah knows everything We don't How western is it to think that you can? You know, I'm saying like people would reject God that want to become God himself And you gotta stick by who that's why I said who it came from, you know what I'm saying Who would they come from return to the source? Really love Turn to the creator But Appreciate everybody who's been supporting us You know, obviously this uh If you think about some of our earlier episodes and now Well, we got another we had a robin out episode last year. Oh, yeah, of course, it's uh I'm just thinking about our shifts. You know what I'm saying So I appreciate y'all listening And I hope y'all found value. I hope you hear the sincerity in both of our voices and For everyone participating in Ramadan Ramadan mubarak Eid Mubarak and Yeah, it's uh I pray this Ramadan was everything that everyone needed And strengthened us And allow us to strive for justice In the ways in which the law is intense shallah