Lebanese Rappers Sing of Life and Palestine

The following are excerpts from a story about Lebanese Rappers, which aired on New TV on September 4, 2005

Reporter: Hisham, Muhammad, Sa'd, and Abd Al-Aziz met in a poor neighborhood, and started a rap group called "The Eye," which sings about their pain, their ideas, and their environment.

Rapper: This is our story, it began with a friendship between four guys, each with his problems, and a lot of pain. We tell each other our problems, every Friday, week after week. We discovered rap, which cleansed us from the atmosphere of suffering. We want to use it to open up young people's eyes. It's not about looks – about phones, or even clothes…

Reporter: The four youngsters study and work. They finish selling stuff at the Sidon market, they pick up their merchandise, and hurry to practice performing their songs, and to write their lyrics. Sidewalks serve them as rehearsal studios, and in wintertime – building entrances. Their musical instruments are their own throats. Their goal is to spread the message of rap. They sing for peace and for humanity.

Rapper: Our songs call for peace. We are all the same - even if we differ in nationality or religion - because man is not measured by his religion, his money, or his looks, he is measured by his strength and his reason.

Other Rapper: Since we don't have any money or anything, we were forced to hold rehearsals… we suffered a lot on winter nights, in building entrances. For example, we went to lots of places to ask for help, but everybody told us it's tough these days.

Reporter: Although their songs deal with the tragic reality of man, they are nevertheless full of hope and vitality.

Rapper: Let's talk about the girl who died in her mother's womb, and about the poor family no one would support. Even before she was born, she caused concern. Even if a government employee finds a job, he works all his life, but cannot feed his children. He has fought the battle. But the battle is in its beginning stages, and we don't know if we win or lose. The important thing is that we care. The children in the homes are hungry, diligent, but there is no money for school. Studies at school are disrupted. For 15 years they return to the same class, and history repeats itself. But who is to blame? Who is to blame?

Reporter: They are young Lebanese and Palestinian, singing about Lebanon and about Palestine as well.

Rapper: Palestine, my second mother, I cannot protect it like she protects me. Children roam the streets, their homes destroyed by the false fence of peace. You blew up houses and destroyed schools. You crossed the border and killed the guard. You produced corruption, and turned past into present.