Canadian hip-hop duo Deen Squad released a new single in memory of the victims of the terrorist mosque attack on March 16 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The song's title Hey Brother, is taken from the last words uttered by Daud Nabi, the worshipper who greeted the shooter at the gates before he was gunned down.
The music video, released on YouTube on March 22, is an animated affair with the Masjid Al Noor mosque in the background, while rendered images of the victims are shown with their full name, their family role and employment. The lyrics to the song are placed at the bottom of the screen.
Each rapper tackles the painful subject matter differently.
Jay Deen's verse takes on the perspective of Nabi: “Step inside. When you meet my people you’re going to love us/ There’s a gun in your hand, no brother!”
Meanwhile, Lebanese-Canadian Karter Zaher (also known as KZ) takes a broader perspective: "Maybe the ‘phobes fed him information/ And it grew inside him/ Hatred/ So he loses the plot and shoots up a mosque.”
Speaking to The National, Deen - a Ghanaian-Canadian who converted to Islam in 2009 - says this song is as much a tribute to the fallen as a rallying cry for Muslims to not feel defeated by hate.
This is because we believe we are the face of our youth and this song represent our strength as a Muslim community.
“This song isn’t an option for us. It’s a duty,” he said.
“This is because we believe we are the face of our youth and this song represent our strength as a Muslim community.”
Zaher explained the track was quickly composed and released.
"After receiving hundreds of messages from fans and family asking us to dedicate a tribute song to the victims of Christchurch, we immediately started developing the song concept,” he said.
“It took us 24 hours to have the lyrics melodies, beat production and vocals ready.”
Formed in 2015, Deen Squad is one of the world most popular Islamic inspired hip-hop groups and have toured globally. Their previous show in Dubai was one of the biggest of their careers, having performed to over 30,000 people at Dubai's Autism Rocks Arena in 2017.
Their youth friendly tracks feature modern hip-hop and RnB sounds paired with religiously inspired lyrics that focus on various aspects of the Muslim faith.
After making their name with "halal cover versions" of hip- hop hits such as Muslim Queen and Allah Loves You – their take on Fetty Wap's Trap Queen and DJ Snake's Let Me Love You – they eventually branched out to original - with their debut EP Fajr released in 2017.
The boys are also known for the celebratory 2017 track Ramadan Kareem, which was released in the run up to holy month. The accompanying colourful video, where the boys are wearing dashikis and dancing along with friends, has already clocked up nearly 2 million views.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
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Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
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Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
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- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
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Rating: 4/5
