Taking hip-hop back to its original intent of intelligent content meant to uplift the listener towards God’s remembrance.
Together Al-J and Yusuf Abdul Mateen are Blak Madeen, an Islamic-infused duo that evokes the “conscious era” of hip hop of the late 80s and early 90s.
Discography
Dangerous Artform – 2019
One Second to Pray [EP] – 2018
Supreme Aftermath – 2016
The Time – 2014
Militant Minds – 2012
Divine Power Culture – 2012
Sacred Defense – 2009
Biography
Al-J tells it best: I met Yusuf in 2005, I had cut a CD called Blak Ambitition and I was doing this show at the Western Front. I bumped into this white kid wearing a kufi. He didn’t know me. I didn’t know him, but I gave him a CD.
First thing he said to me, ‘Are you dropping knowledge on this?’ I was like, ‘Yeah,’ and I guess he liked it. We’ve been working with each other ever since.”
While both emcees were initially solo artists, Boston hip hop promoter and CEO of Leedz Edutainment Ned Wellbery nudged the two to work together. The two discovered a shared passion for rap music in the days of Gang Starr, Divine Styler, and Brand Nubian. Al-J said their aim was to “carry the torch of the people who’ve gone before.”
The group put out their debut album Sacred Defense (2009), to positive reviews, encouraging the pair to continue. Yusuf said it was a natural match.
“Al-J is very easy to work with, very prolific, always down to try different things when I throw new concepts at him,” Yusuf said. “We took time with the Sacred Defense, it had good guests and it was completely clean. We knew what we were trying to sound like and who we were trying to reach.”
Following the Sacred Defense, Blak Madeen released Divine Power Culture (2012), featuring the likes of Cormega and Reef the Lost Cauze. Later that same year came Militant Minds, a collaborative EP with Tragedy Khadafi, followed by The Time (2014). Now, the group prepares Supreme Aftermath, set for release in January 2016. The new album, which touches upon such issues as Islamophobia and religious oppression, enlists the help of Divine Styler, Gift of Gab (Blackalicious), Planet Asia and more.
Yusuf believes the timing is perfect for the project, considering the current geo-political climate. “Right now, a lot of the themes that we have always addressed are part of the public discussion,” he says. “I think these days people will be more interested to hear what we have to say. We are not claiming to be experts or saints or scholars, but we definitely have something to add to the dialogue.”