Aki Nawaz
Encyclopedia
Aki Nawaz also known as Aki-Stani, Righteous Preacher and Propa-Gandhi, is a British singer and musician and part of the band Fun-Da-Mental
. He is best known for his controversial lyrics.
In the 1980s, using his proper name Haq Qureshi, he played drums with the gothic rock
band Southern Death Cult
, a forerunner to The Cult
, featuring Ian Astbury
on vocals. When Astbury moved on to found his own band, the remaining musicians stayed together for a time as Getting the Fear
, recruiting new singer Bee Hampshire from Futon
, but eventually broke up. In 1986, Nawaz moved to London, set up a management company and signed artists to major record labels. Two years later, he formed Nation Records as a label primarily focused on creating fusions between different musical forms from all over the world for a more youth-oriented audience. Changing musical genres, Nawaz went on to found the Islamic rap group Fun-Da-Mental
in 1991 set up Nation Records
. He was the group's leader and most visible rapper.
Nawaz advocates a certain Islamic orthopraxy
, expressing total opposition to alcohol
and drug use. He believes that there should be a unity between Afro-Caribbean
s and Asians because he believes that the struggles that the two groups face are exactly the same. Through his music, Nawaz attempts to "normalize" the Islamic presence in Britain as well as to explain the reasons for fundamentalist tendencies among Muslim youth. Nawaz has collaborated with many traditional musicians, both in the studio and live: these include Huun Huur Tu, Rizwan Muazzam Qawwal-Mighty, Zulu Nation (a South African hip-hop group), and Gazi Khan (an artist from Rajasthan).
Controversy surrounded the release of Fun-Da-Mental's 2006 album, All is War. Nation Records had a distribution deal with Beggars Banquet Records
, but Martin Mills and Andrew Heath, two of Beggars Banquet
's directors, threatened to resign rather than allow their company to handle the album. The record was finally released directly by Nation Records as a download album on August 7, 2006, with a retail release on the Five Uncivilised Tribes label later that year.
Fun-Da-Mental worked with progressive Asian bands to help fight racism and spoke at anti-racist benefits. The group emphasizes militancy and self-defense as weapons against racism.
Nawaz has been criticized by Islamic community members not only for his lyrics, but also for his group Fun-Da-Mental's recital of verses from the Qur'an
over musical beats. Some Muslims believe this goes against what they regard as a fundamental tenet of Islam
. In this sense, Nawaz's musical contributions are considered controversial for their lyrics as well as for their religious content Nawaz claims he is prepared to face the consequences of any of his albums' releases, saying, "I'll take all the blame. If they're going to lock anyone up they'll lock me up."
He appeared as an interview subject in Bill Maher
's 2008
satirical documentary
Religulous
, along with excerpts from the "Cookbook DIY" video.
) includes instructions for making a home-made bomb. The video to this song makes many visual references to America. The video ends with a shot of graffiti
which quotes John F. Kennedy
's statement "If we make peaceful revolution impossible, we make violent revolution inevitable."
Fun-Da-Mental
Fun-Da-Mental is a British-based multi-ethnic hip-hop–ethno-techno–world fusion music group formed in 1991. The group is notable for its energetic fusion of Eastern and Western musical forms, for its outspoken political stance, and for its strong Islamic affiliation and advocacy. Fun-Da-Mental's...
. He is best known for his controversial lyrics.
Profile
Nawaz grew up in Bradford, England. His parents were Pakistani immigrants who arrived in England in 1964.In the 1980s, using his proper name Haq Qureshi, he played drums with the gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
band Southern Death Cult
Southern Death Cult
Southern Death Cult was an English positive punk band in the early 1980s. It is now primarily known for having given its lead singer and parts of its name to the multi-platinum hard rock supergroup The Cult...
, a forerunner to The Cult
The Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
, featuring Ian Astbury
Ian Astbury
Ian Astbury is an English rock musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for the rock band, The Cult.-Pre-Cult:...
on vocals. When Astbury moved on to found his own band, the remaining musicians stayed together for a time as Getting the Fear
Getting the Fear
Getting the Fear were an English gothic rock musical ensemble of the 1980s. Its members were Barry , Buzz , Aki Nawaz , and Bee...
, recruiting new singer Bee Hampshire from Futon
Futon (band)
Futon is an international band based in Bangkok, Thailand.Gene & Oh are both from Thailand. Bee and Simon are both from England. Futon was started by Bee and David Coker , who were running the Bangkok nightclub, Rehab...
, but eventually broke up. In 1986, Nawaz moved to London, set up a management company and signed artists to major record labels. Two years later, he formed Nation Records as a label primarily focused on creating fusions between different musical forms from all over the world for a more youth-oriented audience. Changing musical genres, Nawaz went on to found the Islamic rap group Fun-Da-Mental
Fun-Da-Mental
Fun-Da-Mental is a British-based multi-ethnic hip-hop–ethno-techno–world fusion music group formed in 1991. The group is notable for its energetic fusion of Eastern and Western musical forms, for its outspoken political stance, and for its strong Islamic affiliation and advocacy. Fun-Da-Mental's...
in 1991 set up Nation Records
Nation Records
Nation Records is a record label set up by Kath Canoville and Aki Nawaz in 1988.-History:The label was set up after major labels declined to release their fusion of world music and dance music, an album called Fuse...
. He was the group's leader and most visible rapper.
Nawaz advocates a certain Islamic orthopraxy
Orthopraxis
Orthopraxy is a term derived from Greek or an emphasis on conduct, both ethical and liturgical, as opposed to faith or grace etc...
, expressing total opposition to alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
and drug use. He believes that there should be a unity between Afro-Caribbean
British African-Caribbean community
The British African Caribbean communities are residents of the United Kingdom who are of West Indian background and whose ancestors were primarily indigenous to Africa...
s and Asians because he believes that the struggles that the two groups face are exactly the same. Through his music, Nawaz attempts to "normalize" the Islamic presence in Britain as well as to explain the reasons for fundamentalist tendencies among Muslim youth. Nawaz has collaborated with many traditional musicians, both in the studio and live: these include Huun Huur Tu, Rizwan Muazzam Qawwal-Mighty, Zulu Nation (a South African hip-hop group), and Gazi Khan (an artist from Rajasthan).
Controversy surrounded the release of Fun-Da-Mental's 2006 album, All is War. Nation Records had a distribution deal with Beggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet is an English independent record label that began as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin, and is part of the Beggars Group of labels...
, but Martin Mills and Andrew Heath, two of Beggars Banquet
Beggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet is an English independent record label that began as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin, and is part of the Beggars Group of labels...
's directors, threatened to resign rather than allow their company to handle the album. The record was finally released directly by Nation Records as a download album on August 7, 2006, with a retail release on the Five Uncivilised Tribes label later that year.
Fun-Da-Mental worked with progressive Asian bands to help fight racism and spoke at anti-racist benefits. The group emphasizes militancy and self-defense as weapons against racism.
Nawaz has been criticized by Islamic community members not only for his lyrics, but also for his group Fun-Da-Mental's recital of verses from the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
over musical beats. Some Muslims believe this goes against what they regard as a fundamental tenet of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. In this sense, Nawaz's musical contributions are considered controversial for their lyrics as well as for their religious content Nawaz claims he is prepared to face the consequences of any of his albums' releases, saying, "I'll take all the blame. If they're going to lock anyone up they'll lock me up."
He appeared as an interview subject in Bill Maher
Bill Maher
William "Bill" Maher, Jr. is an American stand-up comedian, television host, political commentator, author and actor. Before his current role as the host of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, Maher hosted a similar late-night talk show called Politically Incorrect originally on Comedy Central and...
's 2008
2008 in film
This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008...
satirical documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
Religulous
Religulous
Religulous is a 2008 American comic documentary film written by and starring comedian Bill Maher and directed by Larry Charles. The title of the film is a portmanteau derived from the words "religion" and "ridiculous"; the documentary examines and mocks organized religion and religious...
, along with excerpts from the "Cookbook DIY" video.
Controversy over lyrics
The controversy behind "All is War" lies in its lyrics, which could be interpreted as glorifying terrorism. One of the songs, "Cookbook DIY," (the song's title being likely a reference to The Anarchist CookbookThe Anarchist Cookbook
The Anarchist Cookbook, first published in 1971, is a book that contains instructions for the manufacture of explosives, rudimentary telecommunications phreaking devices, and other items...
) includes instructions for making a home-made bomb. The video to this song makes many visual references to America. The video ends with a shot of graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
which quotes John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
's statement "If we make peaceful revolution impossible, we make violent revolution inevitable."