Ismael Lea South
Encyclopedia
Ismael Lea South is a British
rapper
, community activist and youth worker
.
, North West
London
, United Kingdom
. Both his parents are from Jamaica
, his father came to the UK in the late 1950s and his mother in the early 1960s. He was raised as a Christian.
in Hyde Park
’s Speakers' Corner
and then later at a Muslim event in Westminster University
. After working together in a aromatherapy business, Rakin and him formed the group Mecca2Medina
in 1996.
He is a project
and events
manager for the Black Youth Drugs Line that works against drugs and anti-social behaviour in UK inner cities.
He has co-hosted and managed the urban stages at the Islam Expo
in Olympia and the Global Peace and Unity Event
in ExCeL Exhibition Centre. He co-hosts Islam Channel
’s urban show Brother’s in the Deen.
In 2006, he co-founded "The Salam Project" with Rakin Fetuga, which organises urban Islamic events and initiatives. He organises Muslim Hip hop and comedy events such as the Muslim Hip Hop Summit. He also works as a consultant in Islamic urban projects in the Muslim community and is currently working on Crescent Moon Media recording label.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
, community activist and youth worker
Youth Worker
A Youth worker is a person that works with young people to engage them in informal education. Youth workers can work in many contexts. In the UK and elsewhere, the main distinction is usually made between statutory, those who work as part of a government run initiative, and non-statutory, those...
.
Background
Born Lea South in WillesdenWillesden
Willesden is an area in North West London which forms part of the London Borough of Brent. It is situated 5 miles north west of Charing Cross...
, North West
NW postcode area
The NW postcode area, also known as the London NW postcode area, is a group of postcode districts covering part of northwest London, England...
London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Both his parents are from Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, his father came to the UK in the late 1950s and his mother in the early 1960s. He was raised as a Christian.
Early life
South started writing lyrics at school. He later joined an underground group "Strictly Business with Gee and Mic Check One". They were later signed by an underground recording label. He converted to Islam in this process and left due to artistic content disagreements.Career
South met Rakin FetugaRakin Fetuga
Rakin Misbah Fetuga Niass is a British rapper, music producer, presenter and teacher.-Early life:Rakin Fetuga was born in Ladbroke Grove, West London. His parents, both Nigerian, came to the UK in the 1960s to further their education. His Muslim father was an accountant, whilst his mother was a...
in Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
’s Speakers' Corner
Speakers' Corner
A Speakers' Corner is an area where open-air public speaking, debate and discussion are allowed. The original and most noted is in the north-east corner of Hyde Park in London, United Kingdom. Speakers there may speak on any subject, as long as the police consider their speeches lawful, although...
and then later at a Muslim event in Westminster University
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
. After working together in a aromatherapy business, Rakin and him formed the group Mecca2Medina
Mecca2Medina
Mecca2Medina were the first Islamic Hip hop/Nasheed group in Britain.-History:The group was started in 1996 and produced their first EP, entitled "Life after death", the same year. Since then they have released three nasheed albums and two hip hop albums and one mix CD. They make music for both...
in 1996.
He is a project
Project manager
A project manager is a professional in the field of project management. Project managers can have the responsibility of the planning, execution, and closing of any project, typically relating to construction industry, architecture, computer networking, telecommunications or software...
and events
Event management
Event management is the application of project management to the creation and development of festivals, events and conferences.Event management involves studying the intricacies of the brand, identifying the target audience, devising the event concept, planning the logistics and coordinating the...
manager for the Black Youth Drugs Line that works against drugs and anti-social behaviour in UK inner cities.
He has co-hosted and managed the urban stages at the Islam Expo
Islam expo
Islam Expo is an Islamic exhibition held in London in July 2006 and July 2008. In 2006 it was held at the Alexandra Palace in London, a city with a large Muslim population and it was described as being the largest Islamic exhibition ever held in Europe....
in Olympia and the Global Peace and Unity Event
Global Peace and Unity
The Global Peace and Unity event is an annual two-day conference held at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in Royal Victoria Dock, London and organized by the Islam Channel. It is the largest Muslim, interfaith and multicultural event of its kind in Europe, having attracted over 55,000 visitors from...
in ExCeL Exhibition Centre. He co-hosts Islam Channel
Islam Channel
Islam Channel is a UK-based, free-to-air, English language, Islamic-focused satellite television channel funded by advertising and donations. It was reported in 2008 that UK government research found that 97.3% of Muslims watched the channel...
’s urban show Brother’s in the Deen.
In 2006, he co-founded "The Salam Project" with Rakin Fetuga, which organises urban Islamic events and initiatives. He organises Muslim Hip hop and comedy events such as the Muslim Hip Hop Summit. He also works as a consultant in Islamic urban projects in the Muslim community and is currently working on Crescent Moon Media recording label.
See also
- Black BritishBlack BritishBlack British is a term used to describe British people of Black African descent, especially those of Afro-Caribbean background. The term has been used from the 1950s to refer to Black people from former British colonies in the West Indies and Africa, who are residents of the United Kingdom and...
- British Jamaican
- British hip hopBritish hip hopBritish hip hop is a genre of music, and a culture that covers a variety of styles of hip hop music made in the United Kingdom. It is generally classified as one of a number of styles of urban music...
- List of converts to Islam
- Islamic musicIslamic musicIslamic music is Muslim religious music, as sung or played in public services or private devotions. The classic heartland of Islam is the Middle East, North Africa, Iran, Central Asia, Horn of Africa and South Asia. Due to Islam being a multi-ethnic religion, the musical expression of its adherents...
- NasheedAnasheedAnasheed , is Islamic vocal music that is either sung a cappella or accompanied by percussion instruments such as the daff...
- Mecca2MedinaMecca2MedinaMecca2Medina were the first Islamic Hip hop/Nasheed group in Britain.-History:The group was started in 1996 and produced their first EP, entitled "Life after death", the same year. Since then they have released three nasheed albums and two hip hop albums and one mix CD. They make music for both...
- Rakin FetugaRakin FetugaRakin Misbah Fetuga Niass is a British rapper, music producer, presenter and teacher.-Early life:Rakin Fetuga was born in Ladbroke Grove, West London. His parents, both Nigerian, came to the UK in the 1960s to further their education. His Muslim father was an accountant, whilst his mother was a...
External links
- Mecca2Medina
- Muslims in the House. emel. Issue 8, November/December 2004