DAM-PALESTINIAN HIP HOP

“Hip hop Palestinian style with DAM the leading Arab rap group” CNN

“Intifada Hip Hop” VIBE

“Very impressive.  Hard to imagine how they managed to make such a good record in the current circumstances. Unlike many hip hop albums, each song is clearly different from its neighbour, some decorated with traditional Middle Eastern instruments like qanun and oud. There’s humour and beauty as well as pride, anger and defiance. Hearing the album wets the appetite for seeing the group play live ” BBC Radio CHARLIE GILLETT UK

“DAM lend their hip-hop beats a uniquely local flavour with the clattering use of indigenous Arabic percussion.” * * * *THE TIMES UK

“DAM address the big issues. Traditional Arabic strings and funky breaks help punch home the message * * *”THE OBSERVER UK

DAM is the first and leading Palestinian Rap Group and one of the most interesting groups to get international attention. It is composed of Tamer Nafar, 31, his younger brother Suhell, 27, and Mahmoud Jreri, 28. The group has been performing together since the late 90s. Tamer, who had been performing Rap since 1998 with his brother, was first contacted by Mahmoud Jreri. Mahmoud was writing his own lyrics so they quickly decided to join forces and the group was born in 1999. All three members of the group were born and grew up in the slums of Lod, a mixed town of Arabs and Jews, 20 km from Jerusalem.

DAM’s album is a tour de force and has been completely written and conceived at home with key producers from the local scene. It is a unique fusion of East and West, combining Arabic percussion rhythms, Middle Eastern melodies and urban Hip Hop/Rap.

Interview with Palestinian Hip Hop Group DAM from IMEU.NET on Vimeo.

The powerful lyrics of DAM are influenced by the continuing Israeli – Palestinian conflict as well as by the Palestinian struggle for freedom and equality. DAM also draw their influence from such controversial issues as terrorism, drugs and women’s rights.

Musically they take their inspiration from both Hip Hop artists (Nas, Common, 2Pac, Mos Def, IAM, NTM, Saian Supa Crew, MBS etc.) and Arabic music (Marcel Khalifa,Kazem Saher,George Wassouf, Majda al Romi etc.)

DAM’s debut album “Stop Selling Drugs” was released locally in 1998, followed by the second album called “Min Irhabi” (“who’s the terrorist?”) which was released in 2001. The controversial title track of this album was released on the net and more than 1 million people downloaded it within one month from the website ArabRap.Net. The song was also distributed free with Rolling Stone magazine in France and became a “street” anthem. It was also featured in a compilation in France with Manu Chao, Zebda, Noir Desir and many other top artists.  Furthermore, the lyrics of the song were taught in some Universities around the world because of their deep meaning, and were also used in pro-Palestinian demonstrations around the world.

Further information on DAM on:

www.dampalestine.com

www.myspace.com/damrap

www.slingshothiphop.com

http://www.dubaifilmfest.com/en/films-explorer/?id=2839