[News] Palestinian rapper MC Abdul, 12, releases first official song: ‘Shouting at the Wall'

[Anti-Imperialist News]

thenationalnews.com
<https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/2021/06/30/palestinian-rapper-mc-abdul-12-releases-first-official-song-shouting-at-the-wall/>
Palestinian
rapper MC Abdul, 12, releases first official song: ‘Shouting at the Wall'
Saeed Saeed - Jun 30, 2021
------------------------------

Palestinian hip-hop sensation MC Abdul, 12, has released his debut single.

Available on streaming platforms and with an accompanying music video shot
in Gaza, *Shouting at the Wall* fulfils the fierce rapper's promise to
release another searing track about life in occupied Palestine.

"I am exhausted. Last night I couldn't sleep and when I did, I heard bombs
in my sleep," MC Abdul raps, over Irish producer GMC Beats’s reflective
arrangements, which feature lamenting oud notes.

In the first verse, MC Abdul, real name Abdalrahman Alshantti, details the
anxiety and uncertainty Palestinian families experienced during the
bombardment of Gaza in May, which left about 200 dead and more than 1,000
wounded.

"Huddling in the corner of my room, trying to protect my little brother,"
he raps. "As the building shakes like it's possessed, but there is nothing
stronger than the will of the oppressed."

I put a lot of my feelings into this one

MC Abdul

The second verse is dedicated to Palestinian resilience. "Buildings turn to
ash but my mind is made of steel, so it doesn't take much for me to heal,”
he sings.

MC Abdul also touches on how hip-hop is his solace during challenging
times. "The power that I have in my pen, when I'm writing I am unstoppable.
The microphone is the only escape possible,” another lyric states.

Tying the song together is an anthemic chorus functioning as a hip-hop
battle cry for Palestinian resistance. "I want freedom for the population,
two million prisoners living in this location," the chorus goes. “Shouting
at the wall but nothing is ever changing. That's life under an occupation.”

Shot in one take, the accompanying video follows MC Abdul as he raps his
way across the wreckage in Gaza.
A career start

*Shouting at the Wall* is his first song with record label Empire.

The label and music distribution company was founded in 2010 by
Palestinian-American Ghazi Shamiand and has its headquarters in San
Francisco. It has released hits by the likes of hip-hop stars Tyga (*Taste*),
Fat Joe (*All the Way Up*) and XXXTentacion (*Look at Me*).

Abdul got himself on Empire's radar after his song, *Palestine, *went viral.

Released in May amid the latest bout of conflict, the track had him rapping
about the Palestinian cause over beats of Eminem’s *Cleanin' Out My Closet.*

"Because my only mission is to make people listen," the lyrics go. "This
one is for Sheikh Jarrah, hoping it can make a difference.”

The uncompromising lyrics and Abdul's talent resulted in more than five
million Instagram views in the first four days, as well as a repost from
Palestinian-American star producer DJ Khaled.

Other music figures who showed the video love included The Weeknd's manager
Wassim 'Sal' Slaiby and Palestinian hip-hop artists Suhell Nafar and Anees
the Rapper.

“I'm really excited to show you my first official release,” Abdul posted on
Instagram to promote *Shouting at the Wall. *“I put a lot of my feelings
into this one.”

Judging by the anticipation surrounding the song, it seems like the world
is ready to listen.

Updated: June 30th 2021, 2:05 AM
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://freedomarchives.org/pipermail/news_freedomarchives.org/attachments/20210710/eb8e3029/attachment.htm>