The Five Percenters: Islam, Hip-hop and the Gods of New York

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The first time I knew I didn’t know what the 5% were was in 1993, head splitting on some cheap weed sprayed with something awful, and the two kids in the front seat were talking about the knowledge or some such, and I let them know, “Muslims don’t get high, and they don’t drink.” They told me I don’t know what I’m talking about, but soon none of us knew what we were talking about so it all left little impression on me. I had always thought that there was some failure going on when these people with Muslim names got high, some hypocrisy.Knight’s history of the Five Percenters and Hip Hop, while less personal than some of his other writings, and not as exciting or manic in its research, it follows them in its defense of American religious innovation and adaptation. The Five Percenters are not Muslims, and where appeals to the reformation of criminals and addicts, and immersion into some international framework has sometimes formed the basis of validating the Nation of Islam, the Five Percenters don’t offer, seek, or provide the same validation. These are people who fight in the military, drink what they want, celebrate Christmas, and don’t apologize for it. Apple pies are really Dutch or English, but the Five Percenters are as American as hip hop, and while the movement’s vocabulary and rhetoric might be drawn from any number of places, hip hop has disseminated it widely.There was something odd and apt about a recent exchange between Lord Jamar and Michael Muhammad Knight over the former’s homophobic comments and the latter’s criticism of them, and what the recent exchange showed was Knight’s possible myopia in the book, his embrace and defense of the movement overlooking the powerful voice it has to disseminate sometimes reactionary rhetoric. Knight writes extensively about Brand Nubian and Lord Jamar in this book; but Brand Nubian was getting in trouble for violent homophobic lyrics back in 1992 when homophobia was even more commonplace.I have not read “Why I am a Five Percenter,” but look forward to doing so. In the recent exchange with Lord Jamar, Knight was critiqued as something of an anthropological tourist, an exploiter of the movement, which seems off to me, but also seems troublingly difficult to shrug off or dismiss.

Fills in valuable information not included in music and cultural history.

Growing up in NYC I remember seeing bands of different muslim groups sellng oils, book, incense, or just preaching on the corner. Some looked like genuine muslims others had Hebrew garb on reminiscent of Cosplay. I also was fortunate enough to have known members of Zulu Nation and other people down with Gods Etc. I think its fascinating....as a white jewish guy. If I was black I wouldn't pray to a white god either. This book really covers everything from the NOI and before on forward. Too much information at times that can be tedious to read but I am glad I got through the book. I always wanted to know more about these groups. Maybe one day I will get the chance TO BUILD for a god and impress them with my knowledge of the 7's.

I just recieved my copy of The Five Percenters: Islam, Hip Hop, and the Gods of New York and can already tell it's the kind of book that I won't be able to put down until I'm finished and even then have to go back and re-read. It's extremely detailed not just with information on the NOGE but on the forebearers of movements like Father Divine, and the seeds of Islam and Muslims in America as far back as the days of the slave trade in Georgia.Mr. Knight has obviously done an immense amount of research into the topic and not as an objective outsider trying to offer a scholarly approach but as someone invested with the Gods as an ernest interest. The prose style of writing and the narratives of his encounters keep a work that in someone else's hands might become boring or dry, fresh and relatable. He makes you want to know more and keep digging into the subject to find the full 360 of every intricate detail.This book isn't a light read and it isn't for someone with a passing interest just looking for a sound bite sized chunk of condensed knowledge but for those who really want to know about a very important but often overlooked and misunderstood piece of American cultural history that can get misrepresented or turned into something else by the other "85%".If you've read any other works by Mr. Knight I urge you to check this one out as it's well worth the read.

I've been searching for a book that breaks down the history and beliefs of the Five Percenters. Finding scholarly work is difficult and I believe Michael Knight has done an excellent job so far and I'm only half way through the book! This book was a page turner for me and is a book that I'd have to go back more than once for references. Michael Knight covers multiple movements prior to the 5%'ers which such details. You can tell how much research the author has put into writing this book. Definitely recommend this book for anyone in the academic field with a background on African-American movements/African-American History.

Like the set up of the organization. I been saying things that I didn't know were ideas from the five presenters. I guess great minds think alike. Everyone as an individual has their own point of views of what GOD is and how we suppose to function in this world we are living in. That tupac quote was funny. I see why he died, he kinda gave up on faith with GOD. He was distracted as well from the weed. He would have had been alive still if he believed he can and stopped smoking the weed. Maybe is chakras will open up more. Devils can wear you out when you not aware of "The Game". Knowledge is the key of the future.

I chose this rating cause for me being new to the knowledge it was very informative which I appreciate. Now I'm not an advid reader so for me it felt like it took a while to finish the book. I truly recommend this book for the historical context of the Gods & Earths

Brilliant product, very happy with the purchase, arrived quickly, Thank you! A++

Buy this book now.....you need it

great book