Fake Thug Life

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Fake Thug Life

There is a young man who inspired me to write this article. I thank him for doing a great service to the Muslim society. Turn where you will. Look to the East Coast or the West Coast and there are various Arab boys, Indian boys, and Pakistani guys who have adopted the look, lingo, and life of a "thug." I have seen it many times - this strange transformation from tapered jean-wearing, glasses-owning, nail biting ninny to chest-thumping, hard-acting, Nautica-wearing "thug."

It begins at an early age with the use of slang, words like "werd!” ,"yo!", "jigga man!" It is followed by the gradual attraction towards mainstream rap. Ja Rule, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Jay Z. Bear in mind, this attraction to hip hop is not derived from any cultural relationship these boys feel towards "the ghetto!" Most of them have never even been to one. Regardless, they like to blare hip hop in their predominantly white high schools because it makes them stand out. Wearing ENYCE, or Sean John, on the other hand, in the predominantly white high school makes said Muslim boy stand out and makes him appear more hardcore than he would in his tapered jeans from Sears that his mother bought for him. Thus, we see that the use of slang, plus a certain social need, gives rise to a Muslim boy getting closer and closer to a certain imagined sense of "thug-life."

Add to this the fact that most Muslim boys only play basketball while growing up, or "hoops" as they call it, because they are too skinny for football and too excitable for baseball. The game comes with its own infusion of hip-hop culture. Since a thug is either a "baller" or a "Playa" and since most Muslim parents would beat up their sons if they saw them with a girl, all Muslim boys end up being (self-proclaimed) "ballerz." We all know the relationship basketball has with hip-hop culture. A Muslim's transformation into a "thug" quickens. He starts using appropriately placed rap verses. Ice Cube's "check yo'self fo' you wreck yo'self" makes its way into religious discussions.

Nelly's "it's getting hot in here" begins to be dropped into sermons referring to Hell.

Their emails begin to be sprinkled with "kno wat im sayin" and "check it." His favorite love song, instead of being something by Sinatra, becomes Ginuwine's "My pony!" or Montel Jordan’s "Let's Ride!"

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