Yung Yusuf is a Palestinian-English rapper making music to fuel a revolution.
His lyrics are marked by a deep exploration of fear, identity, and vulnerability, while his animated wordplay and unique energy keep listeners on their toes.
I wrote about Yung Yusuf back in September, in my most read newsletter to date 'KNEECAPPED’
Friday night I met Lowkey's son. He isn't his son of course, too close in age but could perhaps be his nephew, son of an older sister perhaps.
Before I left, I went over to Yusuf who had just done the electrifying set where he sang something I hadn't ever heard in the heart of Babylon.
Free Free Palestine
His howls of "Free Free Palestine" were a scream of righteousness that reverberated throughout the high ceilings and old stone walls of St Martin in the Fields crypt.
His set was electric, the crowd varied from apathetic to ecstatic. He and his dance partner descended into the crowds at one moment, masks on feeding each other to do a delicate dance
Perfectly in tune with one another..
Righteous rap plus liquid break-dance but with one eye masked. One black, one white.
I limped to the merchant table to find out if he had ever listened to Soundtrack to the Struggle. Yusuf said,
“Of course. I supported Lowkey some time back but I didn't really know my own my identity back then.”
I asked if he was Palestinian
He said yes.
I said, okay because people think Lowkey is Palestinian but he's actually Iraqi. I honestly don't know how many people know that.
So I was eager to interview him, which I did on Sunday. One day after I went to see Lowkey perform at the Jazz cafe…
Recorded at Cafe Oto in Dalston
Listen to all episodes here
This episode has LOTS of music in it. (Please excuse my croaky voice. I'm sick!)
In order:
Martyr - A.Rob
Hand on Your Gun - Lowkey Live at Jazz Cafe
Al Kufiyyeh - Shadia Mansour Ft M1 from DEAD PREZ
Move on - Yung Yusuf
Dance with the Devil - Immortal Technique
Burbank - Yung Yusuf
Zionist Agenda - Genocide
You can find Yung Yusuf's music on Spotify.
Pre save his new album SOLARIS here.
Follow him on Instagram and see him perform at the Plant Food x Yung Yusuf: Double Album launch on FRIDAY 15TH NOVEMBER at The Jago in East London
Yusuf's next rap workshop is in December. Details here
Find out more about Camden Friends of Palestine
CADFA (Camden Abu Dis) Charity promoting human rights in Palestine
As mentioned this is my last podcast at least for this year. If you want me to continue, drop some money in my PayPal so I can pay myself a wage.
Or to browse my archives and read three chapters of my book which are now behind a paywall, become a paying subscriber!
p.s
WHEN THE WAR IS OVER
by Anonymous
I once saw the deer.
They were all wearing blue scarves.
We have finally finished
Killing everything.
We are now looking ahead
But have killed past the future.
We own are own narratives. Go forth and write them.
~ Little Samz out
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