New Muslim Cool

Hamza Perez had two recurring dreams from a young age: one foretelling his death at age 21 and another predicting he would go to jail. Both prophecies eventually came true in symbolic ways. At age 21, he became a Muslim, which he describes as the death of his old life as a drug dealer, the death was spiritual rather than physical. The jail prophecy manifested when the FBI raid on his mosque led to legal complications and the revocation of his security clearance to teach at the county jail.

The prophetic dreams appear early in the film, establishing a spiritual framework that frames his entire journey as predestined.

While Hamza was smoking marijuana on a Pittsburgh street, a sheikh approached him to discuss Islam. This unexpected conversation marked the turning point toward his religious conversion. At age 21, he officially became a Muslim, describing it as the death of his old identity and past behaviors. The conversion represented both a spiritual rebirth and a complete transformation of his lifestyle, from drug dealer to religious community leader.

The street encounter with the sheikh is presented as the pivotal moment that redirected his life's trajectory.

The FBI raided the mosque during Friday prayer services on July 4th, forcing everyone out at gunpoint and conducting a mass eviction. The official explanation cited the presence of a felon staying at the Mosque that evening. The raid was conducted with heavy force, as documented by news footage and witness interviews. Prior to the raid, the film had already revealed that the FBI had planted a hidden camera on a light post pointed toward the Mosque, indicating ongoing surveillance of the community.

Earlier scenes show the FBI camera on the light post, foreshadowing the raid and creating tension about surveillance.

The county jail revoked Hamza's security clearance along with two other Muslim clerics, though the reason was initially unclear. Months later, his attorney revealed that an old interview from 2003 connected to the release of a new album had come under scrutiny. This investigation into his past activities led to the suspension of his ability to teach at the jail, despite his work as an anti-drug counselor. The film ends with Hamza eventually regaining his clearance.

The revocation follows the FBI raid and surveillance, suggesting a pattern of increased scrutiny on his community activities.

Rafiah Daughtry met Hamza on Naseeb.com, a Muslim social network. After a long period of online courtship, they decided to marry, a union Hamza described as a 'clash of civilizations' given his Puerto Rican background and her African American heritage. Rafiah admits she was initially anxious about his rap career but eventually grew to enjoy the music. After their wedding, they traveled to Massachusetts where Rafiah met more of Hamza's family and learned about his past as a drug dealer.

Their online meeting represents the beginning of a partnership that will support Hamza through the challenges ahead.

Two months after moving into a new home and preparing for a Fourth of July family barbecue, Hamza expressed worry that things might be progressing too smoothly. This unease proved prophetic, as that same day the FBI raided the Mosque during prayer hours. His intuition about impending difficulty suggests an awareness of the vulnerable position of his community under surveillance, or perhaps a sense that his past was catching up with him.

This moment of anxiety directly foreshadows the FBI raid that occurs later that same day.

During a family gathering, Hamza's mother Gladys Perez expressed hesitation about his religious shift. She noted that the brothers were raised Catholic and attended private Catholic school, revealing Hamza's birth name was Jason. Despite her uncertainty about Islam, she ultimately accepted her sons' choices, offering cautious support during their spiritual transition. This moment frames the familial tension and eventual acceptance that accompanies his dramatic life change.

The family dialogue establishes the cultural and religious conflict that Hamza navigates throughout his journey.

After returning to Pittsburgh and introducing the new community Mosque to the community, Hamza revealed that the FBI had planted a hidden device on a light post pointing toward the Mosque. This discovery highlighted ongoing surveillance of his religious community and created tension between his community work and national security concerns. The camera symbolized the suspicious lens through which his faith-based outreach was being monitored.

The hidden camera foreshadows the FBI raid that comes later, suggesting the surveillance was building toward action.

When Hamza visits his brother Suliman to cook Boricua Halal food, the brothers discuss their cultural hybridity. They communicate through a blend of Arabic-Spanglish-Ebonics, since they do not fluently speak Arabic, English, or Spanish. This scene underscores their unique identity as Puerto Rican-American Muslims who have blended their cultural heritage with their faith, creating a new cultural paradigm that draws from multiple traditions.

Hamza's mother Gladys revealed during a family gathering that his birth name was Jason. When he converted to Islam at age 21, he adopted the name Hamza, a common Muslim name that represents a significant transformation in identity. This name change symbolized his spiritual rebirth and departure from his previous life as a drug dealer, aligning with his description of becoming Muslim as the 'death' of his old self.

The name change reflects the larger theme of transformation that runs throughout the documentary.

Hamza uses his hip-hop music as a means of religious outreach in Pittsburgh, arguing that art can resonate with those who face oppression and hardship. As an anti-drug counselor for a social service agency, he visits at-risk youth in New York City projects to connect with them through his music. Together with his brother Suliman in the duo M-Team, he delivers messages of belief and provides an alternative to street life. His music becomes a tool for community building and spiritual engagement.

His music serves as both a spiritual mission and a bridge to the youth he aims to help.