Rakin Fetuga
Birth nameRakin Misbah Adetola Fetuga
Also known as
  • Trim
  • Rakin da Authordox
  • Rakin Misbah
  • Rakin Niass
Born (1971-01-21) 21 January 1971
Ladbroke Grove, Kensington and Chelsea, London, England
OriginKilburn, London, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1985–present
LabelsCrescent Moon Media
Websitewww.rakinniass.co.uk www.saveourboys.co.uk

Rakin Misbah Adetola Fetuga (born 21 January 1971) is an English rapper and music producer of Nigerian descent.

Early life

Fetuga was born in Ladbroke Grove, London, England. His parents, both Nigerian, came to the United Kingdom in the 1960s to further their education. His Muslim father was an accountant, whilst his mother was a Christian working for the London Transport. When Fetuga was a teenager his parents separated, and in his mother's care he was brought up as a Christian. Through his early life, he has been Catholic, Jehovah's Witness and Methodist.[1]

Career

In 1985, Fetuga and his childhood friends formed Cash Crew,[2] he left Holland Park School before his A-levels[3] when they were signed to Virgin Records and BMG France.[2] He was a DJ, producer, breakdancer and graffiti artist as well as a rapper,[4] known at the time as Rakin da Authordox aka Trim. Fetuga converted to Islam along with the others members.[5] and in 1992, the group recorded the first ever Islamic rap song "The Provider".[6] In 1995, Fetuga left the group.

Fetuga then studied Islam under the guidance of Shaykh Ahmed Ba'biker Abu Bakr As-Sudani who encouraged him to use rap for da'wah (inviting others to Islam)[1] and to continue using his musical talents to make Islamic music.[7] In 1996, he formed the group Mecca2Medina.[8] In 1999, he graduated with a BSc in Sociology from the University of Roehampton and then started voluntary work before being recruited to train as a mentor.[3]

As well as recording and performing, Fetuga has also presented programmes such as the Global Peace and Unity Event Nasheed Contest for Islam Channel in 2008.[9] He has co-hosted and managed the urban stages at the Islam Expo in Olympia and the Global Peace and Unity Event in ExCeL Exhibition Centre.[7]

In September 2010, Fetuga released a solo album The Road Less Travelled credited to the stage name "Rakin Niass", featuring other hip hop artists, including Poetic Pilgrimage.[10]

Fetuga is the CEO of Crescent Moon Media record label.[11] He runs workshops to support youth, teaches Religious studies at Oasis Academy Hadley. He also teaches Islamic studies at the weekends,[1] and is also life coach.[11] Fetuga's latest initiative is to bring awareness to the epidemic of youth violence in the inner cities. He formed an organisation called 'Save Our Boys' which holds events in the community and in schools. He is also part of the Rumi's Cave team working as a teacher, events host, speaker and Imam for Friday congregational prayers and Ramadan taraweer prayers.

Personal life

Fetuga is a muqaddam (student) of the Tijaniyyah Sufi order. He now lives in Kilburn, London with his wife, Adwoa-Amina Elsie Ofori, and four children.[1]

Discography

The Road Less Travelled (2011)

The Road Less Travelled
Studio album by
Rakin Niass
Released10 September 2010
GenreHip hop
Length35:52
LabelCrescent Moon Media

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."The Road Less Travelled"05:37
2."Mothers"02:23
3."What You Looking At?"01:54
4."Revolutionary Rap"03:06
5."New World Order"03:56
6."The Pen"04:38
7."Interlude: Malcolm Speaks"00:42
8."Malcolm X"01:54
9."Blackberry"04:51
10."Public Enemy"03:46
11."Escapism"03:49
12."Racism"03:11
13."Samuri Tongues"02:55
14."Music Therapy"03:10
Total length:35:52

Clarity (2011)

Clarity
Studio album by
Rakin Niass
Released9 December 2011
GenreHip hop
Length24:50
LabelCrescent Moon Media

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Clarity" (featuring Samiyah)03:39
2."I Love Her" (featuring Joel Culpepper)03:08
3."One"02:50
4."Niassness"03:20
5."Sold Soul" (featuring Samiyah, 580 and Nate)03:48
6."Ummah" (featuring Tijani Conscious, and Muneera from Poetic Pilgrimage)04:17
7."Baye Niass" (featuring Ousmane Thiam)03:48
Total length:24:50
Date Title Format Featuring
10 September 2010 The Road Less Travelled Album Mohammed Yahya, Poetic Pilgrimage, John Graham, Tyson Amir, Nomadic Poet, Iron Braidz, Ismael Lea South, Dawud Sayfulah, Chuks
8 December 2010 "New World Order" Single Mohammed Yahya
9 December 2011 The Clarity EP EP Samiyah

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Muqaddam Rakin Fetuga". Ahl-ul-Fayda. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Cash Crew". Heroes of UK Hip Hop. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  3. 1 2 Radice, Sophie (31 July 2001). "Our adult friend". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  4. ↑ "About M2M". Mecca2Medina. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  5. ↑ Pargeter, Alison (2009). The New Frontiers of Jihad: Radical Islam in Europe. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 182. ISBN 978-0-8122-4146-4.
  6. ↑ "Cash Crew Discography". Discogs. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  7. 1 2 "Hip-Hop: Mecca2Medina". MuslimHipHop.com. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  8. ↑ Timmerman, Christiane; Leman, Johan; Roos, Hannelore; Segaert, Barbara (2009). In-between spaces: Christian and Muslim Minorities in Transition in Europe and The Middle East. Peter Lang. p. 156. ISBN 978-90-5201-565-1.
  9. ↑ "The Nasheed Contest". Global Peace and Unity Event 2008. 2008. Archived from the original on 14 September 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  10. ↑ "The Road Less Travelled". Rakin Niass. 10 September 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  11. 1 2 "Biography". Rakin Niass. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
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