Meet Musa Yasin: The Pious Poet

A product of the Lower East Side of Manhattan, standing 6 feet tall 7 inches, and a professional basketball player, Musa Yasin’s music will make you re-think listening to mainstream hip hop. Forget the beats and the industry packaging, Musa’s music is all about the message. With songs like Lower Your Gaze, Islamic Diva, and Sabr (Patience) Musa, 32, reiterates the positive messages that we learn from Islam. Quickly becoming a force internationally with his brutally honest lyrics and smart rhymes, we got caught up with him.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself educationally and professionally?

Bis-miallah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim. Educationally, I majored in sociology and minored in child psychology at Curry College, Massachusetts. What I do professionally is I’m a Chaplin for several high schools and correctional facilities.

How did you get into the field of music?

I was born into a talented family from actors, to emcees, to breakers to poets to vocalists. So, it was like, the whole time I was being shaped and influenced.

How did you get the name Good Brother Musa?

The name started because a few people from my neighborhood used to tease me calling me “Good Brother” because I mentioned God in my raps and rapped about praying but it still had a hardcore feel to it.

You are a professional basketball player in Australia, are studying Islam, turned down working with mainstream record labels, perform your music internationally, what keeps you motivated?

I actually stopped playing basketball professionally because I was juggling too much and wanted to only do the work of Allah. Basically living the philosophy of: pleasing my Lord and not fulfilling my wants. As far as studying Islam, turning away from mainstream record labels and performing overseas, Islam motivated me, the people of the world motivated me and most importantly the youth motivated me. I had to come to a decision of what my image would be and do my best on being consistent. The words I put out is walking the fine line, so I let the world inspire me.

You have a new album out, called Temporary Pleasure, what is it about and how did the idea evolve?

It’s about the fallacies of this world; falling in love with the superficiality from lusting, to chasing money to flashy cars, so on and so forth. I just wanted to remind people that you invest so much in this earth but what have you invested for the hereafter? The only thing promised is that we all must go.

What is the G.O.O.D Brother Project?

I means: Giving Out Our Dawa. It’s a program for the youth attracted to the streets to get them involved and show them someone cares and they are not alone.

Your work and music mostly deals with Muslim youth. What do you think is the biggest challenge that faces them?

The biggest challenge is separating themselves from people that don’t bring them closer to Allah, or remind them of Allah. This can be from friends in school to family at home. It’s the same trial we all face.

What does your family think about your success?

I wouldn’t consider it success. I see it as a path that Allah (GOD) has written for me to walk and to be grateful to their Lord. Everyone’s proud.

Find out more at: http://www.goodbrothermusa.com

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