Kuwait Musical Brothers Sons of Yusuf Share their Life Story with "Still Got a Lot to Go" and #WhatsYourStory

By Sana Panjwani

Since its inception in the Bronx in the 1970s, hip-hop has been a powerful medium for self-expression and change for minorities – a voice for the voiceless.

In the United States, it became a vehicle for the voice of a long-oppressed community, sparked a cultural movement and turned sentiments and opinions into poetry, socio-political commentary and even change. In the Middle East, where poetry’s legacy stretches back five millennia, hip-hop and rap have become increasingly popular musical media for the current generation to articulate their cultural identity, experiences, resistance and opinions.

Enter The Sons of Yusuf; if you haven’t heard of them, you will.

These musical brothers are on a mission “to reintroduce the concept of music and challenge the status quo.” The mission sounds a bit vague and open to interpretation, but to “The Sons”, it means inspiring and paving the way for a hip-hop culture in the Middle East, introducing the world to their cherished culture, and changing negative perceptions of the Arab world. That’s a tall (and noble) order, but these guys seem uniquely suited for the job.

Ya’koob and Abdul Rahman Al-Refaie (The Sons) were exposed to the world of music at a young age by their father Yusuf – a former jazz musician who encouraged them to make music and art.

The Sons lived in Los Angeles as kids and are well traveled, which has inspired them to think globally and fueled a passion for sharing their own culture.

“We want to inspire artists, poets, filmmakers, musicians, the youth around the world, especially out here in the Middle East, to help build and make a change,” said the duo. “We want to break the silence and change the perception about Muslims around the world today. We all know the news is giving a very wrong (sic) image about Islam and the Middle East, and we want to help change that as well.”

Response to their previous videos and songs like ‘When we ride,’ ‘HALA هلا,’ ‘Now is the time,’ ‘Arabs in Paris,’ and ‘Otis’ has been tremendous, garnering them a huge fan base in the region since they dropped their first mix-tape in 2012. A recent visit to the US also sparked interest in collaborations from some established players in the world of Hip Hop.

So, it’s no surprise that Sons of Yusuf recently released their new single and video “Still Got A Lot To Go,” in collaboration with Bayt.com (Middle East’s leading job site). The song and video highlight the fruits of hard work and creativity. The Sons hope this new release will motivate people to create their own destiny.

According to Bayt.com, the #WhatsYourStory series aims “to empower you to write the life story you want, starting with your career [and] give you the tools to make a good story.” The series also encourages people in the Middle East to ‘take control of your own life, take chances and change destinies…because life is about doing things well, changing for the better, and never, ever giving up.’ The campaign aims to help people shine a light on their careers by highlighting one’s accomplishments and goals, ‘share that story in all the right places,’ and network with people who may ‘change your life.’

The campaign has also presented the work of Jordanian a cappella group Tarab 3al 7atab featuring a remake of popular Arabic song ‘Batwannes Beek.’

Despite growing up in a Western environment, the Sons still uphold traditional Islamic values and incorporate characteristics from both cultures into their work, hoping to show people where they came from and share their heritage, culture and traditions in a modern, trendy way.

For instance, “Still Got A Lot To Go” was shot in Kuwait as a nod to their homeland and features a mix of Western and Arab props such as traditional Arab garb as well as more contemporary, Western clothing, depicting their time in LA as well.

“Our traditional clothing also represents a “Sheikh”, which means an Arab leader, in particular the chief or head of an Arab tribe, family or village,” said Abdul Rahman. “Or it can mean a leader in a Muslim community or organization. By that, we intend to also alter stereotypes and kill all racism and be Sheikhs that inspire the youth, provide for the people in need, the poor, the Muslim Ummah and more, inshaAllah.”

The video also features successful people in non-traditional careers, including an artist, equestrian, chef, baker and pilot, inspiring others to take a chance and help redefine people’s perceptions of what it means to be successful in the region.

“Through all the struggle and pain comes creativity and a hunger for change. No matter what it is you want to do, no matter what you got to do … you still got a lot to go,” raps Abdul.

For more information about the #WhatsYourStory series, check out Bayt’s website. To keep track of The Sons and their goings on, check out their website.