A platform for Hip Hop's Underground
  • Main
  • Emcees
  • Producers/DJs
  • Blog

DAM

Picture
Mahmood Jreri (left) Tamer Nafar (middle)
Suhell Nafar (right)
DAM (Arabic: دام‎; Hebrew: דאם‎) is the first Palestinian hip hop group. Based in Israel, DAM was founded in 1999 by brothers Tamer and Suhell Nafar and their friend Mahmoud Jreri. The group's name is the Arabic verb for "to last forever/eternity" (دام) and the Hebrew word for "blood" (דם), but can also be an acronym for "Da Arabic MCs." The Arabic word for "blood" (دم) is spelled similarly, but without an alif. The group is one of the main subjects of the documentary Slingshot Hip Hop.  DAM rhymes primarily in Arabic, but it also rhymes in English and Hebrew to widen its audience appeal.

QUICK BIO TABLE
MEMBERS: Tamer, Mahmoud, Suhell
FORMER MEMBERS:
ORIGIN: Palestine
YEARS ACTIVE: 1999 - present
LABELS: Red Circle Music
WEBSITE
TWITTER
FACEBOOK
YOUTUBE
BIO  Despite not having a formal recording contract, DAM's 2001 single "Meen Erhabe?"—"Who's the Terrorist?"—was downloaded more than a million times from its web site. It is a controversial song regarding the Al-Aqsa Intifada and what the group perceived as Israel's barbaric methods of dealing with it.

In 2004 DAM released a single called "Born Here" in Arabic and Hebrew. The song was released with a videoclip directed by Juliano Mer-Khamis and produced by the mixed cities in Israel organization Shatil.

DAM completed its first album, Dedication, in 2006 and is featured in the documentary film Slingshot Hip Hop, directed by Jackie Salloum, about the emerging Palestinian hip hop scene.

DAM initially performed in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, winning many fans among both Palestinians and Israelis. Since then, DAM's music gained the attention of European and American audiences, and the group performed in the United States, England, Germany, Italy, and several other countries, making four European tours.

The group collaborated with Israeli rock band Shotei Hanevuah on the song "Generations Demand Peace." They appeared on Al Jazeera's program From Washington on June 4, 2007, during a report on Arabic hip hop.

The group's lyrics often deal with the frustration at the feeling of being second-class citizens in Israel and other issues familiar to hip hop fans around the world, including drug-related violence. The group's live performances feature images of Israeli soldiers clashing with stone-throwing Palestinians.
DISCOGRAPHY

Ihda' (Dedication) (2006)
Label: Red Circle Music
Purchase

Picture
Ihda' is the debut album by DAM released on October 16, 2006 through Red Circle Music. The groundbreaking album has been highly anticipated and is one of the most talked about albums of this autumn. Dam's message is about protest, 'straight up survival' and peace under the influence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The album is also about self criticism of Palestinian and Arab Society.

Dam's music is a unique fusion between East and West. It organically combines Rap with Middle Eastern influences and rhythms, creating a powerful message of freedom.

Track List
   1. "Mukadime (Intro)"
   2. "Mali Huriye (I Don't Have Freedom)"
   3. "Ng'ayer Bukra (Change Tomorrow)"
   4. "Warde (Flower)" (featuring SAZ)
   5. "Inkilab (Revolution)"
   6. "Ya Sayidati (My Lady)"
   7. "Al Huriye Unt'a (Freedom for My Sisters)" (featuring Safa')
   8. "Hibuna Ishtruna (Love Us and Buy Us)"
   9. "Mes Endroits (My Hood)"
  10. "Usset Hub (A Love Story)"
  11. "G'areeb Fi Bladi (Stranger in My Own Country)"
  12. "Kalimat (Words)"
  13. "Sawa' al Zaman (Driver of Fate)"
  14. "Ihda' (Dedication)"

Dabke On the Moon: 
Nudbok Al Amar (2012)
Label: DAM/CD Baby
purchase

Picture
Dabke on the Moon: Nudkok Al Amar is the second studio album by DAM released on December 15, 2012 on DAM/CD Baby. 

Track List
1. Street Poetry 
2. I'm Not a Traitor 
3. The Hob 
4. If I Could Go Back in Time
5. Why
6. Dabke On the Moon  
7. Tell Him It's Your Classmate  
8. A Letter from Prison 
9. Been Around the World 
10. Mama I Fell in Love With a Jew 
11. Handcuff Them War Criminals

Latest News

About
Privacy Policy
Contact
© Hip Hop Underground | All Rights Reserved