How Sean Price converted to Islam: “I’ve always read the Quran”
A notable and inimitable presence in the underground hip-hop scene of the nineties and noughties, Sean Price is, perhaps, best known for his brazen realism and his witty lyrics delivered with his trademark gravelly voice. And years on from his untimely death, he is still remembered as a true great of the genre.
Having grown up in Brooklyn, New York, Price first appeared on the scene as a member of the collective Boot Camp Clik, and then went on to become one half of the Heltah Skeltah duo, which would release albums Nocturnal, Magnum Force, and D.I.R.T. His career would also include an appearance on Grand Theft Auto 3’s radio station, the critically acclaimed solo album Monkey Barz, and a role as a judge on the Ultimate MC television show.
Price also converted to Islam in 2009, aged 31. In an interview with The Message magazine, Price explained his spiritual journey with Islam.
“I’ve always read the Quran and the word of prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him,” Price said in the interview. “When I was in jail, the correction officer always tried to make me go to the mosque and I was like: No! Because in prison, a lot of people become Muslim for protection. They don’t really wanna submit to the word of Allah, they are just punks who know that the Muslims are strong in jail and that they’d be protected.”
“So I’m not a coward, I waited till I got home,” he continued. “I don’t want nobody to say I became Muslim for protection. So when I got home, I actually was in Amsterdam, the Imam said: do you wanna do it?”
Price then further elaborated on his process of making the decision to officially convert. “I said no cause like I do drugs, I drink alcohol and I do this and that. That’s for you and Allah to discuss, he said and if you wait till you be perfect, you will never be a Muslim. No Muslim is perfect. Use this as a way where you need to be, so from there on I took my shot.”
“You know what, if you wake up in the morning and praise this yellow cap, I’m cool with that,” the rapper continued. “If that makes you a better person, then more power to you. My man here” – he pointed at his DJ, P.F. Cuttin – “is Catholic and I never was like, yo man, come to the mosque. Cause if that makes him a better man, a better husband and a better father, so be it. You need to find your own path, whatever makes you happy. I respect you, just respect yourself.”
What do you think about all these other rappers that have converted, the interviewer then asked him.
“I don’t know I don’t keep up with other rappers. I don’t know what they shit, what they eat don’t make me shit, so I don’t care,” Sean Price replied, laughing. And as for his level of observance, in regard to smoking? “I’ve quit a few things but I’m still doin’ a couple of other things. It’s like I’ve said, I am what I am. I have a song on my album called “Haraam”. I said I’m a work in progress, so I’m working on it. See me in a year, I might be better than I am right now, who knows. I might not but once again that’s for me and Allah to discuss.”