(P)raising Islam: When French Muslim Rappers Advocate for Peace, Love, and Unity in a Multicultural France

Abstract

This chapter will first show how the alliance between rap music and Islam was established in France. Once I have elaborated on the definition of “Islamic rap,” I will demonstrate that the rappers of my analysis promote mostly an Islam advocating a vivre-ensemble in the French nation through universal values of peace, love, and unity more so than messages of violence or opposition to the republican values like other forms of rap might do. It is only fair to point out that some politicians, intellectuals, and media people tend to highlight the problematic aspect of rap lyrics that question and challenge virulently the republican values, but often fail to admit the fact that Muslim rappers also spread messages of peace, love, and unity among French citizens. Therefore, my aim is to concentrate my attention on these unifying principles in Islamic rap in order to show a new perspective of contemporary rap in the global context of Islamophobia, especially after 9/11 and after the terrorist threats of 2015–2016.