MC Abdul: The 15-Year-Old Rapper Who Shares the Plight of Gaza From the US, Losing Friends and Family

MC Abdul, a 15-year-old Palestinian rapper who recently moved to the US, has shared his anguish over the war in Gaza and the loss of his friend.

In an Instagram post, Abdul, whose real name is Abdulrahman Al-Shantti, said he felt guilty for living his dream in the US while his family back in Gaza were living a nightmare.

“Right now, I am living my dream in the USA. But right now, my family back in Gaza are living a nightmare,” he wrote. “I can’t help but feel guilty here and not being able to hug and protect my siblings.”

He said he had clean water, electricity and safety, while his family did not. He also revealed that his friend, who used to play basketball with him, was killed in the conflict.

“My friend was killed yesterday. We used to play basketball together. He was just a kid. Like Me,” he wrote.

Abdul urged his followers to pray for Palestine and said he would keep his people and country in his heart while creating music.

Abdul is known for his songs that address the Palestinian cause and the hardships of life in Gaza. He rose to fame with his debut single Palestine, which went viral during a previous wave of conflict in 2021.

The song features him rapping over Eminem’s Cleanin’ Out My Closet and mentions Sheikh Jarrah, a neighborhood in East Jerusalem where Palestinians face eviction by Israeli settlers.

He later signed with Empire, a US record label founded by Palestinian-American entrepreneur Ghazi Shami, and released more tracks that highlight the plight of Palestinians, such as Shouting at the Wall, The Pen & The Sword and What is it Worth?.

He also performed at the Fifa World Cup in Doha last year, where he met some of his musical idols, such as Tamer Nafar from the Palestinian hip-hop group DAM.

Abdul is one of the youngest and most prominent voices of Palestinian rap, a genre that has emerged as a form of resistance and expression for many young Palestinians.

Check Out MC Abdul: https://youtu.be/l8qay1Al7Dc?si=Gs-of-c5UnB4Y9J-