URB MAGAZINE NEXT1000
June 16, 2009
ISLAM :: Spittin'
Unsigned
Reviewed by Adam Figman

Choosing a rap name that coincides with an entire religion is a pretty big statement. But ISLAM (which stands for Intelligent, Supreme, Lyricist, Analyzing, Mathematics) promises to back it up by using those exact words that make up his rap name’s acronym. Hailing from Richmond, Va., ISLAM first burst onto the scene in 1999 with a now-underground cult classic entitled Shine & Rule, out now. After taking a 10-year hiatus in the form of a spiritual journey, he has returned with his new LP, Sword of Islam. ISLAM’s old-school lyrical style is present throughout, as he spits ferociously over traditional east-coast boom-bap beats.