Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jehan Muhammad. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jehan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
Both of my parents were very woke, cultured and diverse. They did a great job of exposing me to a lot of diverse culture, music, art and literature and teaching me about Black history. I really love and appreciate them for that. Even though we lived in low-income public housing in the ghetto we didn’t subscribe to and participate in many of the things that people around us did. We lived in our own world inside of our home. That environment is how I fell in love with hip hop music. Even my mother loves hip hop because we were always hearing it in our neighborhood. She’s a huge fan of Tupac. The ghetto has always been the inspiration behind my music because that’s the environment that I grew up in. If you listen to my mixtape ‘humble beginnings’ you can hear that in the lyrics and storytelling. My parents taught me that it’s okay to be different. They lived that out by example by being Muslim in the South in the 80s and 90s where most people were Christian. They didn’t care about what everyone else was doing or others questioning their beliefs. They did them. Some Muslims really don’t get caught up in popular culture as much as most people do. We don’t watch a lot of television and listen to a lot of radio so we don’t grow up idolizing celebrities and public figures. Our parents and people in our community are our main role models. I’ve mentioned before that both of my parents were my role models and they have both inspired my artistry. My image and message as an artist has been consistent since day one. Even before I was wearing hijab, I still dressed modestly. The message in my music has always been the same. I never switched up. I’ve quoted and referenced Muslim leaders in my music and on social media a long time ago because they’re people that I’ve looked up to and have been inspired by my whole life. I’ve also referenced Islam several times in my music and work because that’s what I’m familiar with. I don’t have an industry team influencing my artistry and image. I do what feels natural and familiar to me. I don’t have a team of writers, creative directors, etc. instructing and influencingand influencing who I should be or teaching me about Islamic culture because that’s who I’ve been my whole life. My parents taught me that you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing and to always keep an open mind. I’ve never once heard them judge, condemn, criticize or try to convert someone to Islam. Keeping an open mind and embracing diversity is beneficial in the world of entertainment. Many artists and creatives grew up being the outcast in their family or community because they were different. Whether they were LGBTQ, diverse, artistic or a free thinker they stood out from everyone else. That’s what makes artists and creatives so special. We embrace our differences and use it to our advantage. We don’t care about fitting in. We actually don’t want to fit in. We like being different. I was an outcast because my family was Muslim and I was a black girl that liked alternative and rock music, art exhibits and was the only black person in most of my AG classes. The first thing people like to say is “Oh, you think you’re white.” I also loved hip hop and rapping too. I admire both of them for living their truth and being their authentic self in an environment that wasn’t conducive to and supportive of their beliefs.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m an artist, actress, rapper, poet, songwriter and director from Raleigh, North Carolina. I started rapping when I was sixteen years old. For many years I wrote poetry but never shared it with anyone because I was too shy. Then one day I decided to go to a recording studio and start creating songs. I’ve always been into creating whether it’s designing and making clothes, painting, writing songs, etc. I love anything that involves being creative. The main thing that sets me apart from other artists and creatives is my Islamic background and influence in my work and my eclectic, diverse taste in music. I’m most proud of maintaining my authenticity and being my true self in an industry where so many people are only focused on being popular and famous. I’m a strong believer in being yourself. That’s the easiest thing to do anyway. Perpetrating and trying to be someone else is too difficult. Real people can see through it whether you know it or not and will know that you’re a fraud. People aren’t stupid. They pay attention. They know when an artist is being genuine and when they’re being superficial and fake. They know when they’re trying to switch up to appeal to a different audience, represent someone else’s culture that they don’t even identify with and when they’re trying to jack another artist’s swag especially when they’ve watched an artist’s career from day one. When they see you attempting to be who they know you aren’t, doing and saying things you’ve never done and said before then you come off as being fake and a counterfeit. You’ll never ever be able to pull it off because you’re not being your true authentic self. I create everything organically from writing my lyrics, finding my own producers and sound, styling myself, doing my own photo shoots, and creating my own video treatments. Consistency and authenticity is key for any artist. People that like your music rely on you to deliver what you’re known for. I think people rely on me to deliver lyrical bars, rapping and spoken word poetry because that’s all I’ve ever done since day one. I’ve always experimented with different genres of music because I listen to all different types of music. Discovering who you are and finding your lane is very important. I’m always looking to try new things that I’ve never done before. I started acting less than two years ago because I felt it was something that I could possibly excel at. I’ve never seen an A list hijab wearing actress in mainstream Hollywood so I felt like it was a lane that I could pioneer.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding part of being a creative is the potential to bring any and everything to life. There are no rules and limitations on what you can create. Whatever doesn’t exist, there’s an opportunity to create it. That’s one thing that I really love about acting, You can be anything and anyone that you choose to. No one can say it’s not real or that you’re being fake because it’s acting and that’s what actors do. We play characters and bring stories to life. The same thing goes for music. If a sound or genre doesn’t exist, you can create it. Everyone won’t like what you’re doing but someone will. The people that like it are your people. When others start liking whatever it is that you’re creating, asking for more of it and gravitating towards it, that’s when it becomes rewarding.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson that I’ve had to unlearn is focusing on what other artists are doing. Staying focused on your work is crucial for any creative. In this digital age of social media it’s so easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to others and watching what others are doing and that can be extremely detrimental to an artist. No matter how much you spy and watch a person from afar, you can’t be them and they can’t be you. Our past, upbringing, life experiences, etc. all shape who we are and play a major role in a person’s artistry. Some people are too concerned about what other artists are doing, how and why they’re doing it, the amount of time it’s taking for them to do it, etc. That should be none of your concern. Don’t let your food get cold watching someone else’s plate. I’m sure Red Bull isn’t concerned about the marketing, packaging, promotion and ingredients of Smartwater. They’re two totally different products with different purposes that don’t even compare. I’m sure Steven Spielberg was never concerned about what George Lucas was going to do next. They’re two totally different people with two different visions. I apply that same principle to myself as an artist and actress. I’m not concerned about what other creatives are doing because I can’t be them and they can’t be me. We all serve a different purpose. I focus strictly on my own work. I’ve seen people get completely distracted, miss out on opportunities, and lose their focus because they were too focused on what someone else was doing. You have to have laser focus solely on yourself and your work. Me personally, I’m going to do whatever I want, when and how I want to, regardless of what anyone has to say about it. You have to be very secure within your own identity, lane and not try to compete with others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jehania.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jehanmuhammad333/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jehania333
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jehania
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jehanmuhammad
- Other: jehania.blogspot.com
Image Credits
Jehan Muhammad