‘She’s strong and she’s beautiful’

System Ali is a rap group from Jaffa – young Arabs and Jews. They write in Yaffawiay, a street language blend of Arabic and Hebrew. Ali means big, or strong, and the group's name can be understood as an order, as in make it stronger, turn the system up. I spent two days in the studio with System Ali, as British DJs Gavin Alexander and Tony Nwachukwu,  of CDR, and guest MC Ty helped them record and refine their performance for a gig later that week. Here, Amne, Mohamad, Enchik and Neta warm up – in a professional recording studio for the first time.

 

Ty runs through a series of vocal warm-ups with the rappers, encouraging Enchik, left, who is from Russia, and Mohamad, to project and take the room.

Amne, 15, had never sung before. One day she came to a hip hop workshop at the Sadaka Reut youth centre in Jaffa, where she sang and wrote for the first time. The next day she came back with more poetry, and things took off from there. When Amne first got on stage with System Ali, she was so nervous that she cried, but now her feisty rhymes protesting Jaffa's crime and poverty are central to the set.

Amira is proud of daughter Amne's every move. 'She's strong and she's beautiful,' says Amira, watching Amne sing from the mixing booth. Amira spent the day with us in the studio, and the night by her daughter's side at Shesek, where CDR were doing a gig. Amira was the first woman in hijab to grace the Tel Aviv dance bar.

Most of the group, self-conscious at first, open up when they see that Ty's not afraid to make a fool of himself in MC warm-up games. But poet and rapper Mohamad, whose idol The Undertaker peers from his shirt, is a tough nut. In the end, Ty's determination is too much even for Mohamad, who lets his guard down and cracks a smile.

The sessions took place at Muzik School studios in Tel Aviv. Israeli Producer and DJ Gideon helped the group mix their first professional tracks. Here, Mohamad and Gideon talk during a  break.

After separate workshops, the musicians and vocalists come together to record. Here the groups cheers Eddy, centre, who has just laid down his verse.

Neta and Mohamad watch group members record from the mixing booth. 'We are one family,' Neta tells them afterwards, as group tensions start to rise, two long days into the work. There is still tonight's gig to prepare, and everyone's exhausted, after giving 110 per cent and staying out at Shesek until the early hours. System Ali resolves disputes through discussion - 'talking is the only way,' Mohamad says.

The gig brings System Ali back to its Jaffa constituency. Local people turn up to watch – mothers, fathers, passing teenagers, friends. Children line the stage, including this boy, who is fascinated by Mohamad's oud. System Ali proves that young Jews and Arabs can work together. Jaffa, one of Israel's most troubled cities, is where this kind of co-existence is taking root – perhaps because it's one of the only places where people are willing to listen.

Listen to System Ali

CDR

Comments

[Ricky Romain]

Dear Leila,

Thank you so much for this.

I am deeply moved by the work you're doing with young people. Art in all its forms is such a leveller, as these young people are demonstrating.

The Nuri interview if that's the right word makes my blood boil. He must be so pissed off. Vida makes valid points too.

Nita's shoes are so touching

Thanks again

Warm regards

Ricky

[Dzifa B]

I am saying a fervent prayer that music can lead the way where politics have failed. Keep the good work coming! Dxxx

[dR]

Great piece...

[Leila]

Thank you Ricky - your art is inspiring. L

Dzifa, thank you, these are my prayers too. x

dR, thankxx

[Allison]

Thanks Leila, its such important work you are doing in Israel. Gives me a bit of hope for the country.
Allison

[Gavin Alexander]

Hey Leila,

Looks great.

Will give you a call when more mobile to go through all the images.

peace 'n progress,

Gx

[Yemisi Blake]

This is fantastic, and such great pictures.
you're doing great work

Yem

[Neta]

Hey Leila. I've sent three tracks, the best ones from the recordings. In any case, the essay is really amazing, it's hard to explain how special and meaningful for me it is to see and read it. Thank you:)

Neta

[Naomi]

I have to echo what the rest of the gang have said, what you are doing is really vital. The blog is so important...all that you're doing is special and essential

all my love and respect
N xxx

[Leila]

Thank you for all your words. It means so much to me when I hear the encouragment. I'm passing all the comments on to the group - and I'm sure it will mean the world to them, to know that they have so much support in other parts of the world. L xxx

[LittleOne]

I have been to one of TY's workshops and they are heavy....had a blast

www.myspace.com/tyandupwards

[Gitar]

Another great and inspiring post made by a very influential blogger ;) its awesome !!

[Lynn Segal]

I wonder if we are related. My grandma was Edythe and grampa Abbott-- NYC origin. I am in Boulder CO Born 7 Apr. 1953

[alex]

http://www.sitepalace.com/firewall/

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