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Harlem born-and-raised rapper A$AP Rocky sent shockwaves through the Muslim community two weeks ago with his Instagram tribute to his mom for Mother’s Day.
The 31 year-old rapper posted a picture of his mother adorning hijab with the caption “MOMZ❤️.”
The post garnered more than a million likes and surprised thousands of fans who were unaware that Rocky’s mother is Muslim, as the rapper himself rarely speaks about his religious beliefs.
Nonetheless, supportive fans left heartwarming comments beneath, posting “salaams” and “mashallahs” for the rapper’s mother. As for Muslim Twitter, stans were still trying to process how one of most popular rappers of the past decade was secretly connected to the Ummah.
Yooo why I’m I just finding out that ASAP Rocky’s mom is MUSLIM ????
— Ruiza (@Ruiza_Aziz) May 24, 2020
so y’all were never gonna tell me that asap rocky is somali and his mom is muslim? pic.twitter.com/pnx7JyDpJd
— ???????????????? ???? (@remsbarbie) May 14, 2020
Ecstatic Muslim stangirls tweeted that the revelation gave them hope that one day they, too, could have a chance with the “Sundress” singer.
to all my muslim queens, i think we have a chance with asap rocky pic.twitter.com/P1TDO2uiSa
— jomana // BLM (@egyptifuI) May 11, 2020
Others pointed out that Rocky was actually serving Muslim realness for a while now, citing Rocky’s iconic red carpet look in which he wrapped a silk scarf around his head in a hijab-like fashion.
But beyond the comments and comedic Twitter craze, Rocky’s post served as an important reminder to society that having a Muslim identity is nothing to be ashamed of and should be allowed to exist in mainstream media, without it being a big deal.
Oftentimes, Muslims are ostracized from the media, and even if they are given representation, they get boxed in by limiting and stereotyped identities.
asap rocky dressed like Muslim mom at her son’s graduation pic.twitter.com/26Ox7MEDnf
— TALLIE DAR (@talliedar) November 4, 2018
But by having one of the most popular hip-hop artists today authentically celebrating his mother’s Muslim identity, it serves to show that
Muslim representation in media doesn’t always have to be serious or controversial; sometimes it just means posting pictures on Instagram while proudly being Muslim.
Who knows what this means for the future, could we be getting another “Mmm Mashallah” verse? What about more hijabi inspired fits?
Either way, A$AP Rocky is sure to have marked his place in the listicle “Celebrities You Didn’t know Were Muslim” – which every Muslim kid has searched up.
READ MORE: Is Drake Wearing A Hijab In His Latest Music Video? A Theory
