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U.S. hip hop artist Erykah Badu. (Archive)
Last update - 23:45 31/01/2008
Visiting U.S. singer Badu says she backs Farrakhan, Palestinian cause
By The Associated Press
Tags: Palestinians, Erykah badu 

Sporting a huge, billowing afro and a T-shirt with an anti-Iraq war slogan, Erykah Badu expressed her support of black leader Louis Farrakhan and the Palestinian cause Thursday before a crowd of Israeli fans and journalists in Tel Aviv.

The Grammy-award winning neo-soul vocalist, 36, is in Tel Aviv to perform on Saturday night. She has also won acclaim for her acting roles in Cider House Rules and House of D.

"I come from across the water bringing light and hope," said Badu in her deep, languid voice. She commissioned a poster design especially for her visit to Israel, featuring a large hamsa, a traditional Middle Eastern good luck charm, that appears to be growing out of her hair. At the bottom, the words for peace in Hebrew and Arabic appear side by side.
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However, Badu could not name any Israeli hip hop artists. She explained that she identified best with the Palestinians and their hip hop scene, saying that they are a part of her tribe of hip hop.

"They use (hip hop) as a form of liberation, as a form of pre-resistance, as a form of therapy," Badu said.

Badu defended Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam, who has drawn fire over the years with pronouncements including praise for Hitler in a 1984 speech, for which he was censured by the U.S. Senate, repeatedly denouncing Israel and the Jewish people and calling the pretense for the war in Iraq a Zionist conspiracy.

The Anti-Defamation League, a leading Jewish group, has labeled Farrakhan's statements bigoted and anti-Semitic. On its Web site, the ADL lists dozens of Farrakhan statements it considers anti-Semitic.

"(Farrakhan is) not an anti-Semite. He loves all people," insisted Badu. Her next album, Nu AmErykah will be released February 26, the date of Savior's Day, a main Nation of Islam holiday.

Israeli reggae-soul group Karolina and Funset, who will be opening for Badu's concert, posed for pictures with Badu after she spoke, then joined her in raising the Black Power raised-fist salute.

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      1.   only lefties and haaretz will attend such stupidity 19:37  |  ralph 31/01/08
      2.   Badu & Farrakhan 19:44  |  Ira 31/01/08
      3.   Dont use the "N" word 19:51  |  George 31/01/08
      4.   Louis Farrakhan is anti Semite? Nonsence- he is humanist! 20:01  |  Yaakov Sullivan 31/01/08
      5.   Well this makes me uncomfortable 20:27  |  Empresaria 31/01/08
      6.   her comments are as relevant as her career 20:43  |  Richard S 31/01/08
      7.   self hatred 20:55  |  dr pepper 31/01/08
      8.   To George #1 20:57  |  J-Rock 31/01/08
      9.   Yaakov Sullivan - If Berenboim had read your post 21:13  |  David israel 31/01/08
      10.   don`t listen to her music 21:15  |  manijeh 31/01/08
      11.   There are many Israels; one of them loves her 21:16  |  z 31/01/08
      12.   Badu Speaks it Real About Palestinian Hip Hop 21:19  |  J-Rock 31/01/08
      13.   Jew-HATERS WICKED LIE of Occupation. Return STOLEN JEWISH LAND 21:24  |  Linda Rivera 31/01/08
      14.   Jabotinsky a real Jewish freedom fighter -forget about this crap 21:29  |  don 31/01/08
      15.   If she loves them why she is not performing in Rafah,Gaza,Ramalla 21:30  |  Genuine Tosefta 31/01/08
      16.   GOT TO LOVE IT!!!! IT!!!! IT!!!! 21:30  |  American 31/01/08
      17.   #2 What did they do 21:31  |  Aaron 31/01/08
      18.   #3 One word Idiot 21:32  |  Aaron 31/01/08
      19.   Who would listen to such garbage music anyway? 21:33  |  Roni 31/01/08
      20.   Badu 21:36  |  stu 31/01/08
      21.   Artists and actors should not... 21:37  |  MarkC 31/01/08
      22.   Inviting Stupidity 21:39  |  Marc 31/01/08
      23.   J-Rock From Seattle 21:40  |  David Israel 31/01/08
      24.   Anyone who attends the show is self-hating to the max 21:44  |  McQueen 31/01/08
      25.   Why is she in Tel Aviv? 21:45  |  Ron 31/01/08
      26.   Farrakhan 21:47  |  Ed 31/01/08
      27.   Farrakhan and Badu Obviously Anti-Semites 21:48  |  amused 31/01/08
      28.   If only could singers sing (the talented ones, of course) 21:51  |  Alain 31/01/08
      29.   Does Britney Spears support Hezbollah? 21:53  |  Avi 31/01/08
      30.   yo....whatever 21:54  |  Dave from Chicago 31/01/08
      31.   Simple: if you don`t support fascist Israel you are an antiSemite 22:04  |  Chanalau, Tova 31/01/08
      32.   Svartze Cholere! 22:16  |  David 31/01/08
      33.   biting the hand that feeds her 22:28  |  lythodrome 31/01/08
      34.   to J-rock on #8 22:28  |  Shmuelshachor 31/01/08
      35.   fighting racism 22:31  |  paradooma 31/01/08
      36.   She wont bump into any Sudanese woman 22:34  |  Ethan 31/01/08
      37.   #4 `Yaakov Sullivan` 22:36  |  Colin Wright 31/01/08
      38.   Another Genius 22:37  |  MIKE 31/01/08
      39.   aha! 22:37  |  al 31/01/08
      40.   re #10 `don`t lkisten to her music` 22:42  |  Colin Wright 31/01/08
      41.   Young People = Peace and Love 22:44  |  Isaiah 31/01/08
      42.   To J-Rock 22:55  |  Mario 31/01/08
      43.   BRO.FARRAKHAN is an equal opportunity hater 22:55  |  PETER SM 31/01/08
      44.   THROW THIS JEW-HATER OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!!! 22:56  |  Leon 31/01/08
      45.   She can get in line. 22:58  |  leo 31/01/08
      46.   Yakov Sullivan 23:00  |  leo 31/01/08
      47.   so why isn`t she staying in Gaza? 23:01  |  Jewish State 31/01/08
      48.   To J-Rock #12 23:02  |  Kevin 31/01/08
      49.   Send her home... 23:06  |  Steve 31/01/08
      50.   Marginal worth 23:17  |  Elimelech 31/01/08
      51.   Farrakhan & Badu shouldn`t be permitted in Israel 23:18  |  Vittorio 31/01/08
      52.   Brittney Spears??? 23:19  |  Ariel 31/01/08
      53.   Who invited this ignoramous to Israel? 23:21  |  S Judah 31/01/08
      54.   how did human race survive for eons w.o. 23:27  |  bozhidar balkas 31/01/08
      55.   Well, at least she came 23:38  |  Outsider 31/01/08
      56.   DELETED ALL OF HER MUSIC FROM MY LIBRARY 23:40  |  Capitola 31/01/08
      57.   Badu and Moronic Israeli fans and media 23:46  |  Ray 31/01/08
      58.   #23 Vittorio 23:52  |  motoko 31/01/08
      59.   Leo - From were? New York? 23:56  |  Hubh? 31/01/08
      60.   George - N? 23:58  |  New Yorker 31/01/08
      61.   Now this is one good looking swamp rat. 00:19  |  Stephen. 01/02/08
      62.   To All the Haters of J-Rock 00:26  |  J-Rock 01/02/08
      63.   This person defines nothing. She backs something? Who cares? 00:38  |  mea too 01/02/08
      64.   A good racist is a dead racist 00:40  |  Ofer Maimon 01/02/08
      65.   To Linda Rivera of New Yawk 00:41  |  David James Vickery 01/02/08
      66.   It`s a shame when good musicians open their mouths 00:42  |  B`Galil 01/02/08
      67.   To Kevin #48 00:47  |  J-Rock 01/02/08
      68.   CANCEL HER CONCERT AND EXPEL HER FROM ISRAEL RIGHT AWAY ! 00:52  |  Joel Stein 01/02/08
      69.   David Israel from NY 00:56  |  J-Rock 01/02/08
      70.   israelis whining and crying aagin? as usual 00:59  |  pffftttt 01/02/08
      71.   A JIHADIST-PROPGANDIST B__TH 01:03  |  indrajaya 01/02/08
      72.   Badu has no talent and no fans anymore