Mustafa Ahmed was born in Toronto, Ontario to Sudanese parents. When he was in grade 7, he performed an original piece, "A Single Rose", at Nelson Mandela Park Public School. The piece got a lot of attention, earning him high praises at Toronto's Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in 2009. During this time, Mustafa was known for writing poems about poverty in Africa, and poverty in the Regent Park area. He had a rough upbringing in his hometown, located in Toronto's rough Regent Park area where he attended Regents Park School. Despite his young age, Mustafa was a witness to gun violence and street gangs.
Mustafa first gained recognition in 2014 at the age of 18, by featuring on Lorraine Segato's single "Rize Time", a remix of her band's own song "Rise Up", in which he performs a spoken word poem on the prelude. He then went on to produce the spoken word poetry film Spectrum of Hope in September 2014. It was a collaborative project between him and Thompson Egbo-Egbo. He was featured on CBC News in which he explores the connection between art and athletics in his Pan Am poem with Heather Hiscox. He gained national recognition for a poem that was shared by Drake on his Instagram in January 2015 in which he tagged Mustafa. With the death of Muhammad Ali, Mustafa wrote a poem to "honour his hero". Ahmed performed the poem that came from that writing on Metro Morning, a CBC Radio One local morning program in Toronto. As a member of Canadian hip hop collective Halal Gang, Mustafa has made appearances in a number of music videos for his associates, including the single "Feel" by Safe released in October 2016. He went on to provide background vocals and co-writing the song "Attention" by The Weeknd on the latter's album Starboy. In the same year, Mustafa was appointed to Justin Trudeau's Youth Advisory Council, advising the Prime Minister and the Government of Canada on policies and programs that are important to them. Mustafa was placed on Now's list of Toronto musicians to watch for in 2017.
Mustafa performed at the Fast in the 6 festival at Nathan Phillips Square held on June 1, 2018. In July 2018, he paid condolences to his deceased associate, Smoke Dawg, who had been gunned down on June 31, 2018, in front of a Toronto nightclub. In March 2019, Pierpaolo Piccioli collaborated with four poets, including Mustafa, for Valentino's autumn/winter 19 collections to celebrate love whose words were emblazoned in bright lights at the show. A transcript by Mustafa from his poem "From the Perspective of Black Love" read "In your eyes, I can see an eternity" as part of the collection. He describes attending the show as an emotional experience, seeing women in creations made for their bodies. Vogue described the event as "poetry back in fashion". The dress with his poem went on to be worn by Emilia Clarke.
Mustafa the Poet produced and released Remember Me, Toronto, a short Canadian documentary film about the hip hop culture in Canada. The film was released on 17 March 2019. The film was a project created for artists in this video and everyone in the Canadian hip hop communities It discusses the loss of people due to the increasing gun violence and homicide rates in Toronto over the past decade. Mustafa aimed to discuss the systemic structure working against the lower economies of Toronto and wanted to give these artists the opportunity to "rewrite their memories and the memories of those they lost." In the film, the artists reflect on the inter-generational nature of trauma and gun violence. Artists appearing in the short include Drake, Baka Not Nice, Gilla, Pilla B, TJin, Pressa, Loco City, Smiley, Top 5, Blockboi, Twitch, Jay Whiss, Puffy L'z, Rax, Booggz, Yung Lava, Mustafa the Poet himself and archival footage from the murdered artist Smoke Dawg. Noah "40" Shebib scored the movie.
Mustafa was noted as one of the 10 Canadian songwriters who are penning the biggest hit songs right now by CBC Music in April 2019. He went on to title all the songs in Frank Dukes Parkscapes sample pack released in June 2019. The sample pack went on to be used on Taylor Swift's album Lover in which the Regent Park School will get royalties every time the album is brought, streamed or sampled.
On March 10, 2020, Mustafa released his debut single "Stay Alive". The single was dedicated to those he's lost to gun violence and was known for capturing Regent's Park resiliency. The single was produced by Frank Dukes and James Blake. The single featured numerous cameos from Toronto rappers including Halal Gang members Puffy L'z and Mo-G as well as Lil Berete. It was known for including lyrics about resilience, community, and the bleak realities of living on the fringes pair perfectly. The single prompted Complex to list Mustafa on the list of Best New Artists of March 2020.
Air Forces
Mustafa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just stay inside tonight
You know what's happenin' outside
You say it's okay
But you touch your chain
Like if they take it
I won't see you for a while
And I tell you how I feel
You know the odds, you know the flaws
It's all by design
And you'll go anywhere, though it ain't safe
Just know that I care, I'll always care
And I'll be awake
I'll be awake
I'll be awake
I'll be awake
And all these intersections
Where we've been kept and left in
I wonder why God keeps us alive?
To what are we even destined?
Will we have wives and children
Or is that not written for you and I?
You know they want what's yours
And they want what's mine
And if we're too holy, they think we're foldin'
They don't want us to climb
And you'll go anywhere, though it ain't safe
Just know that I care, I'll always care
And I'll be awake
I'll be awake
I'll be awake
I'll be awake (I'll be)
I'll be, I'll be, I'll be, I'll be awake
You see a couple kids runnin' around, playin' games
The dope boys ridin' around, ridin' bikes
Then you see obviously mans chillin' over at the green box
Just crackin' jokes, kickin' up
The song "Air Forces" by Mustafa is a reflection of the trials and dangers of life growing up in a rough urban community. The lyrics are an intimate message between two people who are struggling to stay alive amidst the violence and chaos of their environment. The chorus encourages the listener to stay safe and stay inside, to avoid the danger that lurks outside their door. The line "Don't crease your air forces" refers to the Air Force Ones sneakers, which are a popular symbol of urban style and status. The implication is that one should not risk one's life by going out to show off these sneakers or any other material possession.
The verses of the song delve deeper into the themes of violence, danger, and survival. The singer talks about the uncertainty of life, wondering what fate has in store for him and his community. He also touches on the way that people are judged and targeted by others who covet their possessions or see them as a threat. The line, "And if we're too holy, they think we're foldin'" sums up this dynamic. The idea is that no matter what you do or who you are, you will always be in danger, whether you have something to flaunt or nothing at all.
The message of "Air Forces" is one of resilience and hope in the face of adversity. The singer acknowledges the difficulties of life in his community but also expresses a commitment to staying vigilant and protecting those he cares about. The line, "Just know that I care, I'll always care" speaks to this sentiment, as does the repeated refrain of "I'll be awake." The song is a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by those who grow up in harsh conditions, but also a testament to the strength and determination of those who persevere and survive.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't crease your air forces
Don't worry or stress yourself out over what might happen outside. Keep your shoes clean and stay inside tonight.
Just stay inside tonight
Stay safe indoors tonight, away from the dangers and risks that come with going out.
You know what's happenin' outside
You are aware of the danger, violence, and risks that are taking place outside.
You say it's okay
You act as though everything is fine and under control, even though it's not.
But you touch your chain
You nervously fiddle with your necklace, indicating that you are aware of the potential danger outside and are worried about losing your possessions.
Like if they take it
You fear that your possessions may be taken from you by someone outside.
I won't see you for a while
You might disappear for a while if your possessions are taken or something bad happens to you outside.
And I tell you how I feel
I share my thoughts and feelings with you before you go out, just in case something happens to you.
In case it's the last time
I'm sharing my thoughts and feelings with you as if it might be the last time we see each other alive.
You know the odds, you know the flaws
You are aware of the risks, dangers, and shortcomings that come with the choices you make and the actions you take.
It's all by design
Everything happens for a reason and is predetermined by a higher power or fate.
And you'll go anywhere, though it ain't safe
You are willing to take risks and put yourself in dangerous situations, regardless of the potential harm involved.
Just know that I care, I'll always care
I care about you and your well-being, and will always be there for you.
And I'll be awake
I'll be awake all night, worrying about your safety and hoping that you return home safely.
And all these intersections
The places where our lives intersect and where we often find ourselves in danger or conflict with others.
Where we've been kept and left in
The places where we have been trapped or kept in, and where we have also been abandoned or left behind by society.
I wonder why God keeps us alive?
I question the purpose and meaning of life, and why we continue to survive despite the dangers and hardships we face.
To what are we even destined?
What is our purpose or destiny, and what are we meant to achieve or do in this world?
Will we have wives and children
Will we have the opportunity to lead a normal, family life, or will our circumstances prevent us from doing so?
Or is that not written for you and I?
Perhaps we are not meant to have a normal life, and our destiny lies elsewhere.
You know they want what's yours
There are people out there who will try to take what belongs to you, whether it's your possessions or your life.
And they want what's mine
Not only are they after your possessions, but they also want to harm or take your life.
And if we're too holy, they think we're foldin'
Even if we remain true to our beliefs and morals, some will interpret it as weakness and exploit it to their advantage.
They don't want us to climb
They want to prevent us from achieving success and reaching new heights in life.
I'll be, I'll be, I'll be, I'll be awake
I'll stay up all night, worrying about you and your safety.
You see a couple kids runnin' around, playin' games
You notice the innocence and joy of children who are oblivious to the dangers and risks surrounding them.
The dope boys ridin' around, ridin' bikes
You see drug dealers and gang members riding around on bikes, engaging in illegal activities.
Then you see obviously mans chillin' over at the green box
You notice men hanging out or loitering near a green electrical box on the street.
Just crackin' jokes, kickin' up
They are joking around and having fun, despite the dangerous and risky environment they are in.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Adam Feeney, Mickey Newbury, Mustafa Ahmed, Simon Hessman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mustafathepoet_
here’s the translation of the prayer I whisper in the beginning,
“Oh my lord, widen my chest, make easy for me my task, untie the knot from my tongue, so that my speech may be understood.”
as found in the 20th chapter of the Quran, it was prophet Moses’s prayer, he had a speech impediment and shared this invocation before addressing the people
Thank you for the continued warmth, the story continues very soon 🤍
@imanoomalik3033
Im so proud of you and can’t wait for more tunes😍
@snowwhite4h
🤎 🤎🤎
@SergeantSam3D
stahp these goosebumps, please
@rabiiex
thank you 🥺
@zeekelliott1829
Amen
@kikwabyebye
The phrase "Don't crease your Air Forces", sung, caringly, is peak Toronto.
This performance was beautiful though.
@user-or7nv3uq4f
Feelin it from UK too
@ohomunculus3266
@Nya Regis Nike Air Force 1’s are shoes. many people don’t like to crease their shoes on the top, shoes will get creased if you run in them or even walk tm, people like their shoes to stay in good quality and uncreased.
@CONSCI
His voice is heart touching!!