Nation of Gods and Earths, sometimes referred to as NGE or NOGE, the 5% Nation, or the Five Percenters was founded by Father Allah around 1964. Then known as Clarence 13X he rose to the rank of lieutenant in the Nation of Islam's military training unit, the Fruit of Islam. Aside from his formidable physical skills (he supposedly learned karate while overseas), Clarence 13X had a hypnotic speaking style that quickly enabled him to become the student minister of Temple Seven.
The Nation of Gods and Earths teaches that Asiatic black people (non-white) are the original people of the planet Earth, and therefore they are the fathers (Gods) and mothers (Earths) of civilization. The Nation teaches that Supreme Mathematics and Supreme Alphabet, a set of principles created by Allah, is the key to understanding humankind's relationship to the universe. The Nation does not believe in a mystery God but instead teaches that the Asiatic Blackman is God and his proper name is Allah, the Arabic word for God.[1]
The Universal Language
Supreme Mathematics
The Supreme Mathematics is a system of understanding numerals alongside concepts and qualitative representations that are used along with the Supreme Alphabet.[2][3] The Supreme Mathematics is thought to be the highest system of mathematics in the NGE, used to give qualitative value to numbers in addition to quantity.
For example, the numeral 1. Knowledge 2. Wisdom 3. Understanding 4. Culture or Freedom 5. Power or Refinement 6. Equality 7. God 8. Build or Destroy 9. Born 0. Cipher
Supreme Alphabet
Script error: No such module "main". The Supreme Alphabet is a system of interpreting text and finding deeper meaning from the NOI Lessons by assigning actual meanings to the letters of the Latin script. For example, the first letter, A, stands for Allah; the 12th letter, L, stands for Love, Hell, or Right; and the 13th letter, M, stands for Master. This Supreme Alphabet was developed with assistance from Justice Cee by Father Allah.
Customs
Gods and Earths hold events known as Universal Parliaments in various cities—usually once a month—to build on their interpretation of the Supreme Mathematics, lessons, and to discuss business concerning the NGE. These meetings usually take place in public areas but can be held anywhere.
The Show and Prove is an annual event that takes place in the Harlem section of Manhattan every second weekend in June. Gods and Earths converge from all over the world at Harriet Tubman Elementary School for this gathering, which includes a marketplace, performances, and speeches in the school's auditorium and a science fair in which children participate.
The Nation generally does not recognize traditional holidays, most notably those associated with religion such as Christmas or Easter. However, some regions where the Nation is active may hold events close to dates in honor of Allah's birthday (February 22) or the official founding of the Nation (October 10).
Dietary laws of the Five Percent dictate that adherents are forbidden to eat pork or any pork-based by-products as well as all other scavengers (shrimp, crab, lobster, etc.). Many take further steps and eschew meat altogether, often opting for veganism or a raw food diet.
In popular culture
Supreme Allah is a fictional character of the HBO drama Oz, a Five Percenter who is serving time for murdering a man who laughed at him during a dice game. He often preaches Five Percent philosophy while simultaneously dealing drugs. He is portrayed by Lord Jamar of the hip hop group Brand Nubian.
In his one-man Broadway show, Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth, Mike Tyson states that a Five Percenter friend changed his life around by telling him to stop robbing and embrace his new-found family, which consisted of trainer Cus D'Amato.
Notable current and former members and associates
- Rakim - member of the influential duo Eric B. & Rakim[citation needed]
- Big Daddy Kane - Grammy Award-winning rapper[citation needed]
- Lakim Shabazz[citation needed]
- Nas[4][5]
- Wu-Tang Clan - Ghostface Killah[6] and Raekwon[7] have since converted to traditional Islam
- AZ[4]
- Gang Starr - A duo consisting of MC Guru and DJ Premier[8][9]
- MF Doom[10]
- Jay Electronica[4]
- Busta Rhymes - Raised a Five Percenter,[11] he has since converted to traditional Islam.[12]
- Black Thought - Lead MC of the Philadelphia-based hip hop group The Roots[13]
- Ras Kass[14]
- Jus Allah - Member of the underground rap duo Jedi Mind Tricks[15]
- Cormega[citation needed]
- Allah Mathematics - Hip hop producer and DJ for the Wu-Tang Clan[16]
- Brand Nubian : "My inspiration is the five percent nation." - Brand Nubian - Brand Nubian
- Erykah Badu - Her Grammy Award-winning song "On & On" features teachings of the Five Percent Nation[17]
- Pete Rock & CL Smooth[18]
- Prince Paul - One of the founding members of the group Gravediggaz[citation needed]
- Black Sheep[19]
- Poor Righteous Teachers[20]
- Large Professor[21]
- Digable Planets - Grammy Award-winning jazz-rap group[22]
- Michael Muhammad Knight - author and journalist who has written extensively on the Five Percent Nation. He is a Harvard graduate who is currently in the process of obtaining his Ph.D from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill[citation needed]
- Supreme Understanding - also known as Dr. Sujan Dass, he is an author and historian who obtained his Ph.D from Argosy University at the age of 26
- GQ - an R&B and disco group, best known for their 1979 hit "Disco Nights (Rock Freak)"[23][24]
- Killarmy - Wu-Tang affiliate group.[citation needed]
- Sunz of Man - Wu-Tang affiliate group.[citation needed]
- Talib Kweli[citation needed]
- Jadakiss[citation needed]
- Tragedy Khadafi[25] - He considers himself a Five Percenter, but not part of the Nation of Gods and Earths.
- LL Cool J said in his autobiography that he joined the Five-Percent Nation in school and took the name "Lord Supreme Shalik", but he also said, "We were just using the Five Percenter label as a shield to do our dirty work - fighting and eventually robbing."[26]
- Wakeel Allah - considered "the Historian of the Five Percent Nation" and author of the books "In the Name of Allah: A History of Clarence 13X and the 5 Percenters Vol. 1 & 2." A graduate of Morehouse College.[27]
- Revelation 13:18 - [28]
- Jay-Z
References
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedCantStop - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 » by Dasun Allah March 24, 2010, 12:33pm (2010-03-24). "The GODS Of Hip-Hop: A Reflection On The Five Percenter Influence On Rap Music & Culture". Hip-Hop Wired. Retrieved 2012-02-13.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- ↑ Goldblatt, Mark (2002-10-29). "Hip-hop's grim undertones". Usatoday.Com. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ↑ "Ghostface Killah: 'Purified Thoughts' | Prefix". Prefixmag.com. 2010-10-26. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ↑ "Chatting with Raekwon the Chef about music, Islam and the Wu-Tang Clan". The Michigan Daily. 2009-12-06. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ↑ Noise and spirit: the religious and spiritual sensibilities of rap music - Anthony B. Pinn - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ↑ "SoulBounce's Class Of 1991: Gang Starr 'Step In The Arena'". Soulbounce.Com. 2011-12-12. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ↑ Dan LeRoy (1971-01-09). "MF Doom". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ↑ "Busta Rhymes on 5 Percenters & Nation of Islam". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ↑ "Busta Rhymes converts to Islam". LiveLeak.com. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ↑ Markman, Rob (2011-06-24). "Rakim Calls His Longevity In Rap Game 'A Blessing' - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ↑ Rap music and the poetics of identity - Adam Krims - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ↑ "Interview : Jus Allah". ugrap.de. 2005-04-17. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ↑ "Wu-Tang DJ/Producer Mathematics interview talked about Rza, Gza, Method Man. Greatest Ent/SwaggLifeTV". YouTube. 2011-04-19. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ↑ Vibe - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ↑ Smydra Jr, David F. (2003-12-21). "The Five-Percent rap". The Boston Globe.
- ↑ "Black Sheep Facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about Black Sheep". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ↑ Kellman, Andy. "Holy Intellect - Poor Righteous Teachers : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ↑ Paine, Jake (2008-09-12). "Large Professor: Original Recipe | Rappers Talk Hip Hop Beef & Old School Hip Hop". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ↑ Five Percenter Rap: God Hop's Music, Message, And Black Muslim Mission - Felicia M. Miyakawa - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ↑ "Rahiem...The Son Of A Queen". Thafoundation.com. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ↑ "The Lives of Nations for 65143353 Michael Muhammad Knight the Five Per Centers Islam Hip Hop and the Gods of New York". Scribd.com. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- ↑ One On One With Tragedy Khadafi (Part 2): "Stagnation Is Death" Therapup.net, 20 October 2010
- ↑ LL Cool J (1998). I Make My Own Rules. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 52. ISBN 9780312967314.
- ↑ Allah, Wakeel (2009). In the Name of Allah: a History of Clarence 13X and the Five Percenters Vol 1 & 2." Atlanta: A-Team Publishing.
- ↑ Actor/Rapper from Louisville, Ky based out of Los Angeles, California has song called Wave feat. J Dilla