“I Don't Give a Sh*t What DJ Khaled Thinks” - Anees on Cancel Culture and Zohran Mamdani

Quick Overview

Musician Anees discusses his journey from law school to music, his Palestinian heritage, and his views on activism and cancel culture. He emphasizes that Palestinian joy and love are forms of resistance and criticizes the silence of celebrities like DJ Khaled on political issues, advocating for speaking truth over maintaining career stability.

Key Points: Anees, a musician of Palestinian and Lebanese descent, shares that his music is driven by what's on his heart, not by a desire to be political, stating, "It's just whatever's on my heart." He expresses indifference to DJ Khaled's silence on political matters, asserting, "I don't give a [ ] what DJ Cow thinks," and notes that many celebrities seem "very small" despite their public stature. Anees believes that Palestinian joy and love are forms of resistance, a sentiment reinforced by a photojournalist from Gaza who wanted to hear his upbeat song "Sunny Day." He criticizes the prevalence of cancel culture and mob mentality, preferring to offer grace for perceived mistakes rather than immediate condemnation, stating, "I don't believe that the pathway to... making a difference at times... is pushed forward by cancellation." Reflecting on his past, Anees states that "All the things I know today about being an artist were learned in the art of delivering pizzas," highlighting lessons in human interaction and storytelling from the job. Anees recounts the challenging decision to leave law for music, noting his parents' initial apprehension but ultimately supporting his pursuit, and emphasizes that his career choice was deeply influenced by his upbringing in a civil rights-focused family and his Palestinian identity. He praises Zohran Mamdani's political success as a "crack in the matrix" that breaks down taboos, demonstrating that challenging the establishment and pro-Israel lobbies is possible, especially through small donor support.

Context: This interview features musician Anees discussing his identity, career path, and political views with Mie Hassan on the "We're Not Kidding" podcast. Anees, who is half Palestinian and half Lebanese, grew up in the DC area and initially pursued a career in law before transitioning to music. The conversation touches upon his family's history, his experiences delivering pizzas, and his strong stance on political issues, particularly concerning Palestine.