Latest news with #Mehdi
The Guardian
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The DJ who united the warring tribes of French rap and dance – and died tragically young
The late DJ Mehdi had a talent for bridging divides. At the height of the musician's fame, Mehdi's cousin Myriam Essadi recalls in a new documentary, he had to jet straight from a nightclub in Ibiza to his grandfather's funeral in Tunisia. 'He was wearing red glasses, white jeans and a jacket with a cross. In Tunisia! For our grandfather's funeral!' Essadi laughs. 'We didn't get it. And in Tunisia you don't mess with religion.' DJ Mehdi: Made in France, a six-part documentary now available with English subtitles on Franco-German broadcaster Arte, revisits the life and tragic death of one of the most fascinating, influential and misunderstood French musicians of his generation. International audiences largely know Mehdi, who died in 2011 at the age of 34, for his work with Parisian label Ed Banger in the 2000s, spearheading a new wave of French dance music alongside artists such as Justice – they of the cross logo on Mehdi's jacket – and SebastiAn. In France, however, his legacy is more complicated, opening up questions about the rift between hip-hop and dance music, as well as underlying divisions in French society. Born to a French-Tunisian family in the north-west suburbs of Paris in 1977, Mehdi Favéris-Essadi rose to prominence for his production work with rap group Ideal J and hip-hop collective Mafia K-1 Fry. His first big hits came with 113, a rap trio whose 1999 album Les Princes de la Ville is considered one of the most important albums of the decade in France. When Les Princes was released, dance music had already entered Mehdi's life via Cassius duo Philippe Zdar and Boombass, whom he worked with on MC Solaar's 1997 album Paradisiaque. Several of the leading producers of French house music had roots in hip-hop, including Pépé Bradock and Cassius themselves. But none were as well known within the rap world as Mehdi, and his pivot was not always warmly received. 'You couldn't switch from rap to electro or vice versa. In the other world, you weren't legitimate,' Essadi explains in the documentary. In the US, hip-hop and dance music were initially closely linked, sharing roots in soul and funk music as well as production methods, a connection Mehdi appreciated when he heard Daft Punk's 1997 album Homework. 'I thought: 'That's funny, we use the same machines, the same samplers, they live just around the corner, they're about my age, that could have been me,'' Mehdi says in an archival clip. By the late 90s hip-hop had risen to such prominence in the US that its leading artists tended to view dance music as a forgotten fad, if they thought about it at all. In the UK the opposite was true, with strength of British dance music eclipsing domestic hip-hop. In France, homegrown rap was extremely strong in the late 1990s. In the media, however, it was often vilified, while dance music was viewed as the next big thing, thanks to the rise of acts like Daft Punk, Étienne de Crécy and Cassius. The tension between two types of music and their various associations – Parisian elite v working class, city v suburbs – was palpable. 'In 1997, if 47 guys and girls from [Paris suburb] Bobigny wanted to get into the Queen club [a Paris club known for house music] they couldn't,' Boombass says in the documentary. 'To them we were just guys who smoked weed, only good for a bank robbery or to deal drugs to them,' Essadi adds. ''You're from the suburbs.' That meant many different things to people from central Paris who went to the Palace club or to Bains Douche to listen to dance music.' When Mehdi tried to bridge this gap – for example, with the Kraftwerk-sampling beat for 113's Ouais Gros – the response was often negative. 'When people heard it they thought: 'Who are these guys hardcore rapping to music like this? I don't get it,'' 113's AP says in the documentary. 'I remember people stopping me in the streets, people from the rap world saying: 'What's Mehdi doing? Talk to him! What's this new music, this crazy music,'' Essadi recounts. Mehdi would go on to have huge success in electronic music off the back of the release of Signatune in 2007. 'Signatune was soon being played by the most well-known DJs all across the globe and promoters all wanted to book DJ Mehdi for their events,' former Daft Punk manager Pedro Winter explains in Made in France. The final part of the documentary shows footage of Mehdi's international success, DJing at huge clubs and festivals alongside the Ed Banger crew to adoring, hedonistic crowds. It comes in sharp contrast to scenes of poverty and crime, burnt cars and drab suburban tower blocks, that mark the documentary's first two episodes, examining Mehdi's roots in hip-hop and the unfashionable outskirts of Paris. Mehdi died on 13 September 2011 at the height of his international fame, when the skylight on the roof of his Paris home collapsed as he was celebrating the birthday of British producer Riton. 'Four of them were sat on this … glass, sort of, roof,' Riton says in the documentary. 'They just got to stand up, that's when it like … made the roof collapse through. Then the next thing, we were just looking through this hole at this horrific scene.' Tributes to Mehdi came in from the elite of the global dance music world, including US dubstep artist Skrillex and Ed Simons from the Chemical Brothers. And yet, for people in France in particular, this was only half the story. 'Internationally [Mehdi's] probably best known as one of the frontrunners of the Ed Banger crew that defined an entire era,' Canadian DJ A-trak says at the end of the documentary. 'But, of course, he has a huge legacy as the king of French hip-hop production and even just someone who brought together these unlikely pairings of scenes.' 'He helped us evolve our music over time,' 113's Mokobé adds. 'It's thanks to him that there are no limits, no bars, no borders for us … This is what his music was all about; no bars, no barriers, no border.' DJ Mehdi: Made in France is available to watch on Arte from 1 August
Buzz Feed
6 days ago
- Politics
- Buzz Feed
20 Far-Right Conservatives Spewed Their Wild Beliefs In A Debate With 1 Progressive, And It's Going Viral For Being Absolutely Absurd
If you haven't heard of the media company Jubilee, they specialize in hosting political and social debates between people of widely opposing views, and their videos are known for being both educational and unhinged. Their latest video, called "1 Progressive vs 20 Far-Right Conservatives," features Mehdi Hasan, an award-winning journalist and former TV host on MSNBC, as the progressive. Hasan agreed to timed debates with a group of far-right conservatives on various political topics, and so many moments are going mega-viral. Some of the highlights from the 1 hour and 40-minute-long debate include one argument about whether or not immigrants are good for America: Jubilee / Via Then, during an argument about whether or not Donald Trump is defying the Constitution, one far-right debater made a shocking admission: After that, another far-right conservative made this bizarre claim during a debate on whether or not Donald Trump is pro-criminal: Jubilee / Via Then during an argument about Donald Trump's plan for Gaza, this horrific moment happened: Jubilee / Via Then, during the debate about immigrants being good for America, things got personal: One person said, "The value of these seem to be demonstrating how it is ok to say things in public that would have been unthinkable to admit 10 years ago." @adityav84 / Via "Just sat through the this.. The disgusting and horrible rhetoric that I just witnessed makes me absolutely sick," another person wrote. This person praised Mehdi's knowledge in the debate. "I gotta say, the few of these types of videos I've seen clips from, the person hasn't been argumentative enough. Has been too afraid to really drop the hammer on people. Mehdi IS that guy and I have loved every clip I've seen from this video. Knows his stuff and isn't afraid."
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mehdi Hasan shuts down 20 Donald Trump fans in explosive jubilee debate – viewers call him a ‘National Treasure'
Mehdi Hasan is a British-American journalist who recently made a splash in progressive politics after departing from the MSNBC network to found his own independent media platform, known as Zeteo. Since then, Mehdi has spearheaded numerous investigative journalism and advocacy efforts, most notably concerning the ongoing war in Gaza, which he has termed a 'genocide'. Mehdi is also a staunch critic of the current Donald Trump administration, and has built up a reputation as a formidable debater. On July 20, he showcased his passion for debating once more by appearing on Jubilee's Surrounded. Surrounded is a YouTube series where a public debater deliberately disadvantages themselves by pitting themselves against 20 people of opposing viewpoints, with Mehdi facing off against hardline Donald Trump supporters who were staunchly anti-immigrant and openly supported many of the president's most controversial policies. Mehdi would later post a highlight reel of the over 90-minute debate on his X account, which got a lot of reactions, with James Allan calling Mehdi a "National Treasure". You're a National Treasure Mehdi. Netizens rally around Mehdi after his Jubilee debate Mehdi's highlight reel prompted a lot of responses on his X timeline, with many praising Mehdi's debating skills and commending him on facing off against America's radicalized right-wingers head on. User doomer_world called Mehdi an American hero, which he looked all too happy to hear. 🙏🏽 User Nick Warren said that the others brought a pencil sharpener to a gatling gun fight. They bought a pencil sharpener to a gatling gun fight... User jocamp thanked Mehdi for everything. 🙏🏽 User Rickey Williams commended Mehdi for taking 'hate and fascism' full on, and said there was no barometer to gauge the amount of 'crazy' among the 20 right-wingers. Words cannot express how much I appreciate you Mehdi, you took hate and fascism full on, there's no barometer to gauge the amount of crazy amongst those 20. User whereisjarule_ stated that Mehdi was the best debater he'd ever seen. Happy it's mehdi Hasan of all people going against them. He is the best debater I've ever seen! User thelefttake condemned the people Mehdi debated against, saying they should be 'put on a watchlist'. There are multiple people in this video who should be placed on a watchlist. It's actually scary knowing they walk among us. Not all responses to Mehdi's debate were positive, however, with seasters jones saying that Mehdi shouldn't have given the 'fascists' a platform. Had you never watched previous episodes? Just fascists getting crushed and acting like they won likely because they got to advertise/platform their hate. User Grounded Spaceman accused Mehdi of just talking over everyone. lol…this isn't the own you think it is. I'd wager that you can win a debate fair and square over the normal this is just you talking over ppl. Fast and loud doesn't win a debate dude User Landon Best said that Mehdi shouldn't call what he did a 'debate' because none of the 20 reactionaries he talked to had any ideas worth seriously considering. Your #1 issue is calling this a debate when it's not. Debate implies these ideas are in any way meant to be taken seriously. There is nothing serious about any of the 20 reactionaries you talked to. However, Landon was met with pushback by ValorieThomas, who pointed out that everyone in the video knew what they signed up for, and genuinely considered themselves debaters. It's important to note that every person in that room knew what they were signed up for. Every person in there knew who would be sitting across the table. Everyone in that room thinks they are debaters with relevant, cogent ideas & arguments. Mehdi Hasan has had a storied journalism career Before establishing his own media company, Mehdi Hasan spent a long time building his credentials as a journalist and activist. After doing a few stints on British networks such as ITV and BBC One, Mehdi rose to prominence as an anchor for Al Jazeera, following which he transitioned to MSNBC and hosted The Mehdi Hasan Show from 2020 to 2024. Aside from his work on Zeteo, Mehdi is also a regular columnist for The Guardian. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
India Today
17-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Sensitive matter, in touch with friendly governments: India on Nimisha Priya case
India on Thursday said that the matter pertaining to Nimisha Priya, a 36-year-old nurse from Kerala on death row in Yemen in connection with the murder of a Yemeni national, was sensitive and the government had been in touch with friendly nations over the a weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government provided legal assistance to Priya's family and arranged regular consular is a sensitive matter and the Government of India has been offering all possible assistance in the case. We have provided legal assistance and appointed a lawyer to assist the family. We have also arranged regular consular visits and been in constant touch with the local authorities and the family members to resolve the issue," Jaiswal said. "This included concerted efforts in recent days to seek more time for the family of Nimisha Priya to reach a mutually agreeable solution with the other party. The local authorities in Yemen have postponed carrying out her sentence scheduled for July 16. We continue to closely follow the matter and render all possible assistance. We are also in touch with some friendly governments," he IS NIMISHA PRIYA?Priya, a native of Kerala's Palakkad district, is accused of drugging and murdering her local business partner, Talal Abdo Mehdi, a Yemeni national, with the help of another nurse in 2017. Priya has challenged the charges, but the courts have dismissed her nurse was sentenced to death by a local court in Yemen in 2020, and her final appeal in Yemen's Supreme Court, challenging the decision, was dismissed in 2023. In January this year, Mahdi al-Mashat, President of the rebel Houthis' Supreme Political Council, approved her has been working in Yemen as a nurse since 2008. She travelled to the country with her husband Tommy Thomas after their marriage in 2011. Due to the civil war in Yemen in 2014, her husband returned to Kerala with their daughter, while Priya stayed in later partnered with Mehdi to open a nursing home. According to her, the murder of the Yemeni national was committed in self-defence and under duress. The nurse alleged that Mehdi physically abused her, took possession of her passport and controlled her finances. She claimed she administered sedatives in an attempt to retrieve her passport, but he died from an is currently jailed in Sana'a Central Prison and was to be executed on Wednesday. However, it was put on hold amid a hectic diplomatic outreach by India to the victim's family and saving her from the family of Mehdi has made it clear that the family will not accept any offer of pardon or compensation and that Priya should not get mercy and be executed.- EndsTune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Kerala
NDTV
17-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
NDTV Explains: "Nimisha Priya Must Face 'Qisas'", Says Brother. What Is This Law?
New Delhi: Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya - sentenced to death by Yemen for the murder of Talal Abdo Mehdi - must face ' Qisas ', or 'God's law', and nothing else, his brother has insisted. Ms Priya was to be executed Wednesday but sustained diplomatic pressure brought her a temporary reprieve. A second execution date has not yet been set. This means the 38-year-old remains on death row for now, relying on the efforts of the Indian government and social activists working to convince Mr Mehdi's family to issue a pardon or, at the very least, agree to commute her death sentence. The family, though, is opposed to both. Mr Mehdi's brother told British broadcaster the BBC no pardon will be offered to Ms Priya and that she must face 'justice' as written in the Koran. Abdelfattah Mehdi also hit out at media narratives in India that suggested the family was more interested in the $1 million in 'blood money', or financial compensation, than 'justice'. READ | 'No Pardon, It's A Crime': Brother Of Yemeni Man Killed By Kerala Nurse In a Facebook post this week Mr Mehdi acknowledged mediation and reconciliation attempts on Ms Priya's behalf but stressed, "... our demand is clear: Qisas and nothing else, no matter what." What Is ' Qisas '? ' Qisas ' is a term in Islamic jurisprudence. It is similar to the biblical concept of 'an eye for an eye', i.e., victims of a crime are entitled to 'reciprocal justice'. The Arabic word ' qisas ' translates as 'retaliation' or 'retribution'. It finds repeated mention in the Koran, including in Chapter 2, Verse 178, which reads: "O you who have faith! Retribution is prescribed for you regarding the slain: freeman for freeman, slave for slave, and female for female. But if one is granted any extenuation by his brother, let the follow up (for the 'blood money', or 'diyah') be honourable, and let the payment to him be with kindness. That is a remission from your Lord and a mercy" But what is significant is that ' qisas ' refers to 'retribution' for intentionally committed crimes, suggesting the family believes Nimisha Priya deliberately murdered Talal Mehdi. Therefore, under Islamic law the family is entitled to seek proportionate recompense. There are two kinds of ' qisas ' depending on the crime itself. The first is 'for life', i.e., a life for a life, which is what Mr Mehdi's family has demanded. The second is 'for body parts', i.e., the victim can inflict an injury similar to that inflicted on them. The latter concept is barbaric by today's moral standards and values, but the former remains an integral part of jurisprudence worldwide. Indeed, the death sentence is valued and defended by many countries, including the United States and India, only neither offers a religious overtone. It is important to note that ' qisas ' is not the norm, either in Yemen or any other nation governed by Sharia law. Contemporary judiciary sensibilities and oversight can, and do, affect its use. NDTV Explains | Why Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya Is To Be Executed In Yemen But Yemen does have one of the highest per capita execution rates in the world, although that figure is likely inflated due to increased use by Houthi rebels who control parts of the country. This is not to suggest there is no hope for Ms Priya. Indeed, that her execution was postponed (and without seeking permission from Mr Mehdi's family, according to his brother's Facebook post) indicates the Yemen government is listening. Sources have told NDTV India's embassy in Riyadh in neighbouring Saudi Arabia is leading this effort, with help from a private individual, Samuel Jerome, an Indian citizen living in Sanaa. Mr Jerome spoke to NDTV Wednesday. He said the family had been angered by the media's focus on 'blood money', but indicated he would try to repair broken ties with the brother. Nimisha Priya Case Ms Priya travelled from Kerala's Palakkad to Yemen in 2011, hunting for a well-paying job to support her parents. After a few years in a hospital there, she set up her own medical clinic. Yemen laws require foreign nationals to partner with citizens to set up a business. Mr Mehdi was that business partner for her venture. There are also reports she later married him. READ | 'Pardon By Yemeni Man's Family Only Real Hope For Nimisha': Activist Either way, the relationship deteriorated rapidly after she accused him of harassment and stealing from her. Mr Mehdi, she claimed, then hid her passport so she couldn't leave. In 2017 Ms Priya tried to drug Mr Mehdi so she could recover the passport. Unfortunately he died under medication and the nurse - who tried to hide his body by cutting it up and dumping it in a water tank - was caught trying to flee the country. She was convicted of murder in March 2018 and sentenced to death two years later. What Is The Government Doing? The Indian government continues to do all it can to save Nimisha Priya. It is, however, running out of options. Attorney General R Venkataramani told the Supreme Court Monday "there is a point till which we can go... we have reached it". The court, hearing a plea by the 'Save Nimisha Priya International Council', was told the "only way" forward is if Mr Mehdi's family accept financial compensation.
