New Muslim Cool

The hip hop duo known as the Mujahadeen Team, brothers Suliman and Jason Perez, come out on stage with flaming machetes. Both are devout Muslims.

Jason Perez used to think that he would be locked up or dead at 21. In some ways, it came true. At 21 he converted to Islam, became Hamza Perez, and says he laid his old life to rest. His Puerto Rican Catholic family watched him turn his life around and become a messenger of hope to drug dealers and addicts on the streets.

Hamza did end up in jail, but as an educator, experienced in thug life and wisened by his role as a devoted father and member of Pittsburgh’s Muslim community. New Muslim Cool, by filmmaker Jennifer Maytorena Taylor, tells his story. Her documentary airs tonight on POV. Film director Jennifer Maytorena Taylor and star Hamza Jason Perez join us from the Argot Network in New York City.

The film airs on WGBH today at 2:30 and 7:30 pm, and on NHPTV beginning July 3.