40 is among the handful of music industry professionals to openly voice solidarity with Palestine as the bloodshed in Gaza continues to escalates.
On Wednesday (October 18), the OVO Sound producer (real name Noah Shebib) addressed the rising death toll in the strip after Hamas launched an attack in Israel a little over a week ago that claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians. Since then, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have endlessly unleashed a series of onslaughts on the occupied territory.
Amid the violence, Lebanese military group Hezbollah has been destroying Israeli surveillance cameras along their shared border. 40, whose ancestry partially traces back to Lebanon, has taken a firm stance against the conflict that has dominated the global news cycle since early October.
“I live in Canada,” he began. “One of the worlds most brutally violent colonial regimes. Still in active genocides against indigenous peoples. It’s hard to speak as I sit here benefiting from colonial violence to the highest degree.
“Believing in both the human rights of Palestinians and the right and need of a Jewish state has meant I have always had friends on both sides. And beyond the physical war, seeing them be pushed into extremism by such acts of violence is distressing.”
He added: “This is what colonialism looks like. It’s what it’s always looked like. When will this stop? When will life win over death? The world did not come and stand with the Jewish people during the holocaust. Now we watch as the world does not come and stand with Palestine. I’m ashamed and devastated by it all.”
In the same post, he shared a photograph of a t-shirt that reads: “WE ALL KNOW TOO WELL THAT OUR FREEDOM IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT PALESTINES FREEDOM.”
This isn’t the first time the 40-year-old producer has spoken on the Israel–Palestine turmoil. In 2021, he urged his social media followers to watch a documentary about the inception of the Zionist state, which began with a mass exodus that came to be known as “Al-Nakba” (Arabic: The Catastrophe).
“I hate making these posts,” he wrote on Instagram. “It’s like a big deja vu that has been reoccurring my entire life and beyond. So what I’ll say is that “Al-Nakba: The Palestinian catastrophe” is an incredible documentary on YouTube that can help everyone understand the Palestinian struggle. I will also say that I recognize I’m making this comment from a country that is a colonial state. This is a world issue.”
A large number of influential public figures have remained silent on the issue, most notably 40’s longtime friend and collaborator Drake and DJ Khaled, who are of Jewish and Palestinian descent, respectively. After the attacks broke out earlier this month, DJ Vlad called out both artists over their failure to comment about the crisis.
The media personality then doubled down on his opinion about their so-called “radio silence” during an interview with The Breakfast Club last week.
“You sort of see what’s been happening, when you look at the Gaza–Israel situation. It’s horrific,” he said. “And I put out a statement about that myself. I said, you know, that I feel sorry for all the citizens from Israel and Palestine that are caught up in what their leaders are choosing to do.”
He continued: “It’s a serious topic. And when I sat back and looked at it, I was like, Drake is the most famous Jewish person on Earth … and Khaled is the most famous Palestinian in the world. But neither one of them has said anything about this at all.”
“Drake is doing this whole thing where he’s literally writing paragraphs about Joe Budden because his feelings were hurt about an album review,” he concluded. “So it’s not like they don’t have time. This shit runs deep.”
Go fight for Palestine if you’re so upset
What a heartless way to respond to an oppressed people, and that is the exact same sentiment slavery abolitionists faced. You’re a coward, which is fine, but some people want to stand up for the oppressed and that doesn’t require picking up a gun.
He got M.S…the only thing he’s fighting for is lubar support.
@sss You definitely sit down when you pee
@sss, tell that to Hamas
@sss As much as I like your posturing and moral high ground. Can you tell me how the Palestinian people are oppressed? Israel hasn’t been in Gaza since 07. In addition, Hamas was voted in to power by the Palestinian people.
This is real af of him rn
Okay and if Drake said something about Palestine is that suddenly going to make everyone hold hands and rainbows appear and Jada Pinket stop doing interviews?
Okay yala habibi go join isis or top yourself. FOH HOMO
Since you hate the west so much you are more than free to go over there. I’m sure they will welcome you with open arms.
Yeah, I remember when Canada sent soldiers to a peaceful music festival to kidnap and murder a bunch of drunk and high young adults. I think it was Coachella?
Just put on some Drake and I’m positive that Hamas would either fall asleep or start acting like girls and would be too in their feelings to want to do anything.
Well spoken 40. Taking firm stances on social issues no matter the fallout is what separates the True Revolutionaries like a Ali, Dr King, Malcom X and Ceasar Chavez vs media hyped phony’s like Lebron James, John Legend and Amy Schumer. You notice how quick celebs and athletes are quick to lash out or pile on when it comes to Trump. They do that because it’s Easy. Those same celebs won’t comment on China or Palestine because of fear of backlash and business ties. Don’t you ever compare to Leroid to Jim Brown, Ali or Bill Russell.
LeRoid!!!!!! That’s so funny bro he actually is on roofs too ever since he turned 34 and took a randomn 2 week sabbatical to his steroid riddled controversial steroid doctor in Miami who had ties to the biggest steroid ring bust ever in miami pro sports facilities a few years back. And LEBRON bragged about it saying the nba doctors said they’ve never ever seen anybody heal faster… lmao
S/o to Bron tho. All that shit in the east is their business. I don’t see no one over there speaking on the injustices black and brown ppl face over here in the west 🤷🏿♂️
S/o to his doctor too! ✊🏿
So, Canada is genociding indigenous peoples lmao? No. FYI, nobody is “indigenous”. The “natives” in Canada and North America in general mostly came from Asia.
Please STFU. You really sound like you’re retarded. Wait… you aren’t from Florida are you? If so then nevermind… Carry on praying to your inbred gator Jesus lol.
“Canada…brutally violent colonial regimes” sorry what? What an ungrateful little dickhead.
SHUT UP BIT.CH (40)! THE MUSIC YALL MAKE IS GENOCIDE AGAINST THE YOUTH AND ALL PEOPLE WHO HEAR IT!
And I am serious too!
Everything you touch turns to shit
I dont care anything about this war…LOL..or ukraine
We gonna have to just open up a massive desert out somewhere and let the men fight it out. Fuck wars. Winner takes all.
J’s had Israel first. TheA’s invaded during the Ottoman Empire. That is colonialism. J’s got their land back. A’s been salty ever since. Don’t compare this to no slavery.
Big up 40 for giving a fuck and being real in this industry full of snakes with no back bone. All you ignorants full of hate ought to spend 10 minutes educating yourselves.
Sure. Like those innocent people slaughtered at that rave. How is their education going?
This guy needs to go to the library and read
Support the state that benefits from terrorist attention and attacks. The UK gave Israel its land over 100 years ago. Get over it. Learn to coexist like your stupid ass bumper sticker says.
40 paid off to say something since Drake wack a$$ won’t and is under pressure. PR team looking Sus lol
I hate small hats