February 13, 2017

Adnan Khan, aka Menace, won’t be enjoying the Grammy’s in Los Angeles tonight.

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“Panda”, the song that has gone quadruple platinum, kick-started Desiigner‘s career and broken a few records along the way is up for a Grammy award later tonight. The producer, however, behind one of the year’s biggest songs, Menace, is currently being denied entry to the United States as part of Donald Trump’s recent controversial immigration action. The executive order, that although temporarily blocked, proposes banning refugees and citizens from seven predominantly muslim countries. Menace, born Adnan Khan to Pakistani immigrant parents in Manchester, UK has been attempting to come stateside for over a year to join the scene. With prestigious award nominations and a slew of collaborations waiting to happen Menace is eager to turn get his career into high-gear. As it stands though, Menace won’t be enjoying the Grammy’s in Los Angeles tonight, where the record is up for “Best Rap Performance“. Menace will be watching with family and friends across the pond in London, England. I caught up with the elusive producer to get his thoughts on Trump and his discriminatory immigration policies.

What were your first thoughts when hearing about this travel ban?

I was concerned because I knew it was going to interfere with my VISA application. Trump has just been randomly banning countries. Although, I wasn’t surprised because Donald Trump said he was going to do it before he took office. He’s had a lot of support from people for the ban frankly. I felt like a parent whose kid did something dumb honestly, like I wasn’t mad, just disappointed.

Do you think these travel laws unfairly discriminate?

Yes, of course they do. You’re banning babies at that point. Kids who don’t have anything to do with what you’re associating them with. Which is sad, because at a certain point you’re forcing them to be a part of your agenda. I know a few people who are Doctors in the States, people who are genuinely saving American lives daily and they’ve been banned from coming into the country. It just doesn’t make any sense to ban someone because of their ethnic background. I don’t agree with it and it seems like a lot of people in the U.S. also think it’s wrong. It’s just how those in power are treating people as political pawns that upsets me most.

What would you like to say to Trump/like minded individuals?

Simply that the U.S. was founded by immigrants, so it’s extremely hypocritical to pick and choose what countries, ethnicities, and religions in now. The U.S. wouldn’t be what it is today without immigrants and it’s a shame to think that a misguided fear and scare tactics have led to all of this.

Is England experiencing any similar racial/religious tension?

Not really at the moment. The majority of the people are against Trump’s order. Some people do support it though because at the moment, we’re going through Brexit moving away from the rest of Europe. In this case we’re the minority in the EU and I think it was our way of saying we can have our own border restrictions. It has definitely stirred up a lot of different emotions in the U.K. so naturally there is some division, but not like I’ve seen in the U.S.

What are your plans for music in 2017?

Do a follow-up to last year’s hit that’s even bigger!

So as the red carpet comes alive with celebrities and we around the country collectively plant ourselves in front of our televisions for the evening to watch the Grammy’s unfold. It’s important we remember all of those artists and producers that won’t be attendance, like Menace. I’ll refrain from getting political here, but what I will say is that music is a uniquely global collective like few other industries. This isn’t about immigrants, it’s about the free flow of ideas. What seems to be lost on Washington D.C. these days is the profoundly personal impact that laws like these have. People and families have been reduced to political pawns in a game of political chess to further agendas. While Menace certainly has his work cut out for him if he wants to top “Panda”, this humble writer can only hope that Menace successfully replicates his success in 2017 and is allowed to enjoy the awards with his peers like he deserves.


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