Having lived an exciting life on the fast lane, Beale became disillusioned with rap following Tupac’s murder and reverted to Islam. He then left music and recently moved to Riyadh. He was recently in Jeddah to screen a documentary — Napolean: The Life of an Outlaw. Beale spoke to Arab News about rapping, his conversion to Islam and documentary, and the message he wants young people in the Kingdom to hear.

Well, the documentary spans my entire life, right from my privileged childhood that lasted till I was three years old when me and my brothers became witnesses to our parents’ murder and then living life in the slums, raised by my grandparents. It talks about my life with my relatives to the time when I got into the music industry when I started singing with Tupac Shakur in the band Outlawz. And then the transition in my life from being a rapper trapped in the ugly industry of drugs and murder to becoming a Muslim. I want to show people what it was like being in the music industry… People think living that life is great… but in reality it isn’t…

My parents who were born Christians had accepted Islam. But at the age of three I lost them and me and my siblings were raised by my Christian grandparents. My grandmother was a very devout Christian and would take us to church three or five times a week. But as I got older and stepped foot into the music industry, I didn’t really follow any religion or for that matter even Christianity either.

I had a childhood friend named Kadafi who was the half-brother of Tupac Shakur... Kadafi’s mother introduced me to Tupac… and from there I got introduced to the other band members that formed the Outlawz and the rest was history.

My dream was to get out of the ghettos and from a life of hardship and to do music. When I met Tupac he was the best rapper the world had ever seen. He was on top of the top. It’s where I had wanted to be. Making music was what I wanted to do and I was living that dream.

For a very long period of my life I was unhappy trying to find refuge in drugs and alcohol. I had everything one could ever ask for, being in the music industry — the money, the cars and the fame... But I didn’t have any tranquility. I got tired of my life, of living. My grandmother died, Tupac and Kadafi were murdered... I reached a point in my life where I didn’t want to live anymore. I then met a Muslim brother outside the studio, who kept inviting me and calling me to join him at the mosque. The first time my head touched the ground in prayer was the first time I felt happiness in my life.

I accepted Islam in 2002. It’s been almost nine years since then, Alhamdullilah. The comparison between my life then and now is like darkness and light... When I accepted Islam it was like a veil got lifted from my eyes. I was able to see the whole world differently. Now its like I'm living at ease. My life earlier was chaos. It was a wreck. But having accepted Islam was the best thing that could happen to me... It has kept all my emotions and desires in check. It has disciplined me.

Before I turned to Islam, I used to dream that I would die exactly the same way that Tupac died. Coming back from the streets I believed that this was the way a man should die. You know getting murdered, getting killed. I thought that I would never marry a woman and settle down. But Alhamdulliah, the religion of Islam has changed my view of everything. Islam teaches us to marry and to have a family. To have a chance at happiness.

When I accepted Islam I continued to make music as I was bound to a contract and it was hard for me to just walk out… But I just wasn’t happy. I was through with that life. I had everything that any person would have wished for. But I knew Islam was offering me a better life of purity.

I don’t see myself there because Islam has not permitted us to use music to spread its message. The authentic Hadiths have mentioned a time when people will use music to for this and that such people will be punished… I won’t go that way, Insha-Allah.

I am not proud of what I have done before. It was a time when I didn’t have any guidance and had not accepted Islam into my life. I have lived that life and it did no good for me. It did me more harm than… benefit. The youth need to be educated about the lifestyle that they probably see on television for five minutes… They should understand that there’s a lot of evil… in that kind of lifestyle. They should realize what Islam has to offer and understand that the two of them just don’t go together. They should understand that this religion is going to bring them honor and respect, that they shouldn’t be trying to ape the life of those who don’t have any guidance. I have been around Tupac who was the best rap music composer and lyricist that the world ever saw. But, I knew when I read the Qur'an it couldn’t be the work of a human. The youth here have the best guidance by which they can live by. They should realize that.