DAM (Arabic: دام) is a Palestinian hip-hop group[1][2][3] founded in 1999 by brothers Tamer and Suhell Nafar and their friend Mahmoud Jreri from the mixed city of Lod.

The group's songs are themed on protest, inequality, Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and self-criticism of Arab-Israeli society,[4] including the violence and drug dealing within Israel's mixed cities.

Nafar then formed DAM in 1999 with his brother Suhell and their friend Muhammad Jrere,[4] but as late as 2000 the group continues to perform in concert with Subliminal and other Jewish–Israeli rappers.

[6] DAM was created in order to give a voice,[12] and a platform to express widespread disillusionment and discontent felt by the Palestinian youth facing discrimination and oppression from Israel.

Around that time, and after listening to the Algerian French Hip Hop CD "MBS – Micro Brise le Silence," Tamer got convinced to give it a shot in Arabic; after a few experiences, he released his first official single "Min al Ta lal Alef lal M E R – From the T to the A to the M E R" over the R. Kelly's instrumental feat Nas "Have you ever thought" the song hit number one charts in all of the Arab radios.

[19] It was released in the wake of a bombing in Tel Aviv, after which Israelis gathered around the Hassan Bek Mosque in Yafa, throwing stones at it and screaming "Death to the terrorist Arabs".

[citation needed] Min Erhabi remains both one of DAM's most popular and controversial songs, giving voice as it does to the perpetual circle of violence within the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

[18] The pro-peace song "Summit Meeting" was also released in 2001 by Sagol 59, DAM's Tamer Nafar, and Sha’anan Street, the front man for Israeli rappers Hadag Nahash.

[citation needed] In the song "Kan Noladti – Born Here", the group featured the female Palestinian rapper Abir al Zinati, shown walking the streets of Lod.

Tamer maintained to make political and historical tours after that, for schools, local and foreign groups, and for international artists such as Erykah Badu, Ezra Koenig from the American rock band - Vampire's Weekend, Michael Franti, Gbenga Akinnagbe actor on the TV show The Wire.

[21] The soundtrack was mostly recorded at Sabreen Studio, East Jerusalem; the album had songs such "Who is the terrorist" by DAM, "Tzakar" by PR, "Blinded Freedom" by Shalabi, "The witch's Uprising" by Abeer and Suhell Nafar and “Sot el Samt” by WE7.

[citation needed] In 2010, Tamer Nafar fronted the international music event "Lyrical Alliance" in the UK, which drew together artists from North Africa, the Middle East in what was subsequently called "The dream team of Arabic hip hop".

[22] After 5 years of performing and touring, and participating in other Artists' projects, DAM decided to release the first single from their future album "Nudbok Al Amar – Dabka on the Moon".

Rapping in both English and Arabic and even Hebrew, this fusion is further seen in their lyrics, which describe their experiences as Palestinians under occupation, their aspirations for social justice and human rights as well as their critiques of the society they live in.

While DAM was characterized early on as "young, angry, hardcore Palestinian Israeli youth straight out of Lyd's ghetto", they later took a different direction, "speaking to issues of racism and reconciliation with Israel",[23] voiced in song lyrics such as: Where is the equality when I live in a shack?

When I am not mentioned in the national anthem[23]By 2012, DAM is said to have grown tired of their identification as a "resistance band", with its members instead seeking identities as mainstream commercial artists wanting to "move beyond the political hype" and "be known for their beats and verses".

[14] They have also faced backlash for their song "Mama I fell in love with a Jew", with a parodic music video where the rap group is in an elevator with an IDF soldier.

[5] Together, these albums have earned DAM critical acclaim and helped make of this group a leading voice in Palestinian artistic resistance movements.