Kodak Black is a Florida rapper who has made rounds for topping the Billboard charts and running the most controversies whenever he sets foot in the public domain. For the past week, though, he found himself the source of a most different kind of heated online debate. This was brought about by a picture of him in what appeared to be a Muslim praying position. Ever since the photo went viral, wild speculations have flown thick and fast that the rapper had converted to Islam. But Kodak wasted no time over putting the rumors to rest and setting the record straight on his faith and frustration over the false narrative.
In fact, the picture showed Kodak on his knees, hands together in an apparent Islamic prayer pose. Speculation ran wild on social media and blogs, hence fueling debates over the religious conversion of the rapper.
However, Kodak would take to his own social media channels to dismiss the claims – whose real name is Bill Kahan Kapri. In a pointed post, he wrote, “NO DISRESPECT TO THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY BUT IAM HEBREW ISRAELITE I FEEL VERY DISRESPECTED BY THE BLOG AND @bollywoodsaif FOR ALLOWING THEM TO RUN WITH A NARRATIVE THAT I’VE CONVERTED TO ISLAM!!!
” This picture is a picture that was staged,” Kodak would go on to explain, adding, “It was for a picture asked by this dude above you named @bollywoodsaif. And it was a pic out of context and not representing what it seemed it was. Period.” He stated, “I’m not converting,” before describing how the falsification of his religion had him beyond frustrated.
For Kodak, this is beyond some public clearing of his name; it is about protecting the sanctity of the Muslim and Hebrew Israelite communities. “I feel very disrespected,” he said, putting a premium on how his beliefs were being misrepresented. The assertion of his identity as a Hebrew Israelite is not new for Kodak.
His association with the faith actually goes as far back as his time in prison where he started studying scripture with a Hebrew Israelite minister. In 2018, he had changed his name legally from Dieuson Octave to Bill Kahan Kapri, “Kahan” being a variation of “Kohen,” a Hebrew word for priest. The Hebrew Israelite movement is diverse in its interpretations and practices, but generally leans toward a return to the teachings of the Hebrew Bible and identifies its members as descendants of the ancient Israelites.
He later appeared uninvited to a Baltimore Ravens game and shouted, “I live in Baltimore!
The Hebrew Israelite faith has been a big part of Kodak’s personal and spiritual life. His acceptance of the faith indicates a need to connect with his heritage and live a life that is in tandem with values that are befitting of his belief system. This is not the first time that fans have raised concern over the behavior of Kodak. In recent weeks, his erratic actions have sparked worry among his supporters. During a livestream with popular streamer Kai Cenat, Kodak blinked in and seemed incoherent, creating rumors about his mental and physical health.
Even the bug-eyed appearance and the unusual outbursts, which are out of his character, caught the attention of fans, further giving way to this speculation about his well-being. All this has happened by the way of what has contributed to the public doubting Kodak’s moves, and speculations in the air if he has deeper personal problems.
