Tamer, Mahmoud and Suhell are the charismatic artists of DAM, the first group to put Palestinian hip-hop on the map. They struggle to produce an album despite crushing poverty, progressing from their initial awkward recording attempts to triumphant sold-out shows in Europe. As politics increasingly informs their art, these young rappers evolve into community leaders and activists for social change. Trapped in Gaza, facing ongoing military attacks, the group PR (Palestinian Rapperz) hope someday to meet their fellow rappers, but separation walls and internal checkpoints prohibit access. Surprisingly, Palestinian hip-hop is not just for the boys. Female soloist Abeer and the group Arapeyat are redefining gender roles and shaking cultural traditions.

Jackie Reem Salloum sat down with us to discuss how she first encountered the talented and outspoken subjects of her film, the challenges she faced in telling their stories,  and why the world needs to hear what the realities of everyday life are for most Palestinians.

Drawing on her Palestinian and Syrian roots, New York–based artist and filmmaker Jackie Reem Salloum focuses on challenging stereotypes about Arabs in the media. Her short films include Planet of the Arabs, which received the international editing award at the 2005 CinemaTexas Film Festival and also screened at the Sundance Film Festival. After receiving her MFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Salloum began directing Slingshot Hip Hop. Five years in the making, it is her first feature-length documentary.