Mohamad Tokko

Dearborn — In the classroom, Mohamad Tokko is an aspiring attorney; in the studio, he goes by “Yung Tokes”, a hip hop artist with a message to pursue your dreams.

Working to merge the two worlds, Yung Tokes’ performance aims to engage the listener both musically and lyrically.

“Hip hop is the best form to get my visions and opinions out, while providing a positive message,” Tokko said.

Tokko added that there is a stereotype in the hip hop community that could diminish an artist’s credibility if he or she is not from “the streets.” He said being both educated and a rapper are not mutually exclusive and hopes to break that stereotype with his music.

Born and raised in Dearborn, Tokko said he became interested in hip hop when he used to freestyle with his friends in his backyard. He moved to Arizona in 2007 to pursue a law degree. He seriously became interested in pursuing a music career when he realized that many attorneys have side passions.

Tokko said not many hip hop musicians pursue higher education careers, which raises eyebrows among his peers. After a hefty lawsuit involving his uncle, the artist wanted to help do research for the case. He soon “fell in love” with law and decided to enroll in law school and take the bar exam.

Tokko said the negative portrayal of Arab Americans in the media sometimes affects his law career, but not his music. He added that he sometimes struggles to push through the conflict of meshing the two worlds together, like making enough time to do well both in school and in the studio.

In his song “Changed”, the artist expresses his transformation into becoming a dedicated rapper, while others berate him for it. As displayed in the song’s verse “changing my dream to something I hope”, the message is to embrace one’s individuality and pursue one’s dreams, despite the odds.

“All that animosity influences my music lyrically and musically,” said Tokko, adding that he introduces Arabic samples to achieve a Middle Eastern vibe. His song “Shawarma” effectively portrays that style.

The rapper has learned to be more open to differing ideas and has a new perspective on people’s hardships, bringing him closer to his fans.

He said when making music, he strives to remain patient during the creative process and not expect the song’s end result to be immediately perfect. Instead, he focuses on perfecting the next song.

Tokko likes working with different artists to expand his talents and fan base, instead of shutting them out for fear of competition, a common practice.

Tokko’s parents were not always fans of his music or his tattoo-covered back. At first, they were reluctant to support his music career, urging him to opt for only pursuing an education in law. Once he maintained a steady focus on both careers, they accepted it more. Now, they attend his shows.

“You can do anything tastefully and people should always remain themselves,” said Tokko, adding that purpose and value are important qualities in every endeavor.