Mipsterz

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Mipsterz, stylized as #MIPSTERZ (short for Muslim Hipsters [1] ), are an international group of primarily hipster Muslims (loosely defined, and not limited to Millennials) who have evolving views on religion, identity, community, politics, and culture. [2] [3] [4] [5] Prior to 2012, the term "#MIPSTERZ" did not exist, though the application of "Muslim Hipsters" had been used. [6] Abbas Rattani is credited as the creator of the formal #MIPSTERZ movement, culture, community, and identity [7] [8] [9] [10] Other known #MIPSTERZ include tech entrepreneur Layla Shaikley, [11] , author & artist Sara Alfageeh, [12] [13] Riz Ahmed, Ibtihaj Muhmmad, Hasan Minhaj, Linda Sarsour, Reza Aslan, Nas Daily, Amina Wadud, Omid Safi, Rabia of Basra, and Jalal al-din Rumi. CNN described Mipsterz as “a space for Muslim hipsters,” highlighting how the group combined humor, identity, and cultural critique while building visibility for young Muslim creatives. [14]

Mipsterz have been self-described on their Google Groups community page as:

"The 'Mipsterz' first began as a satirical, thought-generating jab at corporate culture and evolved into a limitless collective that empowers individuals to find coolness in themselves and share their God-given gifts with all. You see, hipster rule number 1: never self-identify as a hipster—namely, because these labels are a social constructed means of typecasting limitless beings. But let’s be honest, (and this is where the tongue-in-cheek ethos of Mipsterz enters), you are a hipster." [15]

The group has published various videos, including a controversial music video for Jay-Z's "Somewhere in America," [16] [17] [18] [19] as well as original programming [20] such as Hot Sauce x White Sauce, [21] the concert series SUNDAYS/cool, [22] [23] an online magazine: The Field Between, [24] and the fashion-activism project BOY/BYE. [25] [26] [27] Coverage in mainstream outlets such as The Atlantic emphasized both the backlash and the broader cultural questions raised by the project. [28]

As of 2017, the group currently functions as a non-profit arts and culture collective with a focus on presenting and producing original content by Muslim creatives in the domains of film, music, and illustration. [1] A marketplace was opened in early 2018 which features their work. [29]

References

  1. 1 2 MIPSTERZ
  2. ↑ Johns A, Rattani A. “Somewhere in America”: The #MIPSTERZ Digital Community and Muslim Youth Voice Online. In Negotiating Digital Citizenship: Control, Contest and Culture. Eds. Edited by Anthony McCosker, Sonja Vivienne, and Amelia Johns. Rowman & Littlefield International; 2016.
  3. ↑ Cunningham, Erin (15 January 2014). "Meet the Mipsterz". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  4. ↑ Gandhi, Lakshmi (16 June 2015). "Meet the Mipsterz, young Muslim artists who like to hang out and create". Metro News New York. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  5. ↑ Assefa, Haimy (3 June 2015). "Mipsterz: a space for Muslim hipsters". CNN. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "Reza Aslan: the Muslim Hipster" . Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  7. ↑ "米国の若きムスリムから目が離せない。親世代から一転、彼らが見つけた「ミップスター」という生き方". HEAPSMAG (in Japanese). 2016-08-26. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  8. ↑ Assefa, Haimy. "Mipsterz, a space for Muslim hipsters". CNN. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  9. ↑ Rupp, Jacqueline. "Meet the Mipsterz: Millennial Muslims of Philadelphia". PhiladelphiaWeekly.com. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  10. ↑ ""I consider myself a mipster": How Muslim hipsters are forging their own identity". Salon. 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  11. ↑ "Software developer Layla Shaikley: A voice for Muslim women". MIT News. April 19, 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  12. ↑ Shaikley, Layla. "The Surprising Lessons of the 'Muslim Hipsters' Backlash". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  13. ↑ Cunningham, Erin (2014-01-15). "Meet the Mipsterz". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  14. ↑ Assefa, Haimy (June 3, 2015). "Mipsterz: A Space for Muslim Hipsters". CNN. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  15. ↑ Google Group, Mipsterz. "Mipsterz Google Group". groups.google.com. Retrieved 8 September 2015.{{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  16. ↑ Video on Vimeo
  17. ↑ Hafiz, Yasmine (2 December 2013). "'Mipsterz' 'Somewhere In America' Video Showcases Muslim Hipster Swag; Sparks A Passionate Discussion". Huffington Post. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  18. ↑ Coleman, Christina (3 December 2013). "Can There Be Hipster Muslims? Mipsterz "Somewhere In America" Video Sparks Controversy". GlobalGrind. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  19. ↑ Ghani, Amarra (28 December 2013). "Muslim 'Hipsters' Turn A Joke Into A Serious Conversation". NPR. Retrieved 8 September 2015– via www.npr.org.
  20. ↑ Mipsterz' channel on YouTube
  21. ↑ Hot Sauce x White Sauce on YouTube
  22. ↑ "Meet the Mipsterz, young Muslim artists who like to hang out and create". Metro US. 2015-06-16. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  23. ↑ SUNDAYS/cool on YouTube
  24. ↑ "The Field Between | Culture & Commentary Magazine". The Field Between | Culture & Commentary Magazine. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  25. ↑ "There's a campaign changing the future of women's representation, and we spoke to the badass mastermind leading the charge". The Tempest. 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  26. ↑ "BOY/BYE : Celebrating Unapologetic Individual Identity | Amaliah" . Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  27. ↑ "The 'BOY/BYE' Project". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  28. ↑ Shaikley, Layla (March 6, 2014). "The Surprising Lessons of the 'Muslim Hipsters' Backlash". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  29. ↑ "Third Culture | Mipsterz Marketplace | Mipsterz - Muslim Hipsters". Mipsterz Marketplace. Retrieved 2019-05-15.


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