FDNYPARAMEDIC

Can you break down for us how much you were charged per hour for use of the vehicle, including fuel? Use of supplies?

In regards to what the trade off was for making the videos with my own funds and the terms of my agreement....I definitely won't be discussing that with anyone other than those directly involved. Thanks for the inquiry though.

Good to know, like I said, just rumors through the grape vine.

You know as well as I do the EMS grapevine has a lot to say.

Just to clarify a little further....Call 911 was ENTIRELY funded by me and Chris Marquart and EMS ANTHEM received SOME assistance along with my money but NOT from FDNY. FDNY provided ZERO financing for these works. It was more than enough for me that the FDNY supported my effort and allowed it to be produced. I'm extremely grateful for that. Both projects were completed while I was off duty and on my own time. If anyone has questions feel free to contact me on my facebook page or my youtube channel FireEMSrescue....take care.

Farooq

Thanks for posting. You said your intentions were positive and supportive of EMS. I don't doubt that. Any other reasons for doing it? Are you interested pursuing a career in the media arts or was this just for fun? You certainly have a knack for this. Maybe the department can use your talents.

Obviously folks here have differing opinions on what exactly this can do for our profession, but I don't think anyone was questioning your integrity.

Although I'm not a fan of rap, it was certainly well done.

Good luck.

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My main reason was to show support for the line of work and to let the public know what we do. I never profited for any of these projects thus far (it was never my intention). I may decide to put them on a website, available for download, so I can recoup expenses and possibly make other videos. Thanks.

Farooq

I've traveled all over the world and even camped out in the mountains of Kashmir during the devastating earthquake that killed 80,000 people. I was there as a volunteer with NYCMEDICS and we treated hundreds of people. I learned that people are essentially the same with aspirations of being successful and productive humans. I'm just one of those humans trying to make it through the day. Being a New Yorker just happens to be part of my unique individual experience. Take care and be safe.

Farooq Muhammad

For the record, rap was never intended to be angry, violent, or thuggish. It was intended to be a modern spin on African folk music and Motown type music. It was made angry, violent, and thuggish by the ill-mannered and ill-parented children/young adults of today and it's not the only genre to have suffered this. I am a fan of several different types of music from country to rock to rap, and I refuse to listen to the garbage they play on the radio anymore. This song gets back to the heart and soul of what rap was intended to be. Motivating and/or uplifting music that sends a message. Instead of downing on an entire genre of music and every person associated with it, how about looking at it as an individual song. Is it geared toward inner city youth? Possibly, maybe even probably. But who better to serve the inner city population than someone who was raised there and understands the unique circumstances of such an area? It serves to draw in people who otherwise may not even realize what EMS is all about or that they, too, can be a member of the profession. Or are they not good enough because they weren't lucky enough to be born middle- or upper- class? If this is the song it takes to get them motivated to become more than what they were born, in EMS or elsewhere, so be it.

It's unfortunate that some people are bashing my music just because I chose rap to express myself and raise awareness about EMS. I know that my words and message are very positive. I thank you for understanding what I tried to do. What you stated is almost exactly how I feel regarding this subject. I grew up in those tough streets of Brooklyn and not middle class, struggling to survive the harsh environment surrounding me. I was fortunate enough to escape the obstacle of traps set forth in my path. Lucky enough to go to college and get an education. I hope to reach others like me who need to know that they can also be anything they want to become and also show the public what EMS is capable of. We're not just ambulance drivers. Thanks again for showing support. Good luck with everything you do.

Farooq Muhammad

Yet they want us to pay for their bailout. Idiots.

Hi...This is Farooq creator of Call 911 FDNY and EMS ANTHEM. I ran into this post and just wanted to dispel any rumor about the FDNY funding any of my videos. Although they were very supportive of my efforts to raise awareness about and give tribute to EMS, they DID NOT fund any of my projects. These were at my own expense. Now whether you like them or not is an entirely different issue, something I won't really address. I know my intentions were positive and supportive of EMS. Take care and be safe.

Farooq Muhammad