In the United States, relations with Libya, an Islamic country, become more strained by the day, and hearings on the radicalization of Muslims in America continue. In response to the tension, one of hip-hop's most devout members of the Muslim community, Philadelphia rapper Freeway, took the time to discuss his faith with CNN.

The former Roc-A-Fella rapper, who became Muslim at 14, said that his faith has been life-altering, saving him from various criminal elements in his past and driving him to continue on his path. "My faith means everything to me," Freeway said. "It's the thing that keeps me going everyday. It's my core; it's my soul."

Though Islam is increasingly depicted as a divisive force in the current world climate, Freeway explained that his is a "beautiful, peaceful religion," decrying the common misconceptions people have about Islam.

"It definitely hurts my feelings when I hear Islam being put in a negative light," Freeway revealed. "You can't judge a whole group of people for a few people making mistakes. I just want people to know that Islam is a beautiful, peaceful religion. It's more than a religion, it's a way of life."

No longer affiliated with Jay-Z and currently releasing music via independent channels, Freeway dropped the 'Statik-Free' EP on Jan. 11, 2011. He and producer Statik Selektah recorded the album in 24 hours.

Watch Freeway's 'Lights Get Low'
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