Visas in time for film

NEW movie “I’m With the Banned” focuses on musicians from nations targeted by the original Trump travel ban who then collaborated with American artists. Interestingly enough, the songs aren’t meant to be political — they simply wanted to make good music. During a downtown Q&A after the film, rapper Pusha T, who’s featured, said of his motivation to participate, “I feel that the whole Muslim ban is totally against everything America’s about . . . When I heard the music, it was good.” His collaboration with Syrian singer-songwriter Moh Flow, “Options,” has more than a million streams on Spotify. But Moh had difficulty obtaining a visa to promote the film, reports author Jay Fingers. “It makes it quite a bit harder, especially if you’re from where I’m from,” Moh said. Fortunately, the visa came through 48 hours before the doc’s previous screening in Washington, DC. Also at the Spotify event was actor Malik Yoba. Others participating in the project along with artists from Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Yemen and Iran are Brooklyn rapper Desiigner, Dr. Lonnie Smith, X Ambassadors, BJ the Chicago Kid and K. Flay.