Hasan Salaam
{{short description|American rapper}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Hasan Salaam
| image = Hasan Salaam 2013.jpg
| caption = Salaam performing in 2013
| image_size =
| birth_name =
| birth_place =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|1|12}}
| death_date =
| origin = New Jersey, US
| instrument = Rapping, Beatboxing, MPC 2000xl
| genre = Hip hop
| occupation = Musician, Songwriter, Hip hop producer
| years_active = 2003-Present
| label =
| associated_acts = 5th Column
| website = https://hasansalaam.bandcamp.com/
}}
Hasan Salaam (born January 12, 1981) is an American rapper and sex educator born in New York City and raised in New Jersey. His lyrics touch on such subjects as "post-colonial exploitation of African (hip-hop) culture", "the African diaspora".
Early life
Salaam started rapping at the age of 10.{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| title = Hasan Salaam
| website =
| publisher = CD Baby: Hasan Salaam
|year=2004
| url = http://cdbaby.com/cd/hasansalaam
| doi =
| accessdate = 2008-01-08 }} After seeing a preview for the movie Malcolm X in 1992 he read the Autobiography of Malcolm X, which inspired him.{{cite web
| last=Knight
| first=Rich
| authorlink =
| title = Hasan Salaam
| work = No. 203
| publisher = The Source Magazine
|date=May 2007
| url = http://knighttakesrook.blogspot.com/2007/05/hasan-salaam.html
| doi =
| accessdate = 2008-01-08 }} (Original article found in image http://myspace-453.vo.llnwd.net/01373/35/43/1373663453_l.jpg)
Musical career
In 2005 he won an award for Best Live Performance and Best Underground Song of the Year for the song "Blaxploitation" from his debut album Paradise Lost at the third Annual Underground Music Awards.{{cite web| title =SUBMIT MUSIC NOW FOR 4TH ANNUAL UMA'S| publisher =Hip Hop Connection| year =2006| url =http://www.hiphoppalace.com/pages.cfm?ID=544| accessdate =2008-01-08| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20060627103616/http://www.hiphoppalace.com/pages.cfm?ID=544| archivedate =2006-06-27}} Together with HiCoup, Rugged N Raw, Impaq and Badsportt he is a member of the group 5th Column.{{cite web
| author = VegaTheTerrible
| authorlink =
| title = Hasan Salaam Interview
| website =
| publisher = HipHopHeads
|date=March 2006
| url = http://my.opera.com/hiphopheadz/blog/show.dml/184977
| doi =
| accessdate = 2008-01-08}} Salaam featured on the UK Hip hop group Mecca2Medina's Truthseekers album in 2006.Mumisa, Michael (2006) "[http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/808/feature.htm Sacred Tunes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421001920/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/808/feature.htm |date=2009-04-21 }}", Al-Ahram Weekly, 17–23 August 2006, Issue No. 808 He has also toured internationally.{{cite web |url=http://culturesofresistance.org/news/hip-hop-artist-hasan-salaam-palestine?stream=all|title=Hip Hop Artist Hasan Salaam in Palestine|publisher=Cultures of Resistance}}
Salaam has been described as having "the powerful delivery of Chuck D, the racial love of Mos Def, the instructional attitude of Krs-One, and the anger of Immortal Technique."Jones, Todd E. (2005) "[http://www.mvremix.com/urban/interviews/hasansalaam.shtml Lost In A Revolutionary Paradise]", MVRemix, September 2005 Salaam's third album proper, Children of God, was released in 2008, featuring guest appearances from Lord Jamar, Masta Ace and Salaam's 5th Column crew.Quinlan, Thomas (2008) "[http://exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid1=128&csid2=865&fid1=34933 Hasan Salaam - Children of God]", Exclaim!, December 2008 Exclaim! described the album as "well rounded" and "handled superbly", saying that Salaam has a voice that is "trained like an instrument, commands attention". Children of God has been described as " themed deeply in all religions", and was described by HipHopDX as possibly "the new archetype in what religious-minded rap can be".Paine, Jake (2008) "[http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/reviews/id.1017 Album Reviews: Hasan Salaam - Children of God]", HipHopDX, 11 October 2008
Adult film career
Salaam performs in the adult film industry under the name King Noire. He entered the industry as a teenager, starting with a magazine shoot with a female friend who asked him to accompany her. Following this, he began performing in live sex shows and adult film.{{cite magazine|url=http://hiphopdx.com/interviews/id.2410/title.hasan-salaam-explains-balancing-porn-past-with-positive-hip-hop#|magazine=Hip Hop DX|title=Hasan Salaam Explains Porn Past with Positive Hip Hop}} Salaam has been outspoken about the racism he believes is inherent in the industry, and has publicly refused work he has felt was discriminatory in nature in addition to his campaigns to address and end racism in pornography, which has included public lectures. He also began to promote and organize adult oriented events, including Fantasy Flight parties. He is a co-creator of Steel & Stilettos workout classes which are taught at his Body Altitudes gym. Salaam co-owns Body Altitudes, Royal Fetish Films and Jet Setting Jasmine with Jasmine Johnson.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.esquire.co.uk/life/sex-relationships/longform/a14383/racism-in-porn/|title=Racism in Porn|magazine=Esquire Magazine|date=2017-06-08}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ebony.com/love-sex/bdsm-jet-setting-jasmine#axzz4lGyTGGhO|publisher=Ebony Magazine|title=BDSM Jet Setting Jasimine|date=2017-02-08}}
Charitable work
Hasan works with charities, non-profits, and youth all over the world. In November 2010, Hasan became the first U.S hip hop artist to ever perform in Guinea-Bissau. On this same trip he worked with the young artists, taught creative writing to the youth, and headlined a concert to promote freedom of speech. The “Music Is My Weapon” project is the next step, in an effort to provide change to a country that remains one of the poorest and least politically stable in the world. December 2011, Hasan Salaam released an EP "Music Is My Weapon" employing all profits to build a well, school, and clinic in Guinea-Bissau.{{cite web
| authorlink =
| author1 = Raj Raju |author2=Devon Austin
| title = It Takes A Village
| website =
| publisher = Indiegogo
|date= December 6, 2011
| url = http://www.indiegogo.com/ItTakesAVillage
| doi =
| accessdate = 1 January 2012}}
Discography
- 5th Column Mixtape Vol.II (2004)
- Paradise Lost (2005) Day by Day Entertainment
- The Reavers Terra Firma (2005)
- Tales of the Lost Tribe: Hidden Jewels (2006)
- Children of God (2008) 5th Column Media
- Mohammad Dangerfield – "Mohammad Dangerfield" (self-titled) (2011)
- "Music Is My Weapon" (2011)
- Life in Black and White (2014)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- Jasarevic, Mina (2008) "[https://web.archive.org/web/20090315194853/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.1202/title.underground-report-elzhi-and-hasan-salaam/p.all Underground Report: Elzhi and Hasan Salaam]", HipHopDX, 16 August 2008
- [http://www.ebony.com/love-sex/bdsm-jet-setting-jasmine#ixzz4YCwfzCoV EBONY Magazine], Glamazon Tyomi Morgan, February 8, 2017.
- {{IMDb name|nm6219929|King Noire}}
- {{IAFD name|id=kingnoire/gender=m/king-noire.htm}}
- {{afdb name|id=81813|name=King Noire}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Salaam, Hasan}}
Category:African-American Muslims
Category:Rappers from New Jersey
Category:21st-century American rappers