Xanman
{{Short description|American rapper}}
{{for|the song by the same name|Xanman (song)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Xanman
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Haile Malik Salaam{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/919411409 |title=ANDREW TATE |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=April 27, 2023}}
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|08|16}}
| birth_place = Landover, Maryland, U.S
| death_date =
| death_place =
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Hip hop
- trap{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Rick |title=Xanman Biography, Songs, & Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/xanman-mn0003840882/biography |website=AllMusic.com |access-date=25 July 2022}}
- drill
}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Rapper
- songwriter
- singer
}}
| years_active = 2013–present
| label = *Cinematic Music Group Atlantic Records
- The Sauce Factory {{Cite web|url=https://cinematicworldwide.com/roster/xanman/|title=Xanman | Cinematic Music Group|website=cinematicworldwide.com}}
| website =
}}
Haile Malik Salaam (born August 16, 2000),{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/09/04/xanman-heard-cuz-was-hot-interview|title=Xanman is the DMV's most prolific teen rapper|website=The FADER}} known professionally as Xanman, is an American rapper from Landover, Maryland. He gained significant attention in 2019 with his single "Gucci Down".{{Cite web|url=https://www.okayplayer.com/music/xanman-xanman-interview-new-mixtape.html|title=DMV Rapper XanMan Might Be Funny — But He's No Joke|date=March 20, 2020|website=Okayplayer}} Xanman has worked with a number of other Maryland rappers including his cousin YungManny and frequent collaborator Goonew.{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2019/05/xanman-interview|title=Meet Xanman, the Most Quotable New Rapper From the DMV|website=Complex}} Goonew died in March 2022 from gunshot wounds.{{cite news |title=Goonew made rap music feel timeless in his own way |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/music/2022/03/19/goonew-appreciation/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=25 July 2022}}
Early life
Xanman was born Haile Salaam on August 16, 2000, in Landover, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C.{{Cite web|url=https://rockvillerampage.com/14425/features/dmv-rappers-on-the-rise-yungmanny-xanman/|title=DMV Rappers On the Rise: YungManny, XanMan|first=Monica|last=Blassou}} Raised in Landover, he was exposed to music at an early age. He claims Brightseat Road in Landover as his home. Salaam began to take an interest in the drums at age 5, and was influenced by his uncle, who was a drummer for Go-go legend Chuck Brown. He began recording music while in elementary school, and became proficient with the music software program Pro Tools when he was 11 years old.
Music career
Xanman released his first mixtape "Finesse Lord" in 2013. He went on to release a number of mixtapes in the following years, including No Plug and Broken.{{Cite web|url=https://genius.com/artists/Xanman|title=Xanman|website=Genius}} As of 2020, Xanman has released 34 mixtapes and a long list of singles. Xanman has collaborated with a number of different artists including Lil Yachty and fellow DC-Area rapper Lil Dude. Their single Many Men was ranked 7th on the Washington Post's list of the best DMV rap songs and albums of 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-best-dmv-rap-songs-and-albums-of-2018/2018/12/13/73aadf8e-fd77-11e8-862a-b6a6f3ce8199_story.html|title=The best DMV rap songs and albums of 2018|last=Richards|first=Chris|date=December 14, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2019-01-31}} Citing his influences, Salaam named Lil Wayne as one of the most important people in sparking his interest in making rap music.
Describing Xanman's energetic stage presence, Washington Post music critic Chris Richards wrote, "it signals a lust for life, a yearning, an exaggerated stride into the future."{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/teen-rappers-xanman-and-yungmanny-master-the-art-of-getting-ahead-of-yourself/2019/07/29/62b8afe8-b222-11e9-8f6c-7828e68cb15f_story.html|title=Perspective | Teen rappers Xanman and YungManny master the art of getting ahead of yourself|first=Chris |last=Richards |newspaper=Washington Post}}
Legal issues
Salaam was arrested on November 8, 2018, and charged with assault. He was sentenced to six months in jail. While incarcerated, a #FreeXan movement gained momentum on Twitter. Upon his release, Xanman released a song entitled First Day Out featuring his cousin and collaborator YungManny.{{Cite web|url=https://genius.com/Xanman-and-yungmanny-first-day-out-lyrics|title=Xanman & YungManny – First Day Out|via=genius.com}}