 HIP-HOP isn't all about violent city life and superficial pipe dreams. But newcomer, Hasan Salaam, knows that best. As emcees are forging a coup de grace, hip-hop is destined for change. But while some retreat and plot their escapes through disillusionment, in real life and on wax, Hasan Salaam aims to be at the forefront of the revolution. His commanding presence holds no punches as he relates to today's youth with honesty and fearlessness. Consequently, misguided portrayals of urban life and a lack of hip-hop with substance on the airwaves has birthed a new emcee. Dub MD: Hasan Salaam, What's good?
Hasan Salaam: Peace...Allhumdullah, I'm maintaining what's good with you? Dub MD: For those who don't know, could you just give a short review of what you've experienced in your rap career up until now?
Hasan Salaam: I put out my 1st mixtape in '02 and since then I've rocked at the Apollo, opened up shows 4 the originators of this culture, released my debut album "Paradise Lost", won two underground music awards, traveled the world, and Insha Allah I can continue to try and further this art form. Dub MD: Coming from Jersey City, what do you think of the New Jersey music scene right now?
Hasan Salaam: Jersey has got countless talented artists and we've made noise but its been one or two people every couple of years, I think the floodgates are gonna open up soon. Jerz is a big state so we have all kinds of different sounds like a brother from Camden won't sound like a dude from Newark or Paterson. We just gotta work on not shooting up clubs and supporting our own so we can build stronger scenes in all the different cities instead of having to go out of state to shine. Dub MD: A lot of people are saying "Hip Hop Is Dead" lately, how do you feel about the current state of hip hop?
Hasan Salaam: Hip Hop is beautiful in my opinion...some cats say it as a marketing tool, some never had any respect for the culture in the 1st place so I'm just like fuck it say what you want to i see it lives everyday in the mirror and when I work with kids that are learning to make beats or write their names in graf. We can' expect the mainstream to give us the whole spectrum of our culture. Mass media is a tool of the capitalist system so they will sell their watered down version of "hip hop" to the masses until they tire of it, but it lives outside of pop culture it was born as a counter culture. Truth is it can only die if we don't pass it down to our kids. Dub MD: What do you think of the commercialization of hip hop, do you think its showing respect to its pioneers?
Hasan Salaam: The Amerikkkan way of life is all about selling the bullshit to a new generation and so on, commercialism to me is not hip hop commercialism is mainstream Amerikkka. In Amerikkka people put their parents in nursing/retirement homes instead of taking care of their elders themselves that's how this system is, why should we expect them to show us love, its been 500 years we should do it ourselves everyday. Dub MD: Your album "Paradise Lost" was a classic, do you now feel the pressure on you to top that album with your next one?
Hasan Salaam: Allhumdullah, thank you I don't feel pressure because of the last album because I know I've grown musically and more importantly as a man since i recorded Paradise Lost the next album is different its like the second chapter it picks up where i left off. Dub MD: Do you have any new projects in the works? What's it called & what can your fans expect?
Hasan Salaam: I'm working on the 2nd album entitled "Life in Black & White" and I'm doing some collabs and working on my production "The Amerikkkan way of life is all about selling the bullshit to a new generation and so on, commercialism to me is not hip hop commercialism is mainstream Amerikkka. In Amerikkka people put their parents in nursing / retirement homes instead of taking care of their elders themselves that's how this system is" Dub MD: With this album, what producers & artists are you connecting with this time round?
Hasan Salaam: Mike Marvel, Rugged N Raw, and Impaq of the 5th of course... my brother across the water Iron Braydz of Blind Alphabetz out there in London, QC Funk, the multi talented Baron of Red Clay,Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian which is crazy, and the Steve Nash of the rap game Craig Rip its serious. Dub MD: What's your label situation like just now?
Hasan Salaam: I'm a free agent right now. Dub MD: Can you tell us a little about the "5th Column" imprint, what artists do we need to lookout for this year?
Hasan Salaam: 5th Column is a collection of artists and activists looking to make a positive change in the world, our lives we just fam. Ya'll need to look out for Rugged-N-Raw's album "Another Level" thats out right now, HiCoup's bout to release his 1st album "Guerilla Jones" Badsportt's in the studio cooking up some gumbo right now, General Amir's "Hood Symphony" mixtape, Ameena Dove's television show "En la Escena" and if ya'll don't know already Impaq's online mag "SpeakEZ.com" is the truth. Dub MD: For your fans who haven't seen you perform yet are you planning a worldwide tour anytime soon?
Hasan Salaam: Insha Allah, I'm trying to spread the word across the world. If you reading this and I haven't been round your way get at me and we will see what we can do Dub MD: If you could describe yourself as an emcee in 4 words, what would they be?
Hasan Salaam: That's a tuff one! Creative, Honest, Passionate, and Relentless Dub MD: What is on tap for Hasan Salaam for the rest of 2007 and beyond?
Hasan Salaam: Insha Allah more music, more shows, I keep working with the kids and building with friends and family. Besides that I can't call it Dub MD: Do you have anything to say to the fans? anything you wanna get off your chest? any shout outs?
Hasan Salaam: All Praise due to Allah and thank you for listening there's much more to come just stay tuned. shouts to the 5th Column, The Grassroots Artist Movement kickgame.com and thanks to raptalk.net, PEACE! DUB MD
Talk about "Raptalk.net Exclusive Q&A Interview Session With Hasan Salaam" in the Message Forums (0)
|
«
New Group C.R.A.C. (Blu & Ta-Raach) Set To Drop New Album "Piece Talks"
«
New York Plays Host To "I Am The Underground" Show February 12th 
«
Torae & Marco Polo Collaboration Album "Double Barrel" In The Works
«
Watch Lil Wayne Perform "Gossip" Live 
«
Oddisee Releases New Digital Only Project "The Good Tree EP"
«
New Canibus Exclusive "Magnificentric" (Produced By Centric)
«
Mos Def Announces Title Of Upcoming New Album "The Ecstatic"
«
X-Clan's Brother J Announces San Francisco, CA Show - Feb. 15 
«
Raptalk.net gets a facelift, New Audio database and sections added!![Exclusive Pics: Joker Brand's Estevan Oriol Gallery [DJ Muggs, Mr. Cartoon, Sick Jacken, The Alchemist, Actor Danny Trejo]](http://www.raptalk.net/images/E-Oriol_tn.JPG){kind=small}
«
Exclusive Pics: Joker Brand's Estevan Oriol Gallery [DJ Muggs, Mr. Cartoon, Sick Jacken, The Alchemist, Actor Danny Trejo]![Raptalk's Styles Interviews Yukmouth For AllHipHop.com [New Interview Now Up]](http://www.raptalk.net/images/yuk2_tn.jpg){kind=small}
«
Raptalk's Styles Interviews Yukmouth For AllHipHop.com [New Interview Now Up]
«
Polow Da Don To Speak On Panel With Mos Def For BMI & L.A. Times @ West Hollywood Key Club Feb. 9th 
«
Bishop Lamont Re-Releases The First Mixtape That Started It All: Who I Gotta Kill To Get A Record Deal 
«
Raptalk Exclusive Download: Jay Rock Feat. Lil Wayne "All My Life" 
«
Kool G Rap "Half A Klip" EP News
«
Crooked I: Til I Collapse - Hip Hop Weekly #44
«
Wordsmith Live Show Highlights Footage @ The Temple Bar (Santa Monica, CA)
«
The Roots Prepare 10th Studio Album "Rising Down" This April