HASAN SALAAM
"Dose of Reality" By: Pojanee “PJ” Fleury It is of no surprise that this dynamic man erected from the concrete streets of New Jersey. His spiritual and social infusion is woven into every aspect of his music offering that East Coast conscious sound. His course and abrasive voice matches that of the streets he grew up on, while his lyrics carry significance, hope and peace.
At the heart of this amazing artist is his love the youth. In every project he takes on, he discovers new ways of giving optimism to the kids. Brown Eyez Magazine goes deep into the mind and heart of this extraordinary rapper to bring forth a message for the community |
B-E-M: How do you define Healthy Living?
HS: Being in a place of peace mentally, phisically, and spiritually. Unfortunately in this country and most of the world people are kept from the natural resources we need to attain these levels of healthy living. Those in power keep control and make a bigger profit by keeping us unhealthy.
B-E-M: What are some things you do to keep yourself healthy?
HS: I try to stay on top of my workouts and play basketball. During Ramadan I fast to cleanse my body and I’m trying to eat healthier but I’m no model for healthy eating habits at the moment.
B-E-M: Do you have a religious/spiritual affiliation and does it influence /affect your work?
HS: It influences everything I do, Islam is my way of life if it didn't play a role in my music then it wouldn't be me. I don’t try and tell anybody what to believe that’s not right I just give my perspective and my soul is always on my sleeve yah dig...
B-E-M: How long have you been performing in general?
HS: My first performance was in my Mothers living room. I used to lip sync to Al Green and other classics to entertain her. I first touched the stage when I was about 13 or 14 at a talent show in Co-Op City in the Bronx.
B-E-M: Who are your influences?
HS: Rakim, John Coltrane, Curtis Mayfield, Wu-Tang, Billie Holliday
B-E-M: What advice would you give upcoming artists?
HS: These days you have to work twice as hard. You have to be up on your business and your craft. Don't let anybody tell you what you can’t do. Stay true to yourself and your music, there's a market out there don't let someone else define you.
B-E-M: How important is it to be positive onstage as well as off stage?
HS: The stage is just a part of life everything is interconnected. I try my best to stay positive nobody is perfect I have my moments. I strive to be the best man I could possibly be.
B-E-M: You do a lot for the community, like working with the homeless community in Jersey City, NJ. How important is it for you to do this work? How is this work expressed in your music?
HS: It’s my duty as a man to teach the kids so they don't make the same mistakes I did, I believe that it takes a village not only to raise a child but to improve on the overall living conditions of our people. We can't wait for the people who put us in a situation to save us, it's in our own power to make it better.
B-E-M: What do you want people, especially the Black and Latino community, to get out of your music?
HS: That the creator, whatever name you have for it, exists in all of us. That freedom is possible and we define what it is for ourselves. We are the original people and we should have pride in that love ourselves and protect our community. And on top of all that the music can stay raw and the beats can knock just as hard as all the BS you hearing, this is Hip-Hop.
B-E-M: In your opinion, how can positive music help "cure" some of the issues facing communities both locally and aboard?
HS: Music is medicine for the soul, it lifts your spirits or comforts you when your down we live the blues you dig… Going back to slavery it we communicated messages of freedom in our songs and the same rings true today. Che Guevara said the propaganda is just as important as the revolutionary so we have to get the right messages out there to counteract the poison that were subjected to everyday.
B-E-M: What can we expect from you in the future?
HS: I have 2 albums completed 'Children of God' will be released independently in May inshAllah, "Life in Black & White' will be ready by either the fall or the winter. We have a documentary called 'Move the Crowd' directed by Khalil Hayes that's making the film festival circuit now and should either be on screen or DVD soon as well. Basically more shows, more music and more building that's what 08 is all about for me.
B-E-M: How can people reach you and/or find out more about you?
HS: HasanSalaamMusic.com, Myspace.com/hasansalaam, kickgame.com, itunes.com, cdbaby.com, google.com or just in the streets somewhere….... Peace
HS: Being in a place of peace mentally, phisically, and spiritually. Unfortunately in this country and most of the world people are kept from the natural resources we need to attain these levels of healthy living. Those in power keep control and make a bigger profit by keeping us unhealthy.
B-E-M: What are some things you do to keep yourself healthy?
HS: I try to stay on top of my workouts and play basketball. During Ramadan I fast to cleanse my body and I’m trying to eat healthier but I’m no model for healthy eating habits at the moment.
B-E-M: Do you have a religious/spiritual affiliation and does it influence /affect your work?
HS: It influences everything I do, Islam is my way of life if it didn't play a role in my music then it wouldn't be me. I don’t try and tell anybody what to believe that’s not right I just give my perspective and my soul is always on my sleeve yah dig...
B-E-M: How long have you been performing in general?
HS: My first performance was in my Mothers living room. I used to lip sync to Al Green and other classics to entertain her. I first touched the stage when I was about 13 or 14 at a talent show in Co-Op City in the Bronx.
B-E-M: Who are your influences?
HS: Rakim, John Coltrane, Curtis Mayfield, Wu-Tang, Billie Holliday
B-E-M: What advice would you give upcoming artists?
HS: These days you have to work twice as hard. You have to be up on your business and your craft. Don't let anybody tell you what you can’t do. Stay true to yourself and your music, there's a market out there don't let someone else define you.
B-E-M: How important is it to be positive onstage as well as off stage?
HS: The stage is just a part of life everything is interconnected. I try my best to stay positive nobody is perfect I have my moments. I strive to be the best man I could possibly be.
B-E-M: You do a lot for the community, like working with the homeless community in Jersey City, NJ. How important is it for you to do this work? How is this work expressed in your music?
HS: It’s my duty as a man to teach the kids so they don't make the same mistakes I did, I believe that it takes a village not only to raise a child but to improve on the overall living conditions of our people. We can't wait for the people who put us in a situation to save us, it's in our own power to make it better.
B-E-M: What do you want people, especially the Black and Latino community, to get out of your music?
HS: That the creator, whatever name you have for it, exists in all of us. That freedom is possible and we define what it is for ourselves. We are the original people and we should have pride in that love ourselves and protect our community. And on top of all that the music can stay raw and the beats can knock just as hard as all the BS you hearing, this is Hip-Hop.
B-E-M: In your opinion, how can positive music help "cure" some of the issues facing communities both locally and aboard?
HS: Music is medicine for the soul, it lifts your spirits or comforts you when your down we live the blues you dig… Going back to slavery it we communicated messages of freedom in our songs and the same rings true today. Che Guevara said the propaganda is just as important as the revolutionary so we have to get the right messages out there to counteract the poison that were subjected to everyday.
B-E-M: What can we expect from you in the future?
HS: I have 2 albums completed 'Children of God' will be released independently in May inshAllah, "Life in Black & White' will be ready by either the fall or the winter. We have a documentary called 'Move the Crowd' directed by Khalil Hayes that's making the film festival circuit now and should either be on screen or DVD soon as well. Basically more shows, more music and more building that's what 08 is all about for me.
B-E-M: How can people reach you and/or find out more about you?
HS: HasanSalaamMusic.com, Myspace.com/hasansalaam, kickgame.com, itunes.com, cdbaby.com, google.com or just in the streets somewhere….... Peace