Hasan Salaam (born January 12, 1981) is an American

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

and

sex educator Sex education, also known as sexual education, sexuality education or sex ed, is the instruction of issues relating to human sexuality, including emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, sexual activity, sexual reproduc ...

born in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

and raised in

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

. His lyrics touch on such subjects as "post-colonial

exploitation Exploitation may refer to: *Exploitation of natural resources *Exploitation of labour ** Forced labour *Exploitation colonialism *Slavery ** Sexual slavery and other forms *Oppression *Psychological manipulation In arts and entertainment *Exploi ...

of African ( hip-hop) culture", "the African diaspora".

Early life

Salaam started rapping at the age of 10. After seeing a preview for the movie

Malcolm X Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little, later Malik el-Shabazz; May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965) was an American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a prominent figure during the civil rights movement. A spokesman for the Nation of I ...

in 1992 he read

the Autobiography of Malcolm X ''The Autobiography of Malcolm X'' was published in 1965, the result of a collaboration between civil and human rights activist Malcolm X and journalist Alex Haley. Haley coauthored the autobiography based on a series of in-depth interviews he ...

, which inspired him. (''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. Together with HiCoup, Rugged N Raw, Impaq and Badsportt he is a member of the group 5th Column. Salaam featured on the UK Hip hop group Mecca2Medina's ''Truthseekers'' album in 2006. He has also toured internationally. Salaam has been described as having "the powerful delivery of Chuck D, the racial love of

Mos Def Yasiin Bey (; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), previously and more commonly known by his stage name Mos Def (), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. His hip hop career began in 1994, alongside his siblings in the s ...

, the instructional attitude of Krs-One, and the anger of

Immortal Technique Felipe Andres Coronel (born February 19, 1978), better known by the stage name Immortal Technique, is an American rapper. Most of his lyrics focus on controversial issues in global politics, from a radical left-wing perspective. Immortal Techn ...

."Jones, Todd E. (2005)
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 Lorenzo Dechalus (born September 17, 1968), known professionally as Lord Jamar is an American rapper, DJ, record producer, actor and podcaster. He is a founding member of the hip hop group Brand Nubian, which was formed in 1989. In 1996, he disco ...

, Masta Ace and Salaam's 5th Column crew.Quinlan, Thomas (2008)
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)
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. 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.

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.

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

External links

*Jasarevic, Mina (2008)
Underground Report: Elzhi and Hasan Salaam
, ''HipHopDX'', 16 August 2008 *EBONY Magazine, Glamazon Tyomi Morgan, February 8, 2017, http://www.ebony.com/love-sex/bdsm-jet-setting-jasmine#ixzz4YCwfzCoV * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Salaam, Hasan American rappers African-American Muslims Musicians from New Jersey Living people 1981 births 21st-century American rappers 21st-century African-American musicians