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Imaan Faith
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Hip-Hop
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May 2006
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www.imaanfaithmusic.com
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n/a
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n/a
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Safra Ducreay
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For Imaan Faith, fleeing his home country Iran and coming to Canada,
was the first step towards his hustle into the rap game. With Tupac as
his inspiration, he started writing his own poetry at the age of 13.
His brother Ali G Shaker, believed in his potential so much, that he
literally sold his car to buy Imaan some studio time which led to his
first demo "I got GUTS." With his brother as his manager, Imaan, a
young scrawny kid with glasses went back and forth between New York and
Toronto, trying to make some connections to further his rap career.
When people looked at him, he was easily dismissed, but once Imaan
stepped to the mic, he blew skeptics away with his flow and poetic
style. Eventually, Imaan and Ali G created an imprint called G.U.T.S.
Records (Gangstas United Through Struggle) which would be known as the
first-ever Iranian owned hip-hop music label.
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Imaan Faiths dream has led to a wide spread name on the streets and
collaborations with some of the hip-hops hottest artists, including
producer Pama Sarai, J R Writer of The Diplomats, R & B singer T.Q. and
even Canadas old-school veteran Snow.
While Imaans career is starting to flourish, the new cats: Goldmine,
Skoops Don, and the labels' first lady Lola, have all been brought on,
increasing the G.U.T.S. dynasty. It started with a dream, but hate it
or love it the underdogs on top. Heres what Imaan Faith had to say
about starting out as the kid at the bottom, the stereotypes about his
country, and being a natural-born leader.
URBNET
Imaan, tell me your background. How you started, and how you got to be
where you are right now.
Imaan It just started with Tupacs single "Me against the World," which
really got my attention to [rap] music. [Even when] my family [played
music] I was always musically there. I started writing poetry when I
was 13. It was really deep for me. Then my manager, who is [also] my
brother [Ali G. Shaker], read one of my rhymes, [and] he was feeling
it. He heard me freestyle and he said Lets get this thing poppin. He
saw my talent and it was real it was coming from my heart.
Besides Ali G Shaker, do you have any other siblings?
I have my oldest brother [named] Amir. [But] I think everybody thats
around me has affected me in a way that made me who I am today. This is
why I think everything happens for reason. You know, who would think a
kid from the middle-east would come into music. I took it on a serious
level this is what I wanna do. Regardless of if I get money, fame or
what not. Its just the message you can build through music the masses
you can [reach]. Its a beautiful thing... I think.
Tell us about your upcoming single "The Bar."
The Bar is the song, thats gonna make everybody run to the bar and buy
a drink! [laughs]. Its about having a good time, were [presently]
shooting the video. This is why I say it was so meant to be because it
started with the little plant work listening to Tupac, now Im working
with Tupacs people. His director [Gobi] is gonna shoot the video. He
shot the video "How Do You Want It," and "I Aint Mad at Ya." Thats
crazy just to be in California shooting it. I got T.Q. and my homey
[and label mate] Goldmine in it... its gonna be bananas!
You have had so many ties with Tupac. Looking at what you have
accomplished, do you look at everything and say to yourself "I made
it?"
Before anything ever happened I told myself If I ever make it, were
gonna have a big house and this and that. But honestly you just gotta
go through the process. Its just right now, when Im doing it, I cant
believe it, but I do believe it cause Im working hard. One thing
about dreams is you never know when youre done cause youre always in
it. I think that people quote that you made it, but deep down you know
when you made it or not. And to me, making it would be when Im old, I
have my kids and Im just chillin. I dont think you make it with just
one single, or with one or two albums. I think you make it when youre
time is up for you.
Have you been on any major mix tapes?
Yeah I did a few here [in Canada]. But Ive never gone to the studio
for a specific mix tape, I just had the songs ready and I would send it
to them. Thats about it. I did two or three out here, I did my own
which was amazing, and we got a new one coming out hosted by Clinton
Sparks. I also did a couple in the States. We did a track for Stanley
"Tookie" Williams, they made a mix tape for him before he passed away
God bless him. The track was called: "Letter to Stanley." It was too
late when I sent it but they still put it on the website. I was happy
to be on that. I will go out to the studio and put in my time to get a
track for these artists, unless they wanted a ready-made song.
Honestly, I would get on anybodies mix tape, cause its music for me,
Im creating it every second. But I gotta feel them [as well]. The mix
tapes has gotta have a point to it. I dont mind if its like a DJ
Whookid mix tape, of course. But you got people making mix tapes and
you know they dont promote it in a positive way, and you can get
labeled [negatively]. Me and my manager, we worked really hard to get
where we are. For other peoples mix tapes, if they ask me to get on
it I gotta get some info, so I know Im not being represented in the
wrong way thats very important to me. Cause I got contacts with a
lot of people these people are positive people and I just cant go on
a mix tape thats talking about killing.
Youve lived in the States and in Canada. Youve met successful rappers
like The Dipset, then you come to Canada and we have Kardinall
Offishal, but theres still a difference with the way they (both
countries) do things. When it comes to promoting and reaching the
pinnacle of success, what do Americans rap artists' do that you think
Canadian artists' may not be doing? What advice would you give
Canadians artists' that want to be as recognized as their American
counterparts?
I Think the Canadian market needs to promote their product more. They
need to be in peoples faces, cause even my uncle goes and buys Eminem
cds. Why wouldnt he go and buy a Toronto artist?, Its because their
not pushing their shit. Second, the vibe out here is different compared
to the vibe in the States. In New York everybody is doing something,
out here, its not as much. Working with the producer that Im
[currently] working with, Pama Sarai, hes taught me so much
techniques. Its all about the way these artists record and [how] their
voices come out. Its so raw and fresh. And Im working with the right
people that know how to get my range out. A lot of artists out here [in
Canada], theyre screaming on tracks. They just gotta lay back, be cool
you know? If you listen to them theyre rapping, thats the difference
between me and a lot of rappers out here. Im not rapping... Im
talkin to you. Im gonna kick it wit' you for a minute and were gonna
chill. Its not just gonna be boom boom boom, and its done. But they
should really do more marketing out here and they should support each
other. I dont blame them, cause they havent really had a hot product
come out. Thats why were here [laughs]. Were gonna blow it up for
them and show people that there is a [strong] market out in Canada.
So with G.U.T.S. Records, is this your brothers label or are you
collectively in on this together?
I got arrested and I did some time. I met an inmate there, and [we]
started rhyming and writing music. He wanted to do this thing called
G.U.T.S. He came up with the meaning of it. First it was called
Growin Up Thug Style, cause we were young. Then I went back to the
States, and I lost contact with him. My brother felt me with the
concept, then he went and incorporated it. I still havent had a chance
to find him [my friend that helped me come up with the concept]. I
dont know if hes doing life somewhere, Ive been trying to get in
contact with him but I cant. He was apart of it, and I dont want to
disregard the people that helped me to build the foundation. We had the
idea, and my brother put the solids down for it. You know he got the
paper, he got me in the studio.
The new artists on the label Goldmine, and Lola, did you help with
bringing them on?
G.U.T.S. is a family. My manager sits down with me and asks me What
you think about this or that. Specifically with Lola, a friend of mine
introduced me to her, we vibed, I got her on a mix tape. My brother was
like, alright, you guys sound good together. We just recorded a new
single with her called "Going Crazy." We vibe with the other artists on
the label we dont just say hes got talent lets sign em. The other
artist Goldmine, we were also introduced through a friend, we did one
track and the vibe was so good. It wasnt just about making a good
song, it was our attitude as well. Everything was proper. I think a lot
of that applies to a record label, cause you can get on the best label
but if everyone is not vibin, or if there is friction then nothing
works out, but right now everything is in harmony.
In your career so far, what is the biggest thing that you have
accomplished and how has it helped to you be better as an artist and as
a person?
I have glaucoma, which you know, is not easy. Coming from surgery, the
music was a ventilation for me. Just going through that struggle and
coming back and saying Yo Im not stopping. Imagine what other people
are goin through you know? There are people that dont have a leg or
an arm. So I gotta keep doin what Im doin. I think the biggest
thing, would be when I would have surgery, and it would set me back
like three months. It just kinda took down with my spirits. But, just
listening to music again, it got me back up, it got me going. Also, Im
not African-American, but Im still getting love from [them] I mean,
even Pacs step-father [Mutulu Shakur], when I write him letters, he
vibes with me so well. Ive even talked to Pacs step-brother [Mopreme
Shakur]. But when I [first went to] New York, nobody wanted to be
friends with me cause I was just this skinny kid wearing glasses. But
when they heard me rhyme they were like oh shit! This kids fly! you
know? So, music has helped me in so many ways.
Imaan you cant change the world, and you cant be expected to bear the
burdens of Iran. But whats different about you (in the rap game), is
the fact that youre middle-eastern. And people are going to have a lot
of expectations of you. The more mainstream that you get, the more
people are going to look at you as this "middle-eastern" artist from
Iran. For you personally, what are some of the major misconceptions
about your country that you would like to address and clarify?
You know this is a very good question. Its starts off with people
saying ok these people are muslim their terrorists. First thing
would be listen, how can we be terrorists? We breathe like you, we
have kids like you, we die like you, we share the same blood as you.
If you go to my country nobody is gonna [just]come and hurt you.
Everywhere you go in the world, if youre in the wrong area you can put
yourself in harms way. You go to New York, or anywhere in America. If
you go to the wrong spot you get it. So you cant just say that [about
Iran]. But the misconception is look, were not bad people. Were good
people and just because we have different religions and different books
[it doesnt make us bad people]. We believe in one GOD. We have a
prophet. And besides all that, were all one. With the music, Id love
to make that clear and just sing a song about peace while theyre doing
all this war stuff. It would just hit them so hard. Like what? This
guy is coming and talking about all these good things but then we watch
TV and its all this. So I think that would be a crazy way to hit em
up. We actually did that with a song its called Children of the
World. Its all about the kids in the world that are living in
poverty. At the beginning of the song I go, Middle-eastern rapper
talkin bout peace. I dont blame people sometimes. Ive even been
screwed over by my own people everybody has. Basically dont believe
what you read, its all a hype. You just gotta do the research. Dont
let the news feed you all this bull-shit. Cause its all bull-shit I
think.
If you ruled the world and there was one thing that you could change,
that would improve the economic structure globally, social welfare, and
just the overall infrastructure. What would you want to change?
Thats a beautiful question again. The thing I would do is burn all the
money in the world. So nobody can say I have this, or say I want
that cause everybodys desires is what takes them to that next level
good or bad. Everybody would be equal. You wouldnt need to build more
homes because you got a big-ass crib you know, and this is something
Pac even said. How come you got all these bums and they cant move in
there? We all need to work together you know, were all one. Money
separates us, it puts us in different class [systems]. Id love
everyone to be the same status. I dont think wed ever have war, I
dont think there would be any colour profiling or nothing like that. I
think everybody would be happy with what they have. Nobodys gonna have
more or less than you. Thats basically it right there.
Any shout-outs?
Of course! My brother and Manager Ali G, my homey Goldmine, and Dr.
Mutulu Shakur. My homey Raul DJ Ra helped me with the Nelson Mandela
Childrens Fund and introduced me to Dr. Mutulu Shakur so we could
build that communication. Everybody at G.U.T.S. My parents. When it comes to shouts
everybody that was there for me from the beginning. My older brother
Amir. My homies out in New York. Everybody thats locked down, Stanely
"Tookie" Williams Rest-in-peace. Gobi, Johnny J, Mopreme Shakur, Skin,
and my boy Big Apple.
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