Like a cool desert breeze that refreshes and tantalizes, Imaan Faith is sweeping
through the hip-hop landscape, energizing the masses and giving us new
perspectives on rap – Middle Eastern style.
Born in Tehran and schooled on the tough streets of three continents, Imaan, who
now calls Toronto home, brings an intriguing message of peace, positivity and
more importantly, the truth.
His debut album "Let The Truth Be Known" (G.U.T.S./DEP/Universal) was released
in March 2008, hitting the Soundscan Charts at an impressive 6 in its first
week. The video for the first single, Haven't Seen U Smile earned quick praise,
scooping an Honourable Mention award at the 2008 Toronto Reel World Film
Festival and becoming one of the first urban videos to receive a 'featured'
selection on YouTube.com, with more than 300,000 views and counting.
"It's taken us 11 years to put this album out," says Imaan, whose name is one of
the five pillars of Islam. Imaan means 'faith' and it's considered the most
important. "This album is the story of my life over the last 10 years or so.
It's about my experiences of hip-hop in New York, L.A., Europe and Iran.
"It's not just about money, girls and cars," he explains. "It's about dignity,
pride and the desire to help your fellow human beings. I want to help everybody
help themselves."
A cast of heavyweights worked on the CD, which includes contributions from
Mopreme Shakur and Big Syke, part of 'Pac's Thug Life crew, who worked on the
lead single. Tupac Shakur's former producer, Johnny J, Juno-winning rapper Snow
and DJ-producer Clinton Sparks also worked alongside special guests Freeway, TQ,
Sasha, Colby O'Donnis and others to produce this magical album.
A huge of fan Tupac, Imaan's flow pays props to his idol, but carves out his own
identity in the process. Imaan's growing presence within Toronto's Persian urban
music community matches his clout across the globe - in Los Angeles, New York
and of course in Iran, thanks to an active Internet buzz and his
cleverly-produced videos.
The 'Hip-Hop Prince of Persia' discovered the scene through 'Pac's classic
album, Me Against The World.
"That album kind of snuck up on me," Imaan remembers of the disc that propelled
Tupac into international stardom. It mesmerized me."
Imaan's journey began in 1986 when his family left Iran and moved to Turkey.
They stayed a few years, then after a brief stop in Denmark, the family moved to
New York City in 1998, and eventually settled in Canada.
His brother, Ali, witnessed first hand the rise of this burgeoning star and
quickly launched G.U.T.S. Records to help push this bright new talent to the
world. Selling the family cars and channeling all their savings into the album,
it truly became a family affair.
Faith in God and his talent has not only given Imaan strength to persevere in
the fickle hip-hop industry, but also to deal with personal health problems that
might have felled lesser men. Imaan has glaucoma in his left eye, and while his
sight may have fallen, his vision of the future never wavered. It's a condition
he shares with US freedom fighter Dr. Mutulu Shakur, the incarcerated adoptive
father of Tupac who Imaan regularly corresponds with for advice on everything
from health issues to music.
"After a recent surgery (six and counting), I'd be laying in my bed and I felt
there was so much for me to do," he says, explaining that regular meditation and
repeated chants of Chinese mantras helped speed up the healing process. "I
wasn't ready to quit or give up. This ordeal has made me stronger."
This strength is evident on his new disc, which deftly weaves personal stories
of faith and redemption. Sure winners on the 18-track disc include the soulful
If I had my chance, future club banger, Haven't seen u smile and a stunning
'bonus track,' Everything else is everything else (featuring Freeway), that's as
good a slice of G-Funk as you'll hear anywhere.
With the help of family, friends and a growing list of global supporters eager
to see his success, Imaan Faith is moving the figurative pieces around the
chessboard, eyeing a hip-hop checkmate when the world will know his truth, and
by extension ours too.
© 2007 G.U.T.S. Records / Lyrical Knockout Entertainment.
