I.S.H.

Black Beat Magazine



XLR8R magazine



Azeem started his first band Telefunken in 1991, which was a combination of live instrumentation and hiphop. Years of hard work culminated in their first release (1994) on the then newly-formed OM Records.
Ironically, Azeem's first break as a solo artist came at an open mic reading where he would test his lyricsunder the alias the Invisible Man. On this particular night, Azeem entered a competition against fifty of the George Clinton, A Tribe Called Quest, and The Beastie Boys---to name a few.
This lead to a chain of events which landed Azeem a PBS special with Washington Square Films, two published books, and a ranking spot as second best performance poet in the nation.
In 1997, Azeem was hired by Bay Area artist, Michael Franti to assist him in composing songs for the second Spearhead album. This lead to two years of world travel where he was a writer and performer with the band. After his third tour, Azeem resigned to further his career.
2000 saw the release of his first solo EP Garage Opera (Heratik) as well as a track on Afro-Mystik's Future Tropic album. Azeem followed up with the full-length album Craft Classic (Stray). The albums' single "Rubber Glue" earned the 1 spot on the CMJ radio rap chart.
In early 2004 Azeem was the front man for Mayhemystics (Wide Hive) a mixture of live music and spiritually charged lyrics, which has been nominated for a California Music Award. At the same time he released a second Album (for the year) with Bomb Hip Hop entitled Show Business.
In 2005 Azeem Joined up with the band Colossus (OM records) for the album entitled "West Oaktown" He was featured on the single From the Lab.
In 2007 DJ Zeph and Azeem released the full-length album "RISE UP" – (OM HipHop records).
In 2008 Azeem returns, with a third full-length that's equal parts grit and fun. Air Cartoons Over the course of 14 tracks, the Oakland-based MC covers drops references to the Oklahoma City bombings, the Bush Administration, and his issues with the hyphy movement, but still manages to have fun by throwing in some humor and several shout outs to the Bay Area. Meat Beat Manifesto, DNAE Beats, and Bassnectar make appearances for production duties, and the horn-drenched "Latin Revenge" is a refreshing spin on contemporary hip-hop.-
Azeem was also Nominated for a SF WEEKLY Music Award.



And NOW:



AZEEM - Credits:
* Lollapalooza--Winner of SF Slam 1994 First Publishing First Tour



* United States of Poetry--PBS Special and Book Produced by Marc Pellington



* Afro Mystic--1999 Om Records Compilation Featured as Azeem titles-"Shoplift The Future" and "Trivia Terrorist"



* Cups Magazine--4th Annual National Poetry slam Competition-3rd Place National Winner



* Spearhead--1997 Capitol Records Writer and Performer. Featured as Azeem Titles--"Keep Me Lifted", "Food for the Masses" and "Madness in the Hood"



* Groove Active CD--1997 Om Records Compilation. Featured as Telefunken Title--"The Message"



* Grand Slam CD--Featured Artist - Azeem the Invisible Man



* Featured in Interview Magazine 1998
* Garage Opera- Heratik Records EP 2000



* Craft Classic - Stray Records 2001



* Funky Precedent vol.2 - NoMayo Records 2001



* Handbook For the Apocalypse - Wide Hive 2003



* Mayhem Mystics Wide Hive -2004



* Sunset Scavenger Dj Zeph -Wide Hive Records 2005



* The Dollar Hip Hop Show - Pensive Monkey Records 2005



* Show Business - Bomb Hip Hop Records 2005



* RUDE BOY 2005- 2007
* RISE UP (Dj Zeph and Azeem) - Om Records May 2007
* Independent Music Awards "Best Hip Hop / Rap Album Of The Year" 2007
[DJ Zeph and Azeem's "Rise Up" on OM Records]
* HBO TV Series "Entourage" episode 50 -- Featured "Play The Drum"
[from DJ Zeph and Azeem's "Rise Up" on OM Records]
* Adidas ad campaign fetaured two Azeem songs "Ay Mami" and "Come One Come All"
("RISE UP" on OM Records)
* AIR CARTOONS - Oaklyn Records 2008