Wikipedia

Hichkas

Soroush Lashkari (Persian: سروش لشکری; born 9 May 1985), known professionally as Hichkas (Persian: هیچ‌کس, transl. "nobody"), is an Iranian rapper, singer, and songwriter.[2][3] Credited with popularizing Persian hip hop to the Iranian people and other Persian-speaking countries such as Afghanistan and Tajikistan, Hichkas's national success and acclaimed works are widely regarded as having broken the barriers that were in place by the Islamic regime for the acceptance of rappers in popular music. Hichkas is considered one of the pioneers of Iranian hip hop and is nicknamed "Father of Persian Rap" by his fans.[4][5] He became a representation of the Iranian underclass and reflected the angst of the young Iranians. He has been influential for many artists of various genres and is often cited as one of the greatest rappers of Iranian hip hop.

Hichkas
هیچ‌کس
Hichkas in London 2011
Background information
Birth nameSoroush Lashkari
Also known asHichkas
Born (1985-05-09) 9 May 1985 (age 39)
Tehran, Iran
Genres
  • Persian rap
  • electronic music
  • persian hip hop
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • music producer
Years active1999–present[1]
Websitewww.hichkas.me

Hichkas is also the founder of the label 021 (alongside Shayan and Yashar) which is considered the first Persian hip hop group. After that, he founded the labels Saamet (alongside Reza Pishro and Reveal), and Moltafet (alongside Ali Quf, Fadaei, and Dariush). Hichkas's songs are themed around social and cultural issues in Iran and his lyrical ability and influence pervade the hip-hop and rap genre, placing him at the forefront of contemporary Iranian music, inspiring a new generation of Iranian songwriters and artists. Hichkas's first album Jangale Asfalt (Persian: جنگل آسفالت; The Asphalt-paved Jungle) was the first Iranian hip-hop album released in 2005.[6] Hichkas's early releases combined traditional Persian instruments and urban beats to create a hybrid genre, a combination of East and West.[7]

In addition to performance, Hichkas's work further spans into art direction, production, and artist development, working closely with up and coming artists and providing mentoring and coaching, and consistently being the inspiration behind many Iranian artists in urban arts. He has appeared as a guest speaker at many universities including Oxford University,[8] Cambridge University, and Calgary University[9] and discussing Iranian poetry, the Iranian underground music scene, and the effect of the internet on music publishing in Iran.

Hichkas has collaborated with a number of International hip hop artists including the American hip hop artist Kool G Rap. His highly anticipated second album Mojaz (Persian: مجاز; permissible) was released in March 2020, after 8 years of its initial announcement.[10][11] Soroush Hichkas created groups called Moltafet, Samet, and 021.

Early life

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Soroush Lashkari was born on May 8, 1984, in Tehran and is the son of a family of five. He lived in Germany until he was two years old and then lived in the Vanak neighborhood of Tehran. He was studying translation at Garmsar University but dropped out of college for personal reasons and in order to pursue Persian hip hop. His father is from the Ziaabad village of Qazvin and has a family relationship with Hossein Lashkari (pilot of Iran's Air Force who was captured in Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war). Hichkas currently lives in London after emigrating to Great Britain in the aftermath of the 2009 Iranian presidential election protests. He is married to the British-based Iranian feminist activist Azadeh Akbari.[12]

In his early years, Hichkas was known for founding a supergroup called 021 (the area code for Tehran).[5][13] Around about 2003, he started his music career work in Vanak participating in Persian free-styling with people who also covered some English language songs in the Rap battle.[5] Hichkas gained attention when he began rapping in Persian about social problems and the younger generation in Iran.[5] Hichkas's early releases combined traditional Iranian instruments and urban beats to create a hybrid genre, a combination of East and West.

Discography

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Studio albums

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Compilation albums

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International collaborations

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Single

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2024

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  • Dishab Ye Basiji Koshtam - (I killed a basiji last night)[16]
  • Rooye Jenazat Miraghsam - (I dance on your corpse) [17]

Filmography

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ovaisy, Saya (2009-10-17). "Political Hip-Hop". Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  2. ^ "Iran's underground music challenge". BBC News. 2006-05-08. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  3. ^ "IRAN: HISTORIES OF MUSICAL RESISTANCE". Archived from the original on 2008-01-18.
  4. ^ (in Persian) Nasir Shakouri. Chelcheragh Magazine, September 2006, No. 225, p. 16.
  5. ^ a b c d "Hamshahri Newspaper". Archived from the original on July 17, 2011.
  6. ^ "Music | Cultures of Resistance Films". culturesofresistancefilms.com. 24 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Hich-Kas: Bunch of Soldiers (Music Video)". YouTube. 13 May 2008.
  8. ^ Siamdoust, Nahid (2017-01-18). Soundtrack of the Revolution: The Politics of Music in Iran. Stanford University Press. ISBN 9781503600966.
  9. ^ "هیچکس (سروش لشکری) - دانشگاه کلگری کانادا - Part 1". YouTube. 20 March 2013.
  10. ^ Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. viii, 88, 324.
  11. ^ Arnold, Paul W (March 5, 2008). "Kool G Rap: These Are Our Heroes | Rappers Talk Hip Hop Beef & Old School Hip Hop". HipHop DX. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  12. ^ "Instagram Shuts Down the Account of Popular Iranian Singer Accused of Child Grooming". IranWire | خانه.
  13. ^ "Magiran". www.magiran.com.
  14. ^ "Jangale Asfalt by Hichkas". Apple Music. October 2006.
  15. ^ Mojaz by Hichkas, 31 March 2020, retrieved 2021-08-17
  16. ^ https://m.youchu.be/watch?v=ezAoSTgiM8E&listen=false [bare URL]
  17. ^ https://m.youchu.be/watch?v=nKY6vq97MzI&listen=false [bare URL]
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