By Ahmad Awadallah

Most rappers aspire to have that hit record, hog-up radio airplay, have their album go diamond, have a world tour, accumulate millions and fans, cop a mansion with 3 Lambos in the garage and smash R&B chicks on a daily basis. Hasan Salaam focuses on content that will probably never catch a glance from mainstream radio outlets or 106 & Park, but his music is felt by die-hard Hip-Hop heads and fans all over the world, where conscious music is the norm. In another Planet Ill exclusive, Hasan chats about performing in Guinea-Bissau, his new EP, Islam, the bigotry of Lowe’s, reality television, Hip-Hop overseas versus Hip-Hop in the states among a plethora of other intensive topics. Peep it.

Planet Ill: How does your newest EP Music Is My Weapon differ from your past records emotionally and conceptually?

Hasan Salaam: Basically, the record is a message that a weapon in the hand of the ignorant isn’t going to benefit anybody, but [weapon] with someone pushing forward and trying to do good and honest can be a really powerful tool. I’m really excited about this project and it’s going to be really enlightening to people. It’s a tribute to all the under privileged kids I worked with and it has a lot to do with youth and trials and tribulations of being young.

Planet Ill: As an artist how far do you think you’ve come since Paradise Lost?

Hasan Salaam: When I released Paradise Lost, I looked back and was like, I could do this better or that better, but now I feel I’ve grown a lot into my voice. My thought process is more concise now and my flows and lyrics have really grown and stepped up. So I’ve been working on my craft a lot to get to the level I’m at now.

Plane Ill: Last year you performed in Guinea-Bissau, which is not the most ideal African country to perform. How did that trip come about?

Hasan Salaam: I did some work with Impossible Music Sessions and they connect artists from parts of world where they might not have that platform to get their music heard or have freedom of expression. The first show, they paired a rock group from New York City and a rock group from Iran, where the lead singer was a woman. So they know the human struggle and corruptness of the government in Guinea-Bissau, so they wanted to me to link-up with them. For most people it’s not the most ideal place to rock at, but to me it was the best place to rock at. People were so receptive and appreciative and the funny thing was the first show people were in their seats just watching the performance like it was a play, but eventually I started wildin’ on the mic and at the end of the show it was mosh pit an shit (Laughs).

Planet Ill: That’s crazy love.

Hasan Salaam: Yeah man, people are real dope out there. They show their love to another level when they really respect an artist. They jump on the stage with you as a sign of respect. At first, if someone jumps on stage, I’m from Jersey, so I’m automatically going to think they going fight or something, but dude jumped on stage and put the flag of Guinea-Bissau, so it was love and then more people jumped on stage giving me beads. It was an amazing experience.

Plane Ill: As a person how did the experience affect you?

Hasan Salaam: It made me appreciate all the small opportunities that we have and I hear African-Americans saying “Fuck America” and we don’t appreciate how good this country is. My people built [United States] from the ground up, therefore I have to take advantage of the resources that are presented to me. I might not agree with the politicians in this country, but you have to appreciate the freedom that we have compared to other parts of the world. Also, like you know when you say “Yo I’m starving?” I don’t say that no more (Laughs).  I’m really hungry right now, but I’m never starving.

Plane Ill: You already raised $3,500 for reform to Guineas-Bissau. What’s the goal?

Hasan Salaam: Well it’s $4,000 today, based on only the donations and then each album sale will go to that, but since the album just dropped, we don’t’ have a number quite yet. The ultimate goal is $14,500, so we on our way.

Planet Ill: And I bet $14,500 will go a long way over there.

Hasan Salaam: (Laughs) Oh yeah. Just with that alone, it will build the school, the fresh water well and the medical facilities. So everything we raise after that will be used to sustain the well and other facilities we are trying to build.

Plane Ill: For the people that don’t know, can you describe the living conditions of Guinea-Bissau?

Hasan Salaam: Well, it’s one of the poorest countries in the world, therefore clean drinking water is scarce. Medical treatment is almost impossible for the public, people die from sicknesses that we take everyday medicine for. You know, simple things we take for granted like roads or infrastructure. There also place that have land mines, so it’s not safe for children to play outside. The country is a narco-state, which means they funnel drugs to Latina America, Asia, Europe and other parts of Africa. A lot of their fishing waters are owned by other countries, because their corrupt politicians sold them and now people cannot even feed themselves.

Plane Ill: How is the Hip-Hop scene in Guinea-Bissau, because Africa has some spitters?

Hasan Salaam: They love Hip-Hop out there. They love it, because Hip-Hop is a voice of the youth and struggle. They appreciate emcees that are spitting about their everyday lifestyle and they don’t really listen to rap about flossing. They have a lot of emcees that are speaking their minds and lashing out the government and these dudes are nice. Even their production and flows are influenced by African drums and hymning.

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