Persian hip hop and rap music has been growing in popularity in Iran. What started as a small underground scene among young teenagers has now flourished into a massive hip hop movement both inside and outside of Iran. Persian rap is now reaching hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of people worldwide and is found all throughout the Internet music sites and blogs. We thought it was time to learn more about one of the artists that sits at the helm of this music. Persian Mirror speaks to and gives a glimpse into the mind of one of Iran's biggest name in hip hop, YAS, who has taken the Persian hip hop scene by storm. And people are starting to notice.
PersianMirror: You have recently released a new single called “Hoviate Man” (My Identity) which has been downloaded thousands of time so far by Iranians worldwide. The song is your answer to the controversial film “300” which some say gives an inaccurate and negative image to Persians. Yet many have argued that the film doesn't represent the Persian community, that it’s just a film based on a comic book and shouldn't be taken so seriously. That it’s just Hollywood and the Iranian community shouldn’t be so offended. What is your response to this?
YAS: It’s true that the film was based on a comic book and was not necessarily true and accurate. But what was interesting for me was the timing of the film and that at this time of tension between Iran and the US why some would want to fan the flames and portray this negative image of Persians to the world? I am certain that the film did have a negative impact on many people. I feel a main goal of this film with the time of its release is to portray all Persians as a barbaric and primitive people, when this is not the case. We have a real and historical culture and in fact it was Iran that first introduced the notion of human rights and peace within its culture. So I understand why many have been upset and I agree with them. But this song is not just about the film “300” because that film can’t even touch the seven thousand year history of our people. It really is more about my identity and my pride in being an Iranian, stepping away from the usual politics people discuss.
PM: Let’s talk about you and your music. Some have called you the Persian Tupac (the late acclaimed US Hip Hop artist, referred to as the father of rap), tell us more about you and how you got started in music?
YAS: This goes back to eight or nine years ago, when my father would bring me back Tupac CD’s after his trips to Germany, that’s how I first got to know his music. Right away I began to feel his music and started to sense that he was different because he sang so much about his society and cultural issues. He sang from his heart and when I started to translate and understand his lyrics more, it was really then that I understood the depth of his words. That’s when I got interested in rap, but I wanted to sing it in Persian and also write about what I saw in the world, of course through my own eyes and my own pains which I had experienced in my life. To me rap is the only form of music that allows you to tell a full story that’s 3-4 pages long in a single song , instead of the usual short versus and a chorus. After the sudden death of my father, it was then that I actually picked up the pen and started to write, maybe it was my way of being close to him.
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PM: Is rap music becoming a big trend in Iran and if so why?
YAS: Yes, 100%. It is slowly becoming more and more popular and also the words and messages of many of our up and coming rappers is starting to hit a larger demographic. Many of them are now stirring away from the typical cursing, and violence in their lyrics and writing more about their own life and growing pains that the listener can relate to. Our people carry a deep sense of pain and sadness and this is hard for me, what we need is some positive energy around us, and with my music I hope that maybe I can change that just a little and put some positive energy out there with my music. Generally, my songs start with a complaint but end on a positive note and hope.
PM: Yes, in fact, many stay away from rap as it’s gotten a bad reputation in that it’s demeaning to women, it’s filled with explicit and violent language. But your music is different in that it is none of that, it is mostly social and positive in nature and some can argue, therefore, that it's not real rap music. What made you choose this route?
YAS: The simple truth is that I just love to tell a story, people’s stories, my own pains and the suffering of the people I see around me and I like to bring them to the open. I bring the listener into my world and my stories and I talk to them so they don’t get tired. Everyone has their own style that works for them, this is mine. If you listen to old rap music this is exactly what it was all about, now in America rap has changed and it's just become about sex, girls and money but that's now how it started.
PM: Any plans on performing your music live one day?
YAS: I would love to perform live one day and look into the eyes of the audience and speak to them. Inshallah, one day I will get a permit to perform live in Iran.
PM: What are some of the things you’ve worked on recently?
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YAS: One of my most recent works was “CD Ro Beshkan” (Break That CD), which became very big and caught the attention of many Iranians. The song defended a known actress who was the victim of a scandalous video clip that was being circulated and my anger about this, to date the song has been downloaded about 800,000 times. Other recent works are “Bezarin Bokoshamesh” (Let me kill ‘em) which is about drug dealers that prey on the young and also “Bi To Digge Na Aslan” (Without You, Never Again). Recently, I had gotten a visit from someone from Los Angeles by the name of Ghobad (GOBI) who is one of the best known music directors in the US. I had known of him from years earlier and always hoped to meet him one day because he was a fellow Iranian and I was proud of the fact that he had worked with the biggest names in hip hop as well as direct a few of Tupac’s videos. He tracked me down and after 27 years he came to Iran for a visit. We had a great time together and by the end of his trip we became like brothers -- He loved it here in Iran. He also shot a music video and a documentary on me that he's working on. And of course my last song, “Hoviate Man” which talks of our Iranian pride and a history that goes back several thousand years, and a little mention of the movie “300”.
PM: Is it hard to work on your music and get it out in front of people?
YAS: One of the best tools to getting my music out in front of people is through the Internet and downloads that gets circulated. Of course many also download my music and sell it. But this is bitter sweet for me and probably what upsets me the most because while I thank God for the interest in my music and the energy that people give me, so far, I have yet to see a penny. We spend our time and money in the studio while complete strangers are making a profit from our work. Many times I have passed by a music store and I see them selling my music – even to me! This is a sad truth that many of us musicians share here.
PM: There is talk that you have an album about to come out and you are waiting for a permit from the government to release it – when can we expect to see this out?
YAS: Yes, in Iran you have to have a permit to release your album and then for a record company to sponsor you. But getting a permit for rap music is not easy. I have gotten a permit for six of my songs but since there is a new guy in charge, my music had to be sent in one more time for re-consideration. Although even with a permit it won’t be a big income and not much can be done here because we have no copyright laws in Iran.
PM: So what do you do?
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YAS: They say, “What comes from the heart, sits in the heart of others”. I sing all music from the bottom of my heart and people see this and they help spread my name and my work around and this is very valuable to me and for this I am very grateful. But it has been a very long and hard road for me. Especially after the death of my father, I became the soul caretaker of our family of six, which even though it’s been hard, they are my joy. I get up at 6:00 AM every morning and go to work, rush home and rush back out to the studio at night and it’s exhausting but at least now – I see that my work is starting to get some results and this makes it all worthwhile.
PM: What are you working on now?
YAS: A new album of about 10 songs, more about my life, social topics and so the listener doesn’t get too bored, maybe a love song or two (laughs).
PM: How can anyone contact you and keep posted on your work and progress?
YAS: You can email me (via this article) or you can also hear a few of my songs and on: www.myspace.com/yaspersian2
You can check the blog section for updates and news. Also, I should have my website up and running soon where all my songs will be available.
PM: What are your plans for the future?
YAS: Not sure. Everything is in God’s hands. I’ve trusted the rest up to him. Of course, I will work hard because my main goal is to introduce Persian rap to the world. And I know I will succeed in this.
PM: Any message for the reader?
YAS: I love all my fellow Iranians (hamvatans) whichever part of the world they are at and I hope they don’t forget their heritage and that we are all Iranians together regardless of our political views. We have so much to be proud of. And of course thank you so much for being interested in my work.
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