HASAN SALAAM WINS FIRST PLACE IN THE A&R REVUE

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HASAN SALAAM WINS FIRST PLACE IN THE A&R REVUE

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Thursday, July 21, 2005

Jersey City, NJ—Hip Hop artist/MC Hasan Salaam has helped Hip Hop regain its lost Paradise. Fresh off his debut album, Paradise Lost, Hasan Salaam rocked the crowd of hundreds, Tuesday, July 12, 2005, at The City Night Club in the heart of New York City’s urban nightlife scene.
Promo Radio and Urban Threshold presented The Unsigned Artists’ A&R Revue Talent Contest, which allowed 18 acts of diverse talent (i.e. Hip Hop, Rap, Reggae, and R&B artists) to compete for a personal meeting with Rocafella/Def Jam A&R representative. Each artist brought their best performance to earn the interest of any of the representatives from SoSoDef/Virgin Records, Universal Records, or other independent labels in attendance.

Hasan Salaam ignited the antsy crowd with his off-the-cuff a cappella freestyle, which had everyone cheering, clapping, and nodding their heads wildly in appreciation of Hip Hop kulture at its purest. Hasan stunned the crowd with his artistic delivery, political consciousness, and socially-aware lyrics. His first song for the night, Blaxploitation, executed a searing political commentary on how artists feel exploited economically and artistically by the entertainment industry.

Hasan also introduced the audience to the award-winning Dynamic Rockers (a B-girl and B-boy crew from the greater New York area), paying homage to Break dancing—one of the four fundamental expressions of Hip Hop. Sharing the stage with Hasan Salaam and offering ad-libs was heavy-hitting MC HiCoup, one of the many members of his Hip Hop collective, The Fifth Column. He proved to the audience that Hip Hop can be conscious and Fresh! at the same time.

Heavy-hitting representatives from the music industry’s top-selling labels awarded Hasan Salaam the best performer of the night. Amongst several awards, Hasan Salaam has received a ‘face-to-face’ interview with Rocafella/Def Jam Records at the Def Jam headquarters, an in-studio interview on Promo Radio 91.9FM, “Buzz Factor” feature in the Promo Radio Online Industry Newsletter, Artist of the Month Feature on WWW.HIPHOPPALACE.COM (http://www.HIPHOPPALACE.COM) Spotlight Feature in the Next Issue of Rap Fanatic Magazine, Slot on the next Promo Radio 91.9FM Mix-tape Hosted By DJ Jaz, Profile on Urban Threshold Television, and an automatic nomination for “Best Live Performance” Category for the 2005 Underground Music Awards.

Hasan Salaam’s recent award-winning showcase is sure to establish him as a bonafide live Hip Hop performer. To date he may have been under-recognized, but for all those who have had the pleasure to experience his artistry, he is most definitely well-appreciated. His latest album release under Day by Day Entertainment, Paradise Lost, is on sale at Fat Beats Records (NY) and other independent retailers, and online at www.DayByDayEnt.com (http://www.daybydayent.com/)

[5TH COLUMN]

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PARADISE LOST Album Review
Shield Magazine
By Osei Haywood

It’s been quite some time since the consciousness of hip-hop music has raised its fist with any type of sustained overt resistance. Enter Hasan Salaam and his debut “Paradise Lost,” This gravel voiced mc creates a vivid multilayered path of provoking thought over tight and varied production. (He also produced two tracks himself). The album starts off intensely with “Diaspora,” a Mike Marvel produced track in which Hasan takes the point of view of an African being indoctrinated into the horrors of the slave trade. On “Allegro,” producer Rugged n Raw fuses a string heavy classical sample underneath driving drums here Hasan waxes the political in frenzied but on point delivery with lines like: meanwhile our kids fall asleep in their beds/ as visions of 22’s spin round in their heads/ somebody want us dead from the hood to the res/ so every word bein said is bein tapped by the feds/ He later urges listeners to do take action, to “change the order.” In “Concrete Watercolors,” Hasan and rhyme partner Hi-coup spit over a haunting piano lick about the conditions found in neighborhoods lost and forgotten

Not all “Paradise Lost,” is struggle and politics. “Fountain of Youth,” is an effective and heartfelt look back on growing up. On “Affair to Remember,” a lost love is lamented.

The most powerful song though has to be “The Drinking Gourd,” a deeply personal song where Hasan with a sense of boldness and determined purpose spins a well crafted and poignant autobiography/mother tribute complete with soul touching horns.
“Paradise Lost,” is a strong debut from an insightful mind with the message that yes paradise is lost, but can be regained through redemption and knowledge. Let’s open our ears. Check out www.DayByDayEnt.com (http://www.daybydayent.com/)