Zedbazi
| Zedbazi | |
|---|---|
|
Zedbazi performing in London (2006). | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Tehran, Iran |
| Genres | Hip hop, rap rock, trance, dance, electronic |
| Years active | 2002–2014 (de facto)[note 1] |
| Members |
Mehrad Hidden Saman Wilson Sohrab MJ Alireza JJ Sijal Nassim |
Zedbazi (Persian: Zedbāzi – زدبازی) is an Iranian hip hop band from Tehran. They are known as the pioneer of gangsta rap in Iran,[1][2] and are also credited with marking the beginning of a new movement in Iranian music.[3]
The band has been suspended since October 2014, and the members have been divided into two groups.
History
Foundation
Foundation of the band dates back to early 2002. It was started up by Saman Rezapour (Saman Wilson) and Mehrad Mostowfi Rad (Mehrad Hidden), who were friends in a high school in Tehran. Despite having older experiences in musicianship, formation of the band as in a hip hop style was motivated by Saman's cover of Eminem's Without Me, which was performed with a matched vulgar lyrics written in Persian. After moving to London, they met Sohrab Mostavafi (Sohrab MJ) in a summer school, where he joined the band after collaborating on Kal Kal (کل کل – Kal-kal, "Argue"), a cover of D12's Rap Game.
The first collaboration of Siavash Jalali (Sijal) and Alireza Jazayeri (Alireza JJ) with the band's earlier members was Berim Faza (بریم فضا – Berim Fazā, "(Let's) Go to Space"), produced by Alireza JJ in 2005. Siavash and Alireza were best friends in Paris, where they had also met Nassim Parize, an Iranian finalist at the French reality TV show Star Academy (Season 5) with her twin sister, Neissa.
The three future band members officially joined Zedbazi by releasing Tabestoon Kootahe (تابستون کوتاهه – Tābestun Kutāh e, "Summer is Short") in September 2007. They brought a new style into the band, as Mehrad Hidden remarks in Ardeshir Ahmadi's Zedbazi Documentary. "The formula they brought was different than ours. Our formula was necessary for the inception, theirs was necessary for the continuation."[3]
The name Zedbazi (زدبازی – Zedbāzi) consists of the words zed ("Z", the first letter of zakhar) and bāzi ("play" or "action"). Zakhar (زاخار – zāxār, "old") is an old and non-common word in modern Persian language. It is what Saman and his friends used to call each other in high school,[3] and according to the band, it can mean both "an old and close friend" and "an old-fashioned and fusty person"; it depends on the purpose. Therefore, Zedbazi can be translated as "the zakhar acts."
Popularity
Zedbazi emerged at the same time as Hichkas, and rapidly garnered a huge popularity between the youth, due to their controversial lyrics, littered with profanities, depictions of sexual encounters and drug use.[4] They are considered as the first musical band in Iran to use such explicit language.
Tabestoon Kootahe is considered as Zedbazi's most popular song, which was released in September 2007. It is about "the bittersweet feeling" of a summertime in Iran.[4]
Separation
In October 2014, the band announced a separation between the members. It was due to some internal disagreements. Saman Wilson, who had not been attending to the band's songs after Tabestoon Kootahe,[3] returned and joined Mehrad Hidden, forming a new band named Bozorg (بزرگ – Bozorg, "Great"). Alireza JJ, Sijal, and Nassim decided to work together, and Sohrab MJ currently works alone. According to Alireza JJ, all of the members are still part of the band, but they are currently not working together.[5]
Members
- Mehrad Hidden – lead vocals, guitar, piano, composition (2002–2014)
- Saman Wilson – vocals (2002–2007; 2014–2014)
- Sohrab MJ – vocals (2003–2014)
- Sijal – vocals (2005–2014)
- Alireza JJ – vocals, composition, production (2005–2014)
- Nassim – vocals (2005–2014)
Discography
Zedbazi
Until 2012, the band had yet to release an album, and their songs were provided as singles.
Their first studio album, Zakhar Nameh (زاخار نامه – Zāxār Nāme, "The Zakhar Book"), was released on June 4, 2012. All of the band members, except Saman Wilson, were involved in the album, featuring Hichkas, Behzad Leito and Arash Dara.
| Title | Details | Featuring Artists | Producers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zakhar Nameh |
|
Behzad Leito, Hichkas, and Arash Dara | Alireza JJ, Mehrad Hidden, and Arash Dara |
| Title | year | Member(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diss Ajili | 2002 | Saman Wilson | N/A |
| Mehmooni | 2003 | Mehrad Hidden, Saman Wilson | |
| Kal Kal | Sohrab MJ, Mehrad Hidden, and Saman Wilson | ||
| Ahangamoon Khodast | 2004 | ||
| Party | |||
| Az Khazar ta Khalije Fars | |||
| Diss Fincher | Mehrad Hidden, Saman Wilson | ||
| Aroosak | Sohrab MJ, Mehrad Hidden, and Saman Wilson | ||
| Berim Faza | 2005 | Sijal, Sohrab MJ, Saman Wilson | |
| Male Ham Boodim | Sijal, Sohrab MJ | ||
| Vase Har Irani | Saman Wilson | ||
| Amade Bash | Sohrab MJ, Mehrad Hidden | ||
| Bi Hess | 2006 | Sijal, Sohrab MJ, Mehrad Hidden, Saman Wilson | |
| Tabestoon Kootahe | 2007 | Sijal, Alireza JJ, Mehrad Hidden, Saman Wilson, Nassim | |
| Guitare Koli | 2008 | Alireza JJ, Sijal, Nassim | |
| Shahre Tarik | Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ | ||
| Zendegie Mane | 2009 | Mehrad Hidden, Sijal, Nassim, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ | |
| Zamin Safe | |||
| Chon Ke Divoonatam | Mehrad Hidden, Sohrab MJ | ||
| Kooche | Sijal, Mehrad Hidden, Sohrab MJ | ||
| Iroonie L.A. | Alireza JJ, Sijal, Mehrad Hidden | ||
| Coocooli Koo | |||
| Daro Baz Kon | 2010 | Mehrad Hidden, Sijal, Alireza JJ | |
| Talafate Jang | Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ | ||
| Daastaane Maa | Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Nassim | ||
| Mesle Man | Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ | ||
| Pedare Man (Bad Mano Negah Mikone) | 2011 | Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ, Sijal | |
| Mysterious Eyes | Sijal, Sohrab MJ, Alireza JJ | ||
| Bekhand Masnooyi | Mehrad Hidden, Sijal | ||
| Taze Shoru e Zendegimoone | Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ, Sijal, Nassim | ||
| Saat Vayse | 2012 | Sijal, Alireza JJ, Mehrad Hidden, Nassim | |
| Tehran Male Mane | Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ, Sijal | Zakhar Nameh | |
| Cigare Soorati | Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ, Sijal, Nassim | ||
| Dorough Tatil | Sohrab MJ | N/A | |
| Obi | 2013 | Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ |
Alireza JJ, Sijal & Nassim
On July 28, 2014, the album Pir Shodim Vali Bozorg Na (پیر شدیم ولی بزرگ نه – Pir Ŝodim Vali Bozorg Na, "Got Aged But Not Grown-Up") was released, including only three members of the band (Alireza JJ, Sijal and Nassim) and without the record label of Zedbazi. It was composed by Alireza JJ and DJ AFX, and included Behzad Leito, Paya, Erfan, Sepehr Khalse, Sina Mafee, Magico and Cornellaa as featured artists.
| Title | Details | Featuring Artists | Producers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pir Shodim Vali Bozorg Na |
|
Behzad Leito, Cornellaa, Sohrab MJ, Erfan, Paya, Sepehr Khalse, Sina Mafi, Magico | Alireza JJ, DJ AFX |
| Pir Shodim Vali Bozorg Na 2 |
|
Behzad Leito, Sohrab MJ, Sepehr Khalse, Siavash Rad, Wantons (Sami Low) | Alireza JJ, Siavash Rad, Sami Low, Behzad Leito, Khashayar SR, DJ AFX |
Bozorg
The album Bozorg: Vol. 2 (بزرگ: ولوم 2 – Bozorg: Volum e 2), presented by Bozorg, was released on February 27, 2015; with Sohrab MJ, Arash Dara, Tara Salahi, Kiarash, and Siamak as featured artists. It was composed by Mehrad Hidden, Arash Dara, and DJ Rassek; including 19 tracks, and remarkably being the 2nd volume ("present") of an album series continuing with two other volumes. The 1st ("past") and 3rd ("future") volumes are said to be released in future.
| Title | Details | Featuring Artists | Producers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozorg |
|
Sohrab MJ, Arash Dara, Tara, Siamak, Kiarash | Mehrad Hidden, Arash Dara |
Notes
- ↑ The band has been suspended since October 2014, and the members have been divided into two groups. For more details, read the section of Separation.
References
- ↑ Rebels of rap reign in Iran
- ↑ Iran's 'illegal' rappers want cultural revolution.
- 1 2 3 4 Ahmadi, Ardeshir (director). Zedbazi Documentary (Documentary film). Radio Javan.
- 1 2 Al Jazeera: Inside Iran's 'revolutionary' rap – September 2014
- ↑ PODCAST #8 ANSWERS ON BOZORG ALBUM AND ZEDBAZI, Alireza JJ, February 25, 2015
- 1 2 3 4 iTunes: Zedbazi