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Back On His Grind
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Rashid Hadee Back On His Grind The search for the perfect woman is a path paved with one night stand...Rashid Hadee Back On His Grind The search for the perfect woman is a path paved with one night stands, humilities and broken hearts. Windy City lyricist and producer Rashid Hadee knows all about it. On his latest effort 'Aural Sex: The Search for Pinky Tuscadero', storyteller Rashid raps about the complexity of relationships with the cool of Fonzie. In one breath, he named his latest album after Arthur Fonzarelli's ideal woman. Make no mistake: with his latest album, Hadee's taking his craft serious. Each song will be accompanied with a video. Having worked with Longshot, Psalm One and Little Brother -9th Wonder is a fan- this album may be the turning point where underground appraisal could be traded for worldwide glory.
Your new album is dedicated to Pinky Tuscadero...what makes her so special?
Pinky is Fonzie's girlfriend on the old TV-show 'Happy Days'. She's the most chill, most freshest, most down to earth girl on the show that's cool enough to be with The Fonz. She's super chill and rides motorcycles and says phrases like 'What's Shakin'?', and of course, she's a cutie. (laughs) But anyway, she's the perfect girl for Fonzie and the only one that can really enter into his heart like that. Of course The Fonz is the epitome of 'cool'. So for a girl to get him to have feelings for her means she's gotta be something special! This is where it relates to my life and a lot of other men living out there in the world.
Underneath the one-night stands, the grinding on ass at the club while 'I'm On One' plays, the lap dances at the strip joint and other things us single men do, we're all searching for the ideal mate. I used Pinky Tuscadero more like a 'label' for the coolest girl in my eyes, being that she's the type I'm looking for and I'm cool as fuck just like The Fonz and I wear a leather jacket (laughs). But her character gave me an opportunity to tell a story about the road to meeting the perfect mate. The album takes a journey through different relationships whether it's good, bad or down right ugly. It's just what everyone goes through, male or female, while living life and dating..
So do you think Pinky (read ‘the perfect woman’) even exists?
Yes, definitely. I believe there is a Pinky out there for everyone. There is definitely a perfect mate out there. Now, I don't wanna confuse perfect with 'perfect', you know? 'Perfect', yeah, with quotes, would be what everyone else think is 'perfect'. 'Perfect' to me, is what you want and who you love just for being themselves. They don't have to actually be 'perfect'. They can have scars, a big nose, big eyes, be overweight... whatever. They can have a big head like Gina from Martin (laughs) but Gina and Martin were perfect together, right? No matter how big her head was or how big Martin's ears was, they were still perfect together. In my song 'The Coolest Chic' I say 'She might not be cool to you, but she cool to me...'. So that pretty much let's you know right there. It's ok for you to not like her imperfections, but I love it.
You write songs which most rappers wouldn't dare to write, about being shy, about being not able to find your words. How important is it to rap about those vulnerable things?
It's very important to rap about that stuff. Because if I've experienced being shy other people feel the same way or felt the same way. Almost every man goes through that phase in life, so they can relate. It's how we all start out before we overcome our fears and get that fine ass girl in class' phone number. It's how we all start out before we start hopping out the car on bus-downs and whatnot (laughs). I'm just sayin'. But we all start out that way, so that's how the album starts. That's the beginning of the whole mess of relationships that I experience throughout the album. I overcome being shy and the next thing you know I'm having love triangles, being heartbroken, stealing other dudes girlfriends, dealing with the ratchet baby-momma type and a whole mess of madness.
How many of the record is autobiographical?
Almost every song can be considered autobiographical or simply based on a true story. The songs are tweaked in a way to tell a story with crazy ups and downs and twists and turns on my search for Pinky. Essentially, it's the story of my life from the past few years since 'Dedication' dropped. I've had the most beautiful to the most bogus relationships in the past few years! Like in the song 'Let Me Be'. I really did try to take a dude's girlfriend from him before and actually was almost successful. We messed around for like six months.
Now the whole 'shooting him in the face'-part, that's a different story. All that happened in my mind as I was daydreaming one day and I really wanted to do that. I met this girl and she's super freaking gorgeous and messing with a crazy ass dude who pulls out his gun on her and hides her keys to keep her from going home and stuff that. They used to fight all the time and all that but he was paying her bills and fucking her like crazy so she was still with him. Some girls just can't stay away from that dope-dick, if you know what I mean (laughs). I think dude was a coke head. I really did wanna blow his head off though (pause) so he could finally be out of the picture. Thank God for hip-hop, so I wouldn't really have to do it and go to jail. They are actually still together and they have two kids. Crazy!
We had to ask...the threesome: true story?
(Laughs) You're talking about 'Something Special'. That's one of those joints that's based on a true story. I do have an ex with a best friend that's a little thicker than her, a little more fine than her, a little more cuter. We broke up and I suspected her friend had something to do with it because every time they would hang out we'd end up not speaking for some reason afterwards. It was like clockwork! We'd be doing great one day just being totally in love with each other and after her and her friend would hang out, she'd get pissed at me over some bullshit and we wouldn't talk for weeks. Crazy! It happened every time. I just let this song be pay back to her for letting her friend fuck with her mind. Me and my manager Olskool, of Honest Management, was talking one day and I was all heartbroken and venting to him about what happened and the idea of the song was born.
You're a great storyteller, where did you get the inspiration, tactics to tell a good story and capture the reader’s attention throughout?
Thanks! I learned that early from Notorious BIG and 2Pac. They were great storytellers and they embedded it in my mind that no album is complete without telling a good story to a dope beat. Them dudes incorporated a lot of great elements into their stories like foreshadowing and comic relief but still maintained the flow. I attempt to rise beyond what people expect a producer/MC to sound like. Everybody got this mentality that a producer only raps just to hear his own voice on a beat and not necessarily because he's an MC. They look at it as being selfish with the beats because a dope ass MC could have been spitting the dopest verse they ever kicked. They look at it as 'Oh, he just wanna hoard all the dope beats and keep em for himself and give us the rejects and leftovers.' I had people telling me they slept on me for years and didn't listen to my music only because they heard I'm a producer/MC. They felt like they already knew what to expect because of cats like Dr. Dre and Pete Rock and whoever of that nature. But let's not forget, the producer/MC is some of the most influential figures in hip-hop history.
It’s not a surprise that there’s gonna be a video for every song, it really fits the well-sketched stories of the record...what was the motivation for it?
Just trying to do something different because that's what separates the men from the boys. This is a well-concocted plan put together by my manager Olskool Ice-Gre (Honest Management) because we are really focusing on taking big steps. I don't think any other artist has shot a video for every song on their album and released a video every week in the sequence of the album. I'm probably the first one to do that, so we're just all about making history. We really wanna bring some serious attention to my music so I can finally be heard everywhere. I'm tired of being an unknown artist putting out music that no one gets to hear. This whole process is just a start of the demand to be heard. Gre believes in me enormously and he's going to make sure I end up with the right label or situation behind me.
You’re shooting a lot of video’s nowadays...
...and these video's are so freaking difficult to put together! Lord knows it's not easy at all. It's very difficult to get a hand full of available people in the same place at the same time, especially when you're an underground artist. People don't take the situation as serious as they would if Kanye West called them up to do a video. Then it's hard on the directors, especially if they working a full-time job too. Then the girls wanna have their hair did and nails and stuff done so they always need a week to plan for the video. I've learned you can't just call them the day before like 'What's up let's shoot this video tomorrow'. I've actually learned a whole lot from shooting these video's. I found a hidden acting talent within myself (laughs). But every video is an individual learning experience. I have a good time re-creating and acting out these twisted thoughts that go through my mind.
Are there any songs that you approach differently now since you’ve made a video for it?
Yes and 'Something Special' is a great example. The video made me like the song even more. Well actually, I wasn't too big on that song at first but Gre talked me into keeping it on the record. Once I saw what Thaione did with the visuals, I was sold. I guess it was because the beat is so old (to me). I made that beat when I was living in Mississippi and I guess I'm just so used to it after listening to it forever. Maybe it's something about women in lingerie that makes any song sound better (laughs).
Thaione Davis directs the video's, is he focusing more on video productions now? He would make a good producer for a track on 'Pinky Tuscadero' right?
Definitely! I'm a huge fan of Thaione and I'm glad I get to go to his studio and hear all the exclusiveness whenever we link up! He's got some dope music projects he's working on right now, along with doing video's too. When me and him get together it's like Madlib and J Dilla. But as far as my album, it was better that I did all the beats, just to showcase my talents 100%. Me and Olskool knew this album was gonna be one of the biggest steps I've ever taken towards getting signed, so it had to be done that way.
Will this record ever be used by you to teach your kids about women and relationships,...?
Probably not, only because they won't even understand. 'Aural Sex' is one of those albums that you have to already have experienced what I'm talking about to feel me. It's definitely an 18-years-of-age-and-up type of album. I'm not saying that because of the content, but more about the understanding aspect of things. You can't even imagine what it's like to have a broken heart before you actually have a broken heart. It's a very difficult situation that people who have been with their high school sweetheart for like 10 years just can't digest.
It is often said that a woman is stronger than a man...agree?
Well, I say women are stronger mentally and emotionally, but of course, not physically. Women are stronger in my opinion because they hold the key to a man's happiness, but that's in my eyes. The strength goes both ways. I believe the strength lies inside of the person you choose to join you in life and be one with.
You made a song about your dog....that’s quite unique...
Actually, no that song is not about a dog at all. The song is a metaphor for my ex-girlfriend (laughs). It's a way of calling her a bitch without actually saying it. Oh, that's kinda mean I know (laughs), but 'Man's Best Friend' has its place on the album as me being bitter and sarcastic with one of my girlfriends. I'm just being a smart ass in a very lyrical way, like Nas did on 'I Gave You Power' off his album 'It Was Written'. In turn, I'm really saying a woman is man's best friend and not a dog, like we are used to think when we hear that phrase. I'm kinda redefining the phrase into a whole new thing. But no, I wouldn't make a rap song for my dog (laughs).
Do you have an actual dog?
I don't have a dog right now, but I had a dog when I was growing up. He was a mixed German shepherd and chow and his name was Benny. He died like 5 years ago. I want a bulldog so bad though!
What’s in your iPod right now?
Right now in rotation I have the latest albums from Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, ASAP Rocky, 2 Chainz, Big KRIT and WZRD on shuffle along with my 'Aural Sex' album, YIM2011 Compilation and Leakage The PrEp.
What's next for Rashid?
Next up is my CNS Mixtape Vol. 2! That's 'Chopped Not Screwed', I'm doing the same thing I did with '808s & Heartbreak', just with a new album. It's gonna be great! CNS is a Mixtape series so you'll keep getting those.
Shout-outs?
Yeah shout out to Honest Management, Olskool Ice-Gre, C-Vicious, Thaione Davis, Domi V, Rookie Films, APJ Films, Malcolm Starchild, Jessica who plays Pinky Tuscadero in my videos and the whole crew as well ass all my cool people that took out time to read this! Shout out to Platform8470 for this interview and many years of support! Y'all been looking out for me for a long time and I'm very thankful! Peace...oh and if anyone on your side of the world wants to book me send an email to: bookings@honest-management.com or hit up @Olskool_IceGre on Twitter.
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Artist On The Rise:Rashid Hadee
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Here at YourMusicMyWorld while we love to keep to up to date about the new music that the popular ar...Here at YourMusicMyWorld while we love to keep to up to date about the new music that the popular artists release we also love to spotlight the artists that you may not know about that we feel that you should know about. This week we take a look at emcee/producer, Rashid Hadee.
Cara:How did you get your start?
Rashid: I got my start with an indy label based out of North Carolina called Neblina Records. We met on Little Brother’s message board “The Lawn” back in the day. I would post up songs and beats and they were just digging the sounds. They envisioned this online record company and saw the industry leaning toward the direction of the internet. My first releases were with my original group Chapter 13 and the first song we released was “The Rebirth”.
Cara: What period or era of music would you say inspires your sound?
Rashid:The period or era that inspires my sound is definitely the 70's!! So much culture and great music. I’ve always looked at that decade as flawless. The 70's gave birth to some of the greatest careers in music and some great films too. I like sampling music from the 70's and those are primarily the records I search for when I’m out digging. I just have always gravitated towards those sounds. you can hear a lot of that 70's influence on my new album Aural Sex: The Search For Pinky Tuscadero.
Cara: What can people expect when they listen to your music?
Rashid: You can expect dope beats when you listen to my music. I’ve always been known to release projects and EVERY beat on there is dope. I don’t let up for radio, TV, girls, children, whoever. If it’s a Rashid Hadee song, the beat is going to be dope regardless. It’s had been situations where a person might not agree with my opinions that I may stress in some of my lyrics, but at the same time there will be no complaint about the beat whatsoever. To know how to pick beats is one of the most challenging parts about being an MC.
Cara: What do you want listeners to take away after listening to your music?
Rashid:I just want listeners to take away a good feeling and be entertained by my experiences. I enjoy putting my life into music and I love it when someone else feels the same way or can relate to me. That’s one of the greatest feeling in the world.
Cara: How does it feel knowing that 9th Wonder & Erick Sermon are fans of your work?
Rashid: It’s a cool feeling, I got much love for both of them. I’m a fan of them both just like everyone else. It would be nice if they would ever put some people up on my talents and music though. I don’t know if they have already told people about me or not. Right now, one things for sure, I definitely do not have a song with either. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll get a chance to work with them. Let’s keep our fingers crossed on that one.
Cara: Like you I’m from Chicago so how would you say growing up in Chicago influenced your sound?
Rashid: Chicago is a HUGE influence on my sound. Actually I grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, but I spent my early and grammar school years in Chicago. With that being said, when you have a dose of Chicago and Jackson, you’re influenced to get wealthy and move away as fast as possible!!
Cara: Which artists inspire you?
Rashid: The artists that I’m inspired by are Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Jaco Pastorius, Erykah Badu, Jay Dilla, Pharrell Williams and various other Hip Hop, Soul, and Electronic artists. I love some Skrillex and Lil Wayne too. I have a lot of favorite artists that I’m influenced by and look up to.
Cara: What’s the meaning behind your album title, “Aural Sex: The Search for Pinky Tuscadero?
Rashid: The meaning of my album title hmm… Well I’ll break it down into two parts. First, the Aural Sex part has to do with having sex with your ears. So it’s like I’m penetrating your ears in one way or another. “Pause” where needed. And the Search For Pinky Tuscadero part has to do with me searching for the ideal lady in my life. Pinky is a character from the TV show Happy Days and she was Fonzie’s perfect girl. This album pretty much has to do with every man’s everyday quest through life. We all are looking for the perfect girl everyday. In this album, I’m talking about my quest to meet the right girl and the relationships I have on my journey- and I have some jacked up experiences along the way of course. I took a lot of my real life experiences, exaggerated them when needed, and put them to music. Of course, in the end I get the girl… that’s how we all would want it to go down right?
Cara: Besides yourself, what CDs/Mixtapes are you currently listening to?
Rashid: Great question, I love to put people up on what I’m listening to. Well at the present time what I have in rotation is Love Greater The Prequel (it just came out today) by my homie and fellow Chicagoan Neak. I bought Section80 by Kendrick Lamar a couple weeks ago and cant stop listening to it. I listen to LiveLoveASAP by ASAP Rocky regularly. Everyday I have to listen to at least 1 song off E. 1999 Eternal by BONE Thugs-n-Harmony and it’s usually “Crept And We Came”. I love rapping the words to that. All of Big K.R.I.T.’s, N.E.R.D.’s and Kid Cudi’s releases are in constant rotation in my iPod day to day.
Cara: What would you say is the biggest obstacle that you have encountered in your career?
Rashid: The biggest obstacle is staying motivated. What I mean by that is staying motivated to continue making music with a career mentality. At times it feels like I’m wasting my time by sharing all this music with the world and not getting anything major out of it. It’s hard when you see certain types of artists getting major recognition and you’re not.
Cara: What advice would you offer to an up & coming rapper?
Rashid: The advice I’d offer is choose your destiny wisely. It takes years to be great at this for some people and can erase years from your life! A LOT of them! Don’t waste your time chasing a dream, make a plan and follow through.
Cara: How does producing help you succeed as an emcee? And how does being an emcee help you succeed as a producer?
Rashid: Producing helps me succeed as an emcee because I can never run out of beats, and it’s beats that I like to hear. Being an emcee helps me succeed as an producer because I’ll always have a dope beat to write and record to. Two great talents to have and will always compliment each other.
To hear more of Rashid Hadee’s music Click here to download his latest EP Aural Sex: The Search for Pinky Tuscadero and follow Rashid on twitter at @rashidhadee
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#UpxtD Rashid Hadee- A Chicago Artist With A Story To Tell
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Having fresh beats, dope lyrics and great delivery on a consistent basis is definitely one of the mo...Having fresh beats, dope lyrics and great delivery on a consistent basis is definitely one of the most difficult tasks that any artist faces. Sure, you can make a great track, but then there’s doing it again and not making the next one sound the same! It is for this very reason why you gotta respect artists who can keep you listening song after song, it demonstrates their dedication to the art of hip hop. Chicago native Rashid Hadee is a perfect example of this. Mixing old school sounds with new school style, Rashid is a hip hop artist who really makes you listen to get the full experience.
There’s a huge difference between hearing music and actually listening to it. We hear artists every day, but seldom are they talented enough to make us actually listen. Rashid Hadee tells stories in all of his songs that are relatable to a wide variety of people. From lost love to pursuing his dreams despite opposition from peers, Rashid has a story for just about everything. He began making music in the 6th grade with a Yamaha keyboard and a karaoke machine given to him by his mother. It wasn’t until high school when he began taking his music much more seriously after discovering that he was pretty good at it.
One of the things that inspired Rashid to begin making music was growing up in the inner city of Chicago. Putting his family into better circumstances is what drove him to continue pushing, and even when he realized that it was gonna be a lot harder then he thought he did not stop moving forward. It’s pretty hard to outdo this guy’s music simply because it’s so real. The media is littered with music that’s about absolutely nothing, so being exposed to such great story telling is a breath of fresh air. His latest project “Aural Sex: The Search For Pinky Tuscadero” is one that he is particularly proud of and also one that anyone who appreciates true artistry will love.
Bringing realness an passionate storytelling to each and every track, Rashid Hadee is definitely someone that all you hip hop lovers need to get more familiar with. Check out some of his material below and let us know what you think! Follow him on Twitter @rashidhadee
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Rashid Hadee Talks Being A One Man Show, The Aural Sex LP & His Love Of Spanish Soaps
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When he is not on his grind, producer/emcee Rashid Hadee enjoys making music purely for the joy. The...When he is not on his grind, producer/emcee Rashid Hadee enjoys making music purely for the joy. The Honest Management signee’s new album, Aural Sex: The Search for Pinky Tuscadero, was just released and I was lucky enough to speak with Hadee recently to discuss the new project. And over the course of our conversation, we covered some music from his catalog, his unique mix of inspirations, and his future plans involving the music industry. Check out the convo!
Will: Can you talk about some of your previous releases for readers who might not know you that well? How did you come up in the game?
Rashid Hadee: I had my first album Dedication, which came out in 2007. I had my Serenade For The Moment EP that came out in 2008. What else did I have? I had 808s and Hadee in 2009, and then Hadiesel: The Fuel Up in 2010.
Will: Do you have a favorite out of the work you’ve done so far?
Hadee: A favorite out of the bunch? A song called “Explode” from the Serenade For The Moment EP because I think that’s some of my best lyrics. I just like my flow on that. The beat and the hook and everything…it came together real nice on that joint.
Will: My favorite song of yours is, “The Dreamer.” Can you talk about what you put into that track?
Hadee: That’s one of the lead videos from Leakage: The PreEP. “The Dreamer” was one of them and also I had “Night Train.” That’s my most recent video.
Will: Can you talk about the work that went into that track? What inspired you to make that song?
Hadee: Oh… that song was born out of when people try to shoot your dreams down. You know [when they] tell you, you can’t do something or give you some kind of negative energy when you’re trying to do something positive with yourself. For instance, you wanna record music and people are like, “Aw man, your shit is wack.” Like you’re not as good as Waka Flocka Flame [Laughs]. And they’ll try to just throw some shit at you like that and just try to do anything they can to just shoot down your dream. And that’s why I got different lines in there. You know, the way I do. Those different things happened to me and that’s me fighting back.
Will: Who are some of your musical idols? If so, can you talk about how they influence you?
Hadee: Oh yeah, definitely. I got a whole bunch of them from different genres. I get influence from Hip Hop, soul, electronic music, jazz, you know, I just pull inspiration from all those artists… Jaco Pastorius, Stevie Wonder. On the Hip Hop side, I probably pull inspiration from, I don’t know, so many artists. Pete Rock, producers like that. J Dilla, of course. I pull a lot of inspiration from J Dilla’s music.
Will: So usually, is it producers or rappers that inspire you? And do you consider yourself more of a producer or a rapper?
Hadee: Definitely a mix of the two because I take turns. That’s how I work. I pretty much take turns with each talent. I might go a certain time period producing, a certain time period writing, and I just go back and forth and record. I record all of my own music myself…all my beats and everything. It’s just like a one-man show over here most of the time. [Laughs].
Will: Who are some Chicago based artists you’d like to get involved with and work with in the future?
Hadee: Shoot, I’d like to work with Crucial Conflict cause they’re just like legends. Twista also… they’re legends for the city. Any legend in the city… Common of course [and] Lupe. I’d love to work with those dudes. They are definitely an inspiration because that shows me that even though I’m from Chicago, I can be like them someday and be in a position like them.
Will: It’s pretty cool that you have that in Chicago. I’m from St. Louis and we’ve got Nelly but not many Hip Hop legends like that. [Laughs] So it’s pretty cool you’ve got that to look forward to. Now when you’re not on your grind, what kinds of music do you chill out and relax to?
Hadee: Man, when I chill out, I’m usually playing Call of Duty or watching the Spanish soaps and stuff like that… looking at the beautiful women on there [Laughs].
Will: So what is the most rewarding experience you’ve had during your musical career?
Hadee: My most rewarding experience would have to be my beautiful post on Kevin Nottingham.com. [Laughs] But other than that, it would be when I got the Chairman’s Choice in XXL. I think that was probably one of the best things to happen so far.
Will: Was that when you felt like you made it?
Hadee: Well, it was just like a milestone. I’ll probably never feel like I made it. That’s just my personality…I’m always striving for more. Even if I’m with this big deal or what not, there’s still goals in my mind and I’ll never feel like I’ve made, so here I am. When I get to that point, as far as getting a deal and all that, I’ll really turn it up a whole lot as far as my quantity of music being that I won’t have to work a 9-5 anymore. [Laughs]
Will: So where do you want to go in the future? Do you want to get signed to a major?
Hadee: Honestly, I just do music because I love it. This is like a hobby for me and whatever comes in my direction; I’ve got open arms for it. Of course, I’ll be careful about anything that comes my way. I’m already happy where I’m at now [with Honest Management], because as long as I get a chance to make music, that’s all I really care about. I definitely look forward to cashing some nice big checks off the music but that’s not necessarily a priority. The main priority for me is actually making the music… that’s all I really focus on.
Will: You said you’d always be trying to do more so what if you hit the level of a Jay-Z? Would you tone it down? Would you sell out or just keep making music for the sake of making music?
Hadee: Say for instance, if I were on a Jay-Z level, I would still have that urge to make music. I’ll have all this money and I’ll be swimming with all these hundred dollar bills in my backyard, but I’ll have my beat machine right there. I’ll have my computer with me while I’m laying in all that money… I’m still gonna be making music. [Laughs]
Will: You have a new album coming out soon. Tell me about that.
Hadee: Real soon. Anytime in the next week or next couple weeks. It’s called Aural Sex: The Search for Pinky Tuscadero. [Laughs] It’s a pretty crazy title.
It’s pretty much like a concept album. It’s a story put to music. Of course the core of it is raw lyricism and beats but it’s a nice little story to go along with it.
Will: So what kind of story is it?
Hadee: My road to meeting my ideal mate… the girl of my dreams, just the coolest chick. And I’m meeting all these different girls on the path. It starts out real smooth and innocent and then things start getting crazy and my life starts getting super crazy, [but] once I meet that right girl, everything is all good after that. That’s what the story is about… just the everyday quest of any man. I’m sure a lot of people will relate to the story. I’m sure everybody goes through the same thing…meeting these crazy ass girls and then you meet a cool one. That’s how it is.
Will: Hey man, that sounds great. I’m looking forward to hearing it. Well thank you for your time it was great to talk to you and get to know you a little bit better.
Hadee: Likewise, I appreciate you man. I appreciate you all showing love. I’ll be looking forward to my KevinNottingham.com post. [Laughs]
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Producer Spot light: Chicago’s own @RashidHadee
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Producer Spot Light: Chicago’s own Rashid Hadee
After years of producing the best of the best in ...Producer Spot Light: Chicago’s own Rashid Hadee
After years of producing the best of the best in Chicago’s underground Hip Hop scene, Rashid Hadee has established himself as Chicago’s go to producer for that undeniable head nod Hip Hop that has worked its way back into the hearts of millions of Rap music fans worldwide. The sound and quality of his production has become internationally recognized, thus garnering him respect as one of the best producer/emcees of the new Chicago Hip Hop movement. The beauty of a Rashid Hadee track is it encompasses the fearless and futuristic sensibilities of J Dilla, the unabashed boom bap of early 9th Wonder and the soulful groove of the legendary Pete Rock, to create a hybrid of sound that is becoming more and more known as simply a Hadee beat.
In the very early part of 2011, the only complaint amongst various blogs was the quantity of Rashid Hadee’s releases didn’t balance out with the quality. Simply put, the people wanted to see his work at a more consistent pace. Rashid Hadee obviously took heed to what the bloggers had to say because we saw completely different results a few months into 2011. I don’t know if it was the words spewed by the writers of various music sites and blogs that caused Rashid Hadee to completely transform himself into a workaholic in 2011, or if it was the relentless online grind of Honest Management that fueled the 360 degree turn by an individual who deserves every bit of spotlight his work has earned him this past year. Either way, the outcome was a much more consistent and recognizable Rashid Hadee.
By mid-2011, the producer (who is also the emcee) dropped a video for a buzz record called The Dreamer and announced the title of his upcoming album; Aural Sex: The Search for Pinky Tuscadero. The video received rave reviews on hundreds of blogs, which created an appetite for more. This effort was followed by a 5 song release called Leakage the PrEp that included The Dreamer. Promoted as a project to tide his supporters over until the album dropped, Rashid Hadee introduced the world to his web series The 2nd Life. After premiering a few episodes of his web series, the Hip Hop Jekyll and Hyde went on a production onslaught creating tracks for a variety of artists in and out of the United States. His latest offering is a music video for the second single taken from Leakage the PrEp called Night Train featuring The Primeridian.
Honest Management informed us that we will see a lot of Rashid Hadee in 2012 which will include a mixtape that will showcase several of the tracks he produced in 2011. Also, the long awaited release of Aural Sex: The Search for Pinky Tuscadero as well as several more episodes of The 2nd Life. If that’s not enough we will also see Vol.2 of Hadee’s Chopped Not Screwed Mixtape series and a music video campaign that will surely cement Rashid Hadee’s place as one of the top producer/emcees in the game. In the meantime, you can stay abreast of everything Rashid Hadee via his Bandcamp page, tumblr and various social sites. We’re also told there may be one more video from Leakage the PrEp.
Rashid Hadee online connects:
http://rashidhadee.bandcamp.com/
http://rashidhadee.tumblr.com/
http://twitter.com/rashidhadee
http://www.facebook.com/rashidhadee
http://www.youtube.com/rashidhadee
http://www.myspace.com/rashidhadee
2011 Featured and Produced singles:
In The Mood – The Primeridian
Chi-Town’s Finest – The Primeridian feat. Slot A x Neak & Rashid Hadee
Be Ever Wonderful – The Primeridian feat. Decay
Everything I Am – Neak
Means The World – F.A.B.L.E x Rashid Hadee x Slot A x Sincerely Yours x Mike Schpitz & NidaNasheeda
You Already Know – Sincerely Yours feat. Neak & Rashid Hadee
Land of Opportunity feat. Rashid Hadee, D.I Verse & K. Sparks (prod. Roads-Art)
Hey Yall – Pugz Atoms feat. The Primeridian & Rashid Hadee (prod. Mulatto Patriot)
Life of a don – Sincerely Yours
Don’t sleep – AprilOctober
Gorgeous – Project Mayhem
Watch Me Now – Neak (prod. Slot A & Rashid Hadee)
The Meeting place – Neak
Got Em Goin – The Primeridian feat. Rashid Hadee
The Small Things – Neak feat. Rashid Hadee & Sincerely Yours
HBRS – The Primeridian feat. Buff-1
Everywhere We Go – Neak feat. Rashid Hadee, Sincerely Yours & Slot A (prod. Trumaine)
Past Produced Projects:
Pugz Atoms – Stormy Mixtape
Thaione Davis – Still Hear
Hadiesel: The Fuel Up
Chopped Not Screwed Vol.1: 808’s & Hadee
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Music Review: Rashid Hadee - Hadiesel: The Fuel Up
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Hip-Hop. It's a lost art form. Nas said it's dead. KRS-One said it lives. And both are right. For ev...Hip-Hop. It's a lost art form. Nas said it's dead. KRS-One said it lives. And both are right. For every lame mainstream act you might hear on the radio trying to sell their product as "rap," there are 10 real emcees rocking an underground crowd somewhere. Rashid Hadee is one of those emcees. And he consistently shows us that Hip-Hop is far from dead. It's just gotta be searched for.
When I arrived at Quincy University for my first year of college back in August of 2005, I was lucky enough to score a gig doing 2 hours of Hip-Hop on the local public radio station. My goal was to enjoy what I did, learn, and give the Quincy listeners something they sorely lacked; real Hip-Hop. A few weeks passed and I stumbled upon an intriguing album in a slim-cover case; Nevermore's Asylum by a duo called Chapter 13.
The flow I dug the most on that record belonged to Rashid Hadee. His bar structure, delivery, and voice really grabbed me and kept me connected to the music. I was instantly a fan. Four years later, Hadee had guest appeared on the show multiple times and his music had been blasted through Quincy's airwaves just about every single Friday.
Fast forward to last night- Hadee's new mixtape Hadiesel: The Fuel Up is released. And an underground catalog that was already crazy sick got even more ill.
Hadee, is an example of what Hip-Hop is. He's not a Hip-Hop artist, he is Hip-Hop. The production, the sampling, the emceeing; musically, his aspectz are legendary. If you think Kanye West is the best rapper/producer out of Chicago, you haven't heard Rashid yet. And after reinventing Kanye's work on his previous mixtape, Chopped Not Screwed: 808's & Hadee, Rashid has triumphantly returned with Hadiesel: The Fuel Up.
The title track gets us right into the mind of the emcee. If the mixtape is the tank, "Hadiesel" is the nozzel prepping us for some highly flammable material. "Look My Way" and "Magnificent" illustrate that Rashid's sample game is still right where it needs to be. On "Magnificent," you'll probably recognize John Legend's voice from Rick Ross' single of the same title. Only this time around, Hadee and featured guests Augustine and Primeridian lay a track that sounds like some classic 90's Buick Regal rap.
The snippet of "Brotherhood" did exactly what it was supposed to. I'm craving more. "People Goin Down" is just nasty. More social consciousness oozes on "A Change Is Gonna Come Part 2" and "Just Like America." "Someday" and "Dazed Enuff" are perfect examples of Hadee at his finest.
From top to bottom, Hadiesel is yet another outstanding effort from Rashid Hadee. And not only did Hadee truly bring it, but he keeps a talented circle around him as well. I'd be remiss if I didn't throw a shout out to the whole crew featured on this project: KING, Augustine, Melatone, Primeridian, Spq-Her, Big Wiz, Thaione Davis, Shogun & Obese all sprinkled their own specialties on the tracks in phenomenal fashion.
From the first time I heard Nevermore's Asylum to the time my computer found 808's & Hadee, my attitude toward Rashid Hadee's craft has never waivered. With Dedication, Serenade For The Moment, It Ain't Hard To Tell, and A Change Gonna Come; Rashid Hadee kept me impressed and kept me wanting more. Now, with Hadiesel, more fuel has been added to the fire that is Rashid Hadee.
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2007 Rap-up: My Dirty Dozen
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This is a bad ass album; definitely overlooked by the masses. Straight up soulful hip hop right here...This is a bad ass album; definitely overlooked by the masses. Straight up soulful hip hop right here! If you’re not familiar with Rashid Hadee, he produced the track “Dreams” for Little Brother’s latest album. The great thing about this cat is that he basically produced his whole album himself. Much respect for that! This album is the U.S. version, which I guess is different from whatever other version is out there. The original version came out in 2005. Why did it take 2 years for this version to hit the U.S.? I don’t know; maybe someone can shed some light on this for me. I gotta admit though, I’d never heard of Rashid before this album. Apparently he comes from a group called Chapter 13. I’m definitely gonna have to go check them out.
Top 3: Surrender, You Can’t Hide, Get You Outta My Head
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Rashid Hadee feat Augustine & Primeridian – MAGNIFICENT (Review)
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As expected from Rashid Hadee, excellent beat composition and sample technique. Hadee compliments th...As expected from Rashid Hadee, excellent beat composition and sample technique. Hadee compliments the beat with clever wordplay and all three artists juggle the beat and pass it with perfection. As far as content they float around between pride, posers, the grind, and magnificent flow. Hadee, overall commanded the track, stepping in and showing his broad range of vocabulary and rhythmic rhyme. I definitely agree that he is “Upper Echelon” as he so modestly put it.
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(5 Star Rating) Seriously underated - Something the radio should be playing
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Chapter 13 has always delivered when it matters, in this day and age when the essence of true Hip-Ho...Chapter 13 has always delivered when it matters, in this day and age when the essence of true Hip-Hop has been forsaken, its nice to hear a sound so refreshing and reminiscent of what Hip-Hop is supposed to sound - Tight beats and well crafted lyricism. Rashid Hadee is so on point with both his lyrics and beats. If you like true Hip-Hop, don't waste time and believe me you will not skip a track. You can also cop the "Nevermore Asylum" CD. both CD's are simply dope!!
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DOWNLOAD: CHOPPED NOT SCREWED VOL.1: 808’S & HADEE [MIXTAPE]
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I first became aware of emcee/producer Rashid Hadee through his work with Pugs Atomz and recently wi...I first became aware of emcee/producer Rashid Hadee through his work with Pugs Atomz and recently with DJ K.O. and the Beat Society*Picture This remix he did for “That Knack”. He’s back with a new mixtape entitled Chopped Not Screwed Vol.1: 808’s & Hadee. Known as the go to producer of Chicago when you want that good ole soulful boom bap, Rashid Hadee has decided to pay homage to the home team on the first installment of his Chopped Not Screwed mixtape series. It features a couple of members from his Chapter 13 crew (Augustine & Melatone), Decay of The Molemen and Chicago veterans Pugs Atomz and The Primeridian. Chopped Not Screwed Vol.1: 808’s & Hadee is about the artistic expression of the producer and the rapper. Enjoy!
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Rashid Hadee – Change Gon Come (Hosted by Big Pooh)
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I swooped this mixtape from Pugs Atomz a few days ago but decided to wait until the official release...I swooped this mixtape from Pugs Atomz a few days ago but decided to wait until the official release date. Unfamiliar with Rashid Hadee, the emcee/producer from the Chi? Check Little Brother’s Dreams off Getback. He also spoke during the Twelve Days of Getback (Day 10). Featuring Little Brother, Pugs Atomz, Donwill (of Tanya Morgan), Decay and more this is definitely not something to pass up.
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Review: Thaione Davis – Still Hear (2009)
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It amazes me how really great artists slip past even the underground heads sometimes. Thaione Davis...It amazes me how really great artists slip past even the underground heads sometimes. Thaione Davis’ Still Hear came up in the mix today and maaaaaaaaaaannnnn… This album is so dope. Entirely produced by Rashid Hadee, this is one seriously soulful slab of hip hop.
I had heard Thaione on other peoples projects (his collaborations with Modill are particularly good), but never saw a full length album from him. One day a few months ago, Rashid Hadee updated his Myspace status with “Thaione Davis album produced by me out now!”, or something like that. I immediately hit up iTunes and got my download on.
This album could appeal to almost anyone. Rashid’s production is buttery smooth and soulfully sample-tastic. If you were smart enough to check Rashid’s solo album, “Dedication”, you know exactly what to expect. Dude is a pro with the samples. Even when you know the samples, he still wrecks it like none other. For instance, the track on Still Hear, Inside Your Mind. We’ve all heard Dorothy Ashby sampled to death. Pete Rock, Diamond D, Homelis Derelix, you name it. Rashid still makes it fresh.
Productions
It’s a very well rounded affair, though. It’s not one banger after another. Rashid is definitely a producer to watch out for (on the beats and outside of beat making as well). Still Hear flows like a good hip hop album should, ups and down, it bangs and it gets smoothed out. It’s one of those albums that will replay without you noticing. He’ll move you with some good old fashion soul samples in one song, take you back to ’93 with some crazy jazz horns in another, and then break your neck with the ill reggae sample and 808 kicks. It’s all on there.
Rashid is no slouch on the mic either. He’s featured on a gang of tracks and he’s really coming into his own. I’m not totally sold on all of his content, but he’s got a very demanding presence and his word play is nice, real nice. His verse on Highest Regards is a perfect example of his presence and word play, “I’m like a urinal, I don’t take no shit”.
Rhymes
But, this isn’t a Rashid Hadee album. It’s Thaione Davis’ album, and he owns every second of the album. When he’s not on the mic, you’re waiting for his return. Dude is tragically slept on.
I really don’t know where to start when it comes to what Thaione does on this album. I guess for starters, he respects his craft. This is evident within the first few tracks. He loves what he does and is very deliberate about his writing. He’s not one of those emcees who’s going to “Joe Budden” his career and release piss it away with countless mixtapes and pointless “freestyles”. He knows people are listening, so he makes every word count. This is one of those albums that you’ll be catching lyrical references that you never heard before, even on 100th listen.
Life
Content wise, Thaione is a human being. I hate to use the word “real”, he’s human. He speaks about experiences in his life. He lets us into his Chicago life. Whether its the heart wrenching Inside Your mind, about differences with a lady friend… or he a Rashid’s ode to just getting by, Faces Of The Hood, he just speaks from the soul about his own experiences. This is very refreshing to me personally.
His voice and flow are very unique also. I think the first time I heard Thaione was on Modill’s song Touchdown. As a huge Modill and emcee Racecar fan, I wouldn’t throw these words around, he straight up PILFERED that joint!! I couldn’t even hear Racecar! Thaione’s voice and flow just stole the show. On ”Still Hear” you get that feeling throughout the whole album. He’s just a breath of fresh air in my opinion.
The stand out track on the is easily Subliminal. It’s three minutes of ridiculous braggadocio and word play over the hardest Rashid Hadee track I’ve ever heard. No chorus, no bridge, no verse, no guests, just Thaione spitting his ass off. With guitars tearing your ear drums open and words pounding them raw, it’s just hip hop for hip hop’s sake. Beautiful.
I’m sure some may have beef with Thaione Davis and the album isn’t without slight missteps here and there. But for an album that slipped under the radar, it’s a consistently solid, soulful effort.
supersonic
