Ihsan

IHSAN
Biography

Ihsan Muhammad sings in the key of the divine feminine. Manhattan born, Jersey bred, and Brooklyn steeped, the East Orange native continues in the body rocking tradition of hiphop artist and actress, Queen Latifah, and rap group, Naughty By Nature, also from E.O. Ihsan rhymes, sings, and chants down desires and trials that are not always pretty yet provoke thought and move the crowd.

As a singer, songwriter, playwright, model, and poet, Ihsan houses an amalgam of women under one mind. And then there's the groove… Singing with depth of feeling and bass, Ihsan delivers music inspired by hiphop, Senegalese, R&B, and house percussion beats. On stage she channels a Jamaican rude gal sexy style and a female version of classic rapper, Rakim, to make people wind their waists and bob their heads in unison.

Ihsan has performed on the New York spoken word and underground club scene since graduating from the University of Rochester. Since she also studied theater at the University of London, Ihsan decided she would spread her ideas of love and urban girl philosophy through song, spoken word, and dance. She created her own series of hiphop education youth workshops that were conducted in sixteen New York City public schools in addition to New York University, Barnard College and Alvin Ailey Dance Camp. As a poet, she has opened for Isaac Hayes, India Arie and Erykah Badu. She has appeared as a featured poet in the Rap the Vote campaign, the Oxygen Network's Trackers and on MTV produced programs.

She was also a Click Model and featured in Essence magazine in 2000. In 2001 she co-wrote a play with her brother, Benu called "We Ain't From Around Here Beats" which they also starred in and performed at the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe. In 2004 she was featured on the Bastone and Burnz’s remixes of Rod Stewart’s classic "If Ya think I'm Sexy".

Influenced by Bob Marley, Lenny Kravitz, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Lauryn Hill, Ihsan embodies candor and rich vocal resonance. She says of her musical prowess "I do what I do for the sake of playing. I like to enjoy myself and do inspired and excellent things for others. I essentially and fundamentally want everyone to enjoy themselves, their relationships and their work through my music. I will always be responsible to my audience." Ihsan draws her audience to face truth and boogie. In 2005 Ihsan will travel across the country to different universities teaching sustainability and leadership building workshops. Concerts hosted by Ihsan and other performing artists will accompany each workshop series.

Ihsan combines the bluesy funk quality of Jill Scott and expansive imagination of Erykah Badu and sends you through her rhythm back to your deepest nature.