Imaan Faith

Like a Cool breeze that refreshes and tantalizes, Imaan Faith is sweeping through the hip-hop/pop landscape, energizing the masses and giving us new perspective on music.

Born in Tehran and schooled on the tough streets of three continents, Imaan, who now calls Toronto home, brings an intriguing message of peace, positivity and more importantly, the truth.

His debut album “Let The Truth Be Known” (G.U.T.S./DEP/Universal) was released in March 2008, hitting the Soundscan Charts at an impressive 6 in its first week. The video for the first single, “Haven’t Seen U Smile” earned quick praise, scooping an Honorable Mention award at the 2008 Toronto Reel World Film Festival and becoming one of the first urban videos to receive a ‘featured’ selection on YouTube.com, with more than 360,000 views and counting.

A cast of heavyweights worked on his debut album, which includes contributions from Mopreme Shakur and Big Syke, part of ‘Pac’s Thug Life crew, who worked on the lead single. Tupac Shakur’s former producer, Johnny J, Juno-winning rapper Snow and DJ-producer Clinton Sparks also worked alongside special guests Freeway, TQ, Colby O’Donnis and others to produce this magical album.

A huge fan of Tupac, Imaan’s flow pays props to his idol, but carves out his own identity in the process. Imaan’s growing presence within Toronto’s Persian urban music community matches his clout across the globe - in Los Angeles, New York and of course in Iran, thanks to an active Internet buzz and his cleverly-produced videos.

The ‘Hip-Hop Prince of Persia’ discovered the scene through ‘Pac’s classic album, Me Against The World.

“That album kind of snuck up on me,” Imaan remembers of the disc that propelled Tupac into international stardom. It mesmerized me.”

Imaan’s journey began in 1986 when his family left Iran and moved to Turkey. They stayed a few years, then after a brief stop in Denmark, the family moved to Toronto in 1986.

His brother, Ali, witnessed first hand the rise of this burgeoning star and quickly launched G.U.T.S. Records to help push this bright new talent to the world. Selling the family cars and channeling all their savings into the album, it truly became a family affair.

Faith in God and his talent has not only given Imaan strength to persevere in the fickle hip-hop industry, but also to deal with personal health problems that might have felled lesser men. Imaan has glaucoma in his both eyes, and while his sight may have fallen, his vision of the future never wavered. It’s a condition he shares with US freedom fighter Dr. Mutulu Shakur, the incarcerated adoptive father of Tupac who Imaan regularly corresponds with for advice on everything from health issues to music.

“After a recent surgery (six and counting), I’d be laying in my bed and I felt there was so much for me to do,” he says, explaining that regular meditation and repeated chants of Chinese mantras helped speed up the healing process. “I wasn’t ready to quit or give up. This ordeal has made me stronger.”

This strength is evident on his debut album “Let The Truth be Known” (2008) which deftly weaves personal stories of faith and redemption. Sure winners on the 18-track disc include the soulful “Haven’t seen u smile feat: Mopreme Shakur & Big Syke”, future club banger “Wanna Be Loved feat: Colby’O Donis””, and a stunning ‘bonus track,’ Everything else is everything else (featuring Freeway).

With the help of family, friends and a growing list of global supporters eager to see his success, Imaan Faith is moving the figurative pieces around the chessboard, eyeing a hip-hop checkmate when the world will know his truth, and by extension ours too.

© 2012 Faith Music