Soroush Lashkari (; born 9 May 1985), known professionally as Hichkas ( ; ), is an Iranian rapper and singer-songwriter. Credited with popularizing Persian hip hop to the Iranian people and other Persian-speaking countries such as Afghanistan and Tajikistan, Hichkas' national success and acclaimed works are widely regarded as having broken the barriers that were in place by the Islamic regime for the acceptance of rappers in popular music. Hichkas is considered one of the pioneers of Iranian hip hop and is nicknamed "Father of Persian Rap" by his fans. Nasir Shakouri. Chelcheragh Magazine, September 2006, No. 225, p. 16. He became a representation of the Iranian underclass and reflected the angst of young Iranians. He has been influential for many artists of various genres and is often cited as one of the greatest rappers of Iranian hip hop.
Hichkas is also the founder of the label 021 (alongside Shayan and Yashar) which is considered the first Persian hip hop group. After that, he founded the labels Saamet (alongside Reza Pishro and Reveal), and Moltafet (alongside Ali Quf, Fadaei, and Dariush). Hichkas' songs are themed around social and cultural issues in Iran and his lyrical ability and influence pervade the hip-hop and rap genre, placing him at the forefront of contemporary Iranian music, inspiring a new generation of Iranian songwriters and artists. Hichkas' first album Jangale Asfalt (; The Asphalt-paved Jungle) was the first Iranian hip-hop album released in 2005. Hichkas' early releases combined traditional Persian instruments and urban beats to create a hybrid genre, a combination of East and West.
In addition to performance, Hichkas' work further spans into art direction, production, and artist development, working closely with up-and-coming artists, providing mentoring and coaching, and consistently being the inspiration behind many Iranian urban artists. He has appeared as a guest speaker at many universities including Oxford University, Cambridge University, and University of Calgary discussing Iranian poetry, the Iranian underground music scene, and the effects of the Internet on music publishing in Iran.
Hichkas has collaborated with a number of international hip hop artists, including American hip hop artist Kool G Rap. His highly anticipated second album Mojaz (; permissible) was released in March 2020, 8 years after its initial announcement.Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. viii, 88, 324.
Early life Soroush Lashkari was born on 9 May 1985, in Tehran, Iran and is the son of a family of five. He lived in Germany until he was two years old and then lived in the Vanak neighborhood of Tehran. He was studying translation at Garmsar University but dropped out of college for personal reasons and in order to pursue Persian hip hop. His father is from the Ziaabad village of Qazvin and has a family relationship with Hossein Lashkari (pilot of Iran's Air Force who was captured in Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war). Hichkas currently lives in London after emigrating to Great Britain in the aftermath of the 2009 Iranian presidential election protests. He is married to the British-based Iranian feminist activist Azadeh Akbari.
In his early years, Hichkas was known for founding a supergroup called 021 (the area code for Tehran). Around 2003, he started his music career in the Vanak neighborhood, participating in Persian free-styling with people who also covered some English language songs in rap battles. Hichkas gained attention when he began rapping in Persian about social problems and the younger generation in Iran. Hichkas' early releases combined traditional Iranian instruments and urban beats to create a hybrid genre, a combination of East and West.
Discography
Studio albums Jangale Asfalt (2006) +The Asphalt Jungle (2006)#TitleproducerTime1IntroMahdyar Aghajani1:222Dideh va DelMahdyar Aghajani4:513EkhtelafMahdyar Aghajani3:424Man VaistadamMahdyar Aghajani4:065Moghaddameh GhanoonMahdyar Aghajani0:316GhanoonMahdyar Aghajani4:107Vatan ParastMahdyar Aghajani4:148Oon ManamMahdyar Aghajani3:399BarpaMahdyar Aghajani3:1310ZendanMahdyar Aghajani3:3011Dideh va Del - RemixMahdyar Aghajani3:50
Mojaz (2020) +Mojaz (2020)#TitleProducerTime1RosvaMahdyar Aghajani4:402To Koja Boodi?Mahdyar Aghajani3:553Sakhte Mosalmoon BoodanMahdyar Aghajani3:154Ghazi Mano Doost DashtMahdyar Aghajani3:405Man Kiam?Mahdyar Aghajani5:546Chera Nemimiri?Mahdyar Aghajani, Hekmat4:417Az Ashnayitoon KhoshhalamMahdyar Aghajani4:448Khalafkaraye AsliMahdyar Aghajani, Hekmat4:069Shabi GorgaMahdyar Aghajani, Hekmat5:3110Teroreshoon KonMahdyar Aghajani3:1611Jadval o RoyaMahdyar Aghajani3:4212Sheytoone MigeMahdyar Aghajani, Hassan3:1413Ye MaksMahdyar Aghajani, Hassan3:5614Ki Mige?Mahdyar Aghajani2:4415Mahze MokhalefatMahdyar Aghajani3:2116Va ZirMahdyar Aghajani1:44
Compilation albums Anjām Vazife (The Tour of Duty EP) produced by Mahdyar Aghajani (2011)
International collaborations Young N Foolish (featuring Kool G Rap, Reveal, Quf) produced by Mahdyar Aghajani (2012) "Long Live Palestine, Part II" (Lowkey featuring Hichkas, Reveal, Dam, Narcy, Eslam Jawaad, Hasan Salaam, and Shadia Mansour) produced by Nutty P (2010)
As featured artist "Boro Jolo" (with Reza Pishro) (2007) "Divoone" (with Reza Pishro) (2007) "Long Live Palestine, Part II" (Lowkey featuring Hichkas, Reveal, Dam, Narcy, Eslam Jawaad, Hasan Salaam, and Shadia Mansour) produced by Nutty P (2010) "Chera Badi?" (with Zedbazi) (Why Are You So Mean?) (2012) produced by Alireza JJ "Chi Shenidi?" (with Fadaei) (2012) Single 2024 Dishab Ye Basiji Koshtam - (I killed a basiji last night) Rooye Jenazat Miraghsam - (I dance on your corpse)
Filmography Trip e Ma (Our Style) (2004), music video edited by Fred Khoshtinat Ye Mosht Sarbaz (A Bunch of Soldiers) (2008), music video directed by Fred Khoshtinat, with guest appearances by Mahdyar Aghajani, Reveal, Reza Pishro, Ali Quf, Atour and Bahram Nouraei. Sections of the video are included in the Cultures of Resistance full-length documentary feature film by Iara Lee. No One Knows About Persian Cats (2009) feature film directed by Bahman Ghobadi, which won an Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize Ex-aequo at the Cannes Film Festival.
See also Reza Pishro Yas Bahram Fadaei Iranian hip hop List of Iranian musicians Music of Iran Persian pop music Rock and alternative music in Iran
References
External links