Hichkas

Hichkas

Soroush Lashkary (born May 10, 1985 / Persian: سروش لشکری) better known by his stage name Hichkas (Persian: هیچکس, meaning "nobody" ) is a rap artist from Iran. Despite being one of the most popular hiphop acts in the country, he has never received official permission to release his music on CD. (Most western-style music is banned in the country.)

Career

Biography

ُSoroush Lashkary graduated from Raoof High School in Tehran in 2003. Soon after he started one of the first rap groups based in Tehran called "021" (Tehran's area code).

Releases

His first songs were mostly in English and about social problems in Iran. Then he began rapping in Persian because it is easier for him to express his feelings in it. After releasing some songs, Hichkas started to experiment with different styles in rap, and now listeners can hear a different style in each of his songs. Hichkas has also had songs on different subjects like unity in "Baa Ham", treachery in "Pedar Khaandeh", and duets with artists like Saman (Wilson) from Zedbazi in "Vase Har Irani".

Hichkas' track "Tripe Ma" The Way We Are, was produced by one of the earliest composers to mix Persian traditional instruments with Western hip hop beats, Shahin Pajoom. Hichkas' first album, Jangal e Asfalt translated as The Asphalt Jungle, featured 11 new songs further exploring the combination of Persian instruments with Western beats, composed and produced by Iranian hip hop producer, Mahdyar Aghajani. The album also featured British Iranian rapper Reveal from Poisonous Poets on a number of its songs. It was released on iTunes first and then became available to buy from his official website for a limited time.

He created the 021 group and his first album was "The Asphalt Jungle/ Persian:جنگل آسفالت " produced by then 17 year old underground musician Mahdyar Aghajani but he could not release it legally in Iran. The regime disapproved of the content. Hich Kas' lyrics have touched on government indifference towards the public, unemployment, and violence in daily life. He also created Saamet records (Biggest Persian Rap underground group.

In the Media

His first appearance in the media was in 2006 with the world premiere of Amir Hamz`and Mark Lazarz` documentary film "Sounds of Silence" at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. The film covered the Underground Music Scene of Tehran and starred Hichkas, along with O-Hum, Mohsen Namjoo and many more pioneers of contemporary Iranian music. "Sounds of Silence" and Hichkas rap skills then has been shown around the world at numerous film festivals and also was shown on TV across the globe. His latest song "Bunch of Soldiers" (Persian:يه مشت سرباز) is a hit on YouTube. He was interviewed on The Daily Show by correspondent Jason Jones on June 25, 2009, during Jones's 10-day visit to Iran. He also did a special venue for Haider Azam at Paddington Underground on the 10th December.

Filmography

• "Tirippe Ma" (The Way We Are) (2004) Music Video edited by Fred Khoshtinat
• "Sounds of Silence" (2006) Documentary Film by Amir Hamz`and Mark Lazarz`
• "Ye Mosht Sarbaz" Bunch of Soldiers (2008) Music Video directed and edited by Fred Khoshtinat
• "No One Knows About Persian Cats" (2009) Feature Film directed by Bahman Ghobadi, Music Video sequences edited by Fred Khoshtinat.

Discography

• "Tirippe Ma" The Way We Are - Hichkas track produced by Shahin Pajoom. (2003)
• "Jangale Asfalt" The Asphalt Jungle - Hichkas album, produced by Mahdyar Aghajani. (2006) buy on iTunes
• "Ye Mosht Sarbaz" A Bunch of Soldiers, Hichkas single, produced by Mahdyar Aghajani. (2008)
• "Long Live Palestine, Part II" - Lowkey track featuring Hichkas, Reveal, Dam, The Narcicyst, Eslam Jawad, Hasan Salaam and Shadia Mansour, produced by Nutty P. (2010)
• "Ye Rooze Khoob Miad" A Good Day Will Come - Hichkas track, produced by Mahdyar Aghajani (2010)