Hichkas

{{Short description|Iranian rapper (born 1985)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Hichkas | image = Hichkas .jpg | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = Hichkas in London 2011 | native_name = هیچ‌کس | native_name_lang = fa | birth_name = Soroush Lashkari | alias = Hichkas | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|5|9|df=yes}} | birth_place = Tehran, Iran | origin = | genre = {{hlist|Persian rap| electronic music|persian hip hop}} | occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|singer|songwriter|music producer}} | instrument = | years_active = 1999–present<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2009/10/political-hip-hop.html|title=Political Hip-Hop|date=2009-10-17|access-date=2021-06-05|website=Public Broadcasting Service|last=Ovaisy|first=Saya}}</ref> | label = {{hlist|}} | associated_acts = {{hlist|Moltafet|Mahdyar Aghajani}} | website = {{URL|http://www.hichkas.me/}} | module = }} '''Soroush Lashkari''' ({{langx|fa|سروش لشکری}}; born 9 May 1985), known professionally as '''Hichkas''' ({{lang|fa|هیچ‌کس}} {{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|ɪ|tʃ|ˌ|k|æ|s}}; {{lit|nobody}}), is an Iranian rapper and singer-songwriter.<ref name=bbc>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4973690.stm|title=Iran's underground music challenge|date=2006-05-08|access-date=2021-06-05|website=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.makemusicnotwar.org/issues/soundresistance_iran.php |title=IRAN: HISTORIES OF MUSICAL RESISTANCE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118072609/http://www.makemusicnotwar.org/issues/soundresistance_iran.php |archive-date=2008-01-18 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{in lang|fa}} Nasir Shakouri. Chelcheragh Magazine, September 2006, No. 225, p. 16.</ref><ref name="hamshahri"/> 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'' ({{langx|fa|جنگل آسفالت}}; The Asphalt-paved Jungle) was the first Iranian hip-hop album released in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://culturesofresistancefilms.com/music|title=Music | Cultures of Resistance Films|website=culturesofresistancefilms.com|date=24 November 2020 }}</ref> Hichkas' early releases combined traditional Persian instruments and urban beats to create a hybrid genre, a combination of East and West.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU1NNAH6b_g|title = Hich-Kas: Bunch of Soldiers (Music Video)|website = YouTube| date=13 May 2008 }}</ref>

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,<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=siKaDQAAQBAJ&q=hichkas+oxford+university&pg=PA323 |title = Soundtrack of the Revolution: The Politics of Music in Iran|isbn = 9781503600966|last1 = Siamdoust|first1 = Nahid|date = 2017-01-18| publisher=Stanford University Press }}</ref> Cambridge University, and University of Calgary<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWGTqKSSBRs|title = هیچکس (سروش لشکری) - دانشگاه کلگری کانادا - Part 1|website = YouTube| date=20 March 2013 }}</ref> 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'' ({{langx|fa|مجاز}}; permissible) was released in March 2020, 8 years after its initial announcement.<ref name="autogeneratedviii">Edwards, Paul, 2009, ''How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC'', Chicago Review Press, p. viii, 88, 324.</ref><ref name="Arnold">{{cite web |last=Arnold |first=Paul W |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/interviews/id.1051/title.kool-g-rap-these-are-our-heroes |title=Kool G Rap: These Are Our Heroes | Rappers Talk Hip Hop Beef & Old School Hip Hop |publisher=HipHop DX |date=March 5, 2008 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003202621/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/interviews/id.1051/title.kool-g-rap-these-are-our-heroes |archive-date=October 3, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://iranwire.com/en/features/6973|title=Instagram Shuts Down the Account of Popular Iranian Singer Accused of Child Grooming|website=IranWire | خانه}}</ref>

In his early years, Hichkas was known for founding a supergroup called 021 (the area code for Tehran).<ref name="hamshahri"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.magiran.com/Error/NotFound?aspxerrorpath=/npview.asp?ID=1209749|title=Magiran|website=www.magiran.com}}</ref> 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.<ref name="hamshahri"/> Hichkas gained attention when he began rapping in Persian about social problems and the younger generation in Iran.<ref name="hamshahri">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamshahrionline.ir/print-17824.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717235439/http://www.hamshahrionline.ir/print-17824.aspx|url-status=dead|title=Hamshahri Newspaper|archive-date=July 17, 2011}}</ref> 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''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/jangale-asfalt/1347952696|title=Jangale Asfalt by Hichkas|website=Apple Music|date=October 2006|access-date=2020-11-29|archive-date=2020-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215232555/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/jangale-asfalt/1347952696|url-status=dead}}</ref> (2006) {| class="wikitable" |+The Asphalt Jungle (2006) !# !Title !producer !Time |- |1 |Intro |Mahdyar Aghajani |1:22 |- |2 |Dideh va Del |Mahdyar Aghajani |4:51 |- |3 |Ekhtelaf |Mahdyar Aghajani |3:42 |- |4 |Man Vaistadam |Mahdyar Aghajani |4:06 |- |5 |Moghaddameh Ghanoon |Mahdyar Aghajani |0:31 |- |6 |Ghanoon |Mahdyar Aghajani |4:10 |- |7 |Vatan Parast |Mahdyar Aghajani |4:14 |- |8 |Oon Manam |Mahdyar Aghajani |3:39 |- |9 |Barpa |Mahdyar Aghajani |3:13 |- |10 |Zendan |Mahdyar Aghajani |3:30 |- |11 |Dideh va Del - Remix |Mahdyar Aghajani |3:50 |} {| class="wikitable" |} * ''Mojaz''<ref>{{Citation|title=Mojaz by Hichkas|date=31 March 2020|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/mojaz/1498604098|language=en-US|access-date=2021-08-17|archive-date=2021-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817133455/https://music.apple.com/us/album/mojaz/1498604098|url-status=dead}}</ref> (2020) {| class="wikitable" |+Mojaz (2020) !# !Title !Producer !Time |- |1 |Rosva |Mahdyar Aghajani |4:40 |- |2 |To Koja Boodi? |Mahdyar Aghajani |3:55 |- |3 |Sakhte Mosalmoon Boodan |Mahdyar Aghajani |3:15 |- |4 |Ghazi Mano Doost Dasht |Mahdyar Aghajani |3:40 |- |5 |Man Kiam? |Mahdyar Aghajani |5:54 |- |6 |Chera Nemimiri? |Mahdyar Aghajani, Hekmat |4:41 |- |7 |Az Ashnayitoon Khoshhalam |Mahdyar Aghajani |4:44 |- |8 |Khalafkaraye Asli |Mahdyar Aghajani, Hekmat |4:06 |- |9 |Shabi Gorga |Mahdyar Aghajani, Hekmat |5:31 |- |10 |Teroreshoon Kon |Mahdyar Aghajani |3:16 |- |11 |Jadval o Roya |Mahdyar Aghajani |3:42 |- |12 |Sheytoone Mige |Mahdyar Aghajani, Hassan |3:14 |- |13 |Ye Maks |Mahdyar Aghajani, Hassan |3:56 |- |14 |Ki Mige? |Mahdyar Aghajani |2:44 |- |15 |Mahze Mokhalefat |Mahdyar Aghajani |3:21 |- |16 |Va Zir |Mahdyar Aghajani |1:44 |}

===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)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.youchu.be/watch?v=ezAoSTgiM8E&listen=false | title=Hichkas - Dishab Ye Basiji Koshtam | access-date=2024-06-04 | archive-date=2024-06-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604064613/https://m.youchu.be/watch?v=ezAoSTgiM8E&listen=false | url-status=dead }}</ref> *Rooye Jenazat Miraghsam - (I dance on your corpse) <ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.youchu.be/watch?v=nKY6vq97MzI&listen=false | title=Hichkas - Rooye Jenazat Miraghsam | access-date=2024-06-04 | archive-date=2024-06-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604064610/https://m.youchu.be/watch?v=nKY6vq97MzI&listen=false | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==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.

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links ==  * {{Official website|https://www.hichkas.me/}} * {{IMDb name|3090126}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hichkas}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Iranian hip-hop musicians Category:21st-century Iranian male singers Category:Singers from Tehran Category:Iranian record producers Category:Iranian songwriters Category:Iranian political music artists