{{Short description|American singer, songwriter, and filmmaker}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Mo Sabri | image = Mo sabri performing live 1.jpg | caption = | birth_name = Mo Sabri | origin = Johnson City, Tennessee, US | occupation = singer-songwriter, producer, musician | years_active = 2010–present | genre = Pop, Country, Hip hop, Alternative, acoustic | instrument = Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, percussion, piano | website = {{url|mosabri.com}} }} '''Mo Sabri''' is an American singer, songwriter, and filmmaker from Johnson City, Tennessee.<ref name="BBC Interview">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03rn8v7 |title=How do you get an invitation to breakfast with Obama?|work=BBC|author=Noreen Khan|date=April 20, 2016 |accessdate=June 28, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Huffington Post 1">{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/08/muslim-music-hip-hop-country_n_3561487.html|title=Muslim Music for a New Generation: Who Says Hip-Hop Can't Be Islamic?|work=Huffington Post|author=Bob Smietana|accessdate=July 12, 2013|date=July 8, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Johnson City Press 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/article/103862|title=Local Muslim artist brings peace message in new song|work=Johnson City Press|author=Jennifer Sprouse|accessdate=July 7, 2013}}</ref> He first rose to prominence on YouTube and is a musician credited by ''The Washington Post'' with transforming his subgenre of music.<ref name="Washington Post">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/young-muslim-musicians-marry-faith-hip-hop-rock-n-roll/2013/07/03/79014c04-e40d-11e2-bffd-37a36ddab820_story.html|title=Young Muslim musicians marry faith, hip-hop, rock 'n' roll|newspaper=Washington Post|author=Bob Smietana|accessdate=July 7, 2013}}</ref> Also known for his fashion choices, Sabri has been featured in Vogue<ref name="Vogue">{{cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/grammys-red-carpet-celebrity-fashion#96|title=Grammy Awards 2018: Fashion|work=Vogue|date=January 28, 2018 |accessdate=January 14, 2022}}</ref> and named "Best Dressed" at the Grammy Awards.<ref name="TV Guide">{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/galleries/grammy-awards-2017-best-dressed/23/|title=Grammy Awards 2017: Best Dressed|work=TV Guide|accessdate=April 26, 2017}}</ref> In February 2013, the positive impact of his music received further recognition and he was invited to Washington D.C. to attend breakfast with President Barack Obama.<ref name="BBC Interview" /><ref name="Johnson City Press 2" /><ref name="Aslan Media" /> Sabri's first album, ''The Overnight Classic'', debuted as one of the top five highest-selling albums on the iTunes World chart during its first week in 2012.<ref name="Aslan Media" />
== Early life ==
Mo Sabri was born in Johnson City, Tennessee to Pakistani immigrants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/muslim-rapper-offers-virtuous-alternative-to-mainstream-music/1746997.html|title=Muslim Rapper Offers Virtuous Alternative to Mainstream Music|first=Jerome|last=Socolovsky|date=September 10, 2013 |publisher=}}</ref> After playing double bass in his middle school orchestra, Mo Sabri taught himself to play guitar and started recording rap songs in high school.<ref name="DesiHits 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.desihits.com/news/view/dh-interview-mo-sabri-is-the-overnight-classic-20110106|title=DH! Interview: Mo Sabri is the 'Overnight Classic'|work=DesiHits!|author=Zaynah Rashid|accessdate=July 7, 2013}}</ref><ref name="DesiHits 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.desihits.com/news/view/mo-sabri-represents-johnson-city-tennessee-20110405|title=Mo Sabri Represents 'Johnson City, Tennessee'|work=DesiHits!|author=Zaynah Rashid|accessdate=July 7, 2013}}</ref> He started performing concerts worldwide when he was still a pre-medicine student at East Tennessee State University.<ref name="Johnson City Press 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/article/104400|title=Local Musician to attend National Prayer Breakfast in D.C|work=Johnson City Press|author=Rex Barber|accessdate=July 7, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Huffington Post 2">{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carl-medearis/muslims-who-follow-jesus_b_2436538.html |title=Muslims Who Follow Jesus|work=Huffington Post|author=Carl Medearis|accessdate=July 12, 2013|date=January 9, 2013}}</ref> He graduated from college in 2013 and became a full-time recording artist.
== Career == Mo Sabri first rose to prominence at a local level after the online release of his song "Johnson City, Tennessee" in 2011.<ref name="Yahoo! Music">{{cite news|url=https://rising.yahoo.com/post/127109309628/see-it-first-mo-sabri-shines-the-light-in-new|title=Mo Sabri Shines 'The Light' in New Video|work=Yahoo! Music|author=Billy Johnson Jr.|accessdate=June 28, 2016|date=August 19, 2015}}</ref> He started to tour nationally and internationally while releasing more songs on his YouTube channel and continued to gain popularity worldwide. His music videos have received millions of views<ref name="Washington Post" /> and feature cameos by celebrities including Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten,<ref name="Aslan Media">{{cite web|url=http://aslanmedia.com/mideast-music/21335-opening-minds-and-defying-stereotypes-mo-sabri-s-pursuit-of-cultural-and-musical-harmony|title=Opening Minds and Defying Stereotypes: Mo Sabri's Pursuit of Cultural and Musical Harmony|work=Aslan Media|author=Alysia Madan|accessdate=July 7, 2013}},</ref> Detroit Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris,<ref name="Johnson City Press 1" /> Congressman Phil Roe, comedian Aziz Ansari,<ref name="DesiHits 3">{{cite web|url=http://www.desihits.com/news/view/mo-sabri-is-feeling-the-love-20101229|title=Mo Sabri is Feeling the 'Love'|work=DesiHits!|author=Zaynah Rashid|accessdate=July 7, 2013}}</ref> and rapper B.o.B.<ref name="DesiHits 3" />
Mo Sabri was a headlining artist at the BBC-sponsored 2011 Cardiff Mela festival in Cardiff, Wales.<ref name="BBC 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/cardiff-multicultural-mela/pages/intro.shtml|title=Cardiff Multicultural Mela Introduction|work=BBC Wales Music|author=|accessdate=July 7, 2013}}</ref><ref name="BBC 2">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/events/melas/2011/cardiff/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315071907/http://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/events/melas/2011/cardiff/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 15, 2016|title=A Summer of Melas|work=BBC Asian Network|author=BBC Asian Network|accessdate=July 7, 2013}}</ref>
At the 59th Grammy Awards, Sabri wore a high-fashion sherwani on the red carpet<ref name="AOL">{{cite web|url=https://www.aol.com/article/entertainment/2017/02/12/grammys-2017-red-carpet-arrivals/21712407/#slide=4438460#fullscreen|title=Grammy Awards 2017: Red carpet arrivals|work=AOL|accessdate=April 26, 2017}}</ref> and made multiple best-dressed lists.<ref name="TV Guide" />
Sabri has been featured in national and international press including Huffington Post, The Washington Post, BBC, GEO TV, and Voice of America.<ref name="BBC Interview"/><ref name="Washington Post" /><ref name="Huffington Post 2" /><ref name="BBC 1" /><ref name="BBC 2" /><ref name="Voice of America">{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/muslim-rapper-offers-virtuous-alternative-to-mainstream-music/1746997.html|title=Muslim Rapper Offers Virtuous Alternative to Mainstream Music|work=Voice of America|author=Jerome Socolovsky|date=September 10, 2013 |access-date=November 5, 2013}}</ref>
== Musical style == Mo Sabri's music falls into the alternative hip hop genre.<ref name="Huffington Post 1" /> His lyrics touch on subjects such as love, society, personal struggles, religion, and it has been said that his music "transcends politics and religion".<ref name="Aslan Media" /> Some of his songs carry an underlying message of faith.<ref name="Washington Post" /> Several of his songs have South Asian (also known as "Desi") instrumental influences.<ref name="DesiHits 1" />
== Discography == Mo Sabri's debut album, ''The Overnight Classic'', was released in January 2012 and was one of the top five highest-selling albums on the iTunes World chart<ref name="Aslan Media" /> for its first week. He is currently recording his second album.<ref name="Twitter 1">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/TheMoSabri/status/485885509932437504/|title=Tweet|work=Twitter|author=|accessdate=July 6, 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714214739/https://twitter.com/TheMoSabri/status/485885509932437504/|archivedate=July 14, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
===Albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of albums, with year released ! scope="col" style="width:11em;" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:16em;" | Album details |- !scope="row"|''The Overnight Classic''<ref name="Aslan Media" /> | * Released: January 1, 2012 * Format: CD, Digital download |- |}
==Videography== *2009: "What's Your Name Again?" *2011: "Johnson City, Tennessee" *2012: "Heaven Is Where Her Heart Is" *2012: "Jesus" *2015: "The Light"
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links == {{wikiquote}} * {{Official website}} <!-- per WP:ELMINOFFICIAL, choose one official website only -->
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sabri, Mo}} Category:Living people Category:People from Johnson City, Tennessee Category:Musicians from Tennessee Category:American people of Pakistani descent Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:East Tennessee State University alumni Category:Muslims from Tennessee Category:21st-century American rappers Category:21st-century American male musicians