Zedbazi

Zedbazi

Zedbazi performing in London (2006)
Background information
Origin Tehran, Iran
Genres Hip hop, rap rock, trance, dance, electronic
Years active 2002–present
Labels Radio Javan
Website zedbaziband.com
Members Mehrad Hidden
Saman Wilson
Sohrab MJ

Zedbazi (Persian: زدبازی – Zedbāzi) is an Iranian hip hop band from Tehran. It is one of the most popular bands in Iran, and is known to have marked the beginning of a new movement in the Iranian music.[1] It is also known as the pioneer of gangsta rap in Iran.[2][3]

History

Foundation

Foundation of the band dates back to early 2002. It was started up by Saman Rezapour (Saman Wilson) and Mehrad Mostowfi Rad (Mehrad Hidden), who were friends in a high school in Tehran. Despite having older experiences in musicianship, formation of the band as in a hip hop style was motivated by Saman's cover of Eminem's Without Me, which was performed with a matched vulgar lyrics written in Persian. After moving to London, they met Sohrab Mostavafi (Sohrab MJ) in a summer school, where he joined the band by collaborating on Kal Kal (کل کل – Kal-kal, "Argue"), a cover of D12's Rap Game.

The first collaboration of Siavash Jalali (Sijal) and Alireza Jazayeri (Alireza JJ) with the band's earlier members was Berim Faza (بریم فضا - Berim Fazā, "(Let's) Go to Space"), produced by Alireza JJ in 2005. Siavash and Alireza were best friends in Paris, where they had also met Nassim Parize, an Iranian finalist at the French reality TV show Star Academy (Season 5) with her twin sister, Neissa.

The three future band members officially joined Zedbazi by releasing Tabestoon Kootahe (تابستون کوتاهه – Tābestun Kutāh e, "Summer is Short") in September 2007. They brought a new style into the band, as Mehrad Hidden remarks in Ardeshir Ahmadi's Zedbazi Documentary. "The formula they brought was different than ours. Our formula was necessary for the inception, theirs was necessary for the continuation."[1]

The name Zedbazi (زدبازی – Zedbāzi) consists of the words zed ("Z", the first letter of zakhar) and bāzi ("play" or "action"). Zakhar (زاخار - zāxār, "old") is an old and non-common word in modern Persian language. It is what Saman and his friends used to call each other in high school,[1] and according to the band, it can mean both "an old and close friend" and "an old-fashioned and fusty person"; it depends on the purpose. Therefore, Zedbazi can be translated as "the zakhar acts."

Popularity

Zedbazi in the Iranian Intergalactic Music Festival (October 22, 2006)

Zedbazi emerged at the same time as Hichkas, and rapidly garnered a huge popularity between the youth, due to their controversial lyrics, littered with profanities, depictions of sexual encounters and drug use.[4] They are considered as the first musical band in Iran to use such explicit language.

Tabestoon Kootahe is considered as Zedbazi's most popular song, which was released in September 2007. It is about "the bittersweet feeling" of a summertime in Iran.[4]

Separation

In October 2014, the band announced a separation between the members. It was due to some internal disagreements. Saman Wilson, who had not been attending to the band's songs after Tabestoon Kootahe,[1] returned and joined Mehrad Hidden, forming a new band named Bozorg (بزرگ – Bozorg, "Great"). Alireza JJ, Sijal, and Nassim decided to work together, and Sohrab MJ currently works alone. According to Alireza JJ, all of the members are still part of the band, but they are currently not working together.[5]

Members

Left to right: Alireza JJ, Nassim, Sohrab MJ, Sijal, and Mehrad Hidden; Zedbazi Documentary (2014)

Each member usually writes their own part of the lyrics.[1]

Discography

Discography of Zedbazi consists of three studio albums and thirty-three singles. Until 2012, the band had yet to release an album, and their music was provided by singles.

Their first studio album, Zakhar Nameh (زاخار نامه – Zāxār Nāme, "The Zakhar Book"), was released on June 4, 2012. All of the band members, except Saman Wilson, were involved in the album, featuring Hichkas, Behzad Leito and Arash Dara.

On July 28, 2014, the album Pir Shodim Vali Bozorg Na (پیر شدیم ولی بزرگ نه – Pir Ŝodim Vali Bozorg Na, "Got Aged But Not Grown-Up") was released, including only three members of the band (Alireza JJ, Sijal and Nassim) and without the band's label. It was composed by Alireza JJ and DJ AFX, and included Behzad Leito, Paya, Erfan, Sepehr Khalse, Sina Mafee, Magico and Cornellaa as featured artists.

The album Bozorg: Vol. 2 (بزرگ: ولوم 2 – Bozorg: Volum e 2), presented by Bozorg, was released on February 27, 2015; with Saman Wilson, Sohrab MJ, Arash Dara, Tara Salehi, Kiarash, and Siamak as featured artists. It was composed by Mehrad Hidden, Arash Dara, and DJ Rassek; including 19 tracks, and remarkably being the 2nd volume ("present") of an album series continuing with two other volumes. The 1st ("past") and 3rd ("future") volumes are said to be released in future.

Studio albums[6]
Title Details Featuring Artists Producers
Zakhar Nameh
  • Released on Jun 10, 2012
  • Label: Zedbazi
Behzad Leito, Hichkas, and Arash Dara Alireza JJ, Mehrad Hidden, and Arash Dara
Pir Shodim Vali Bozorg Na Behzad Leito, Cornellaa, Sohrab MJ, Erfan, Paya, Sepehr Khalse, Sina Mafi, Magico Alireza JJ, DJ AFX
Bozorg
  • Released on Feb 27, 2015
  • Label: RAD Records
Sohrab MJ, Arash Dara, Tara, Siamak, Kiarash , Saman Wilson Mehrad Hidden, Arash Dara
Singles[6]
Title year Member(s) Album
Diss Ajili 2002 Saman Wilson N/A
Mehmooni 2003 Mehrad Hidden, Saman Wilson
Kal Kal Sohrab MJ, Mehrad Hidden, and Saman Wilson
Ahangamoon Khodast 2004
Party
Az Khazar ta Khalije Fars
Diss Fincher Mehrad Hidden, Saman Wilson
Aroosak Sohrab MJ, Mehrad Hidden, and Saman Wilson
Berim Faza 2005 Sijal, Sohrab MJ, Saman Wilson
Male Ham Boodim Sijal, Sohrab MJ
Vase Har Irani Saman Wilson
Amade Bash Sohrab MJ, Mehrad Hidden
Bi Hess 2006 Sijal, Sohrab MJ, Mehrad Hidden, Saman Wilson
Tabestoon Kootahe 2007 Sijal, Alireza JJ, Mehrad Hidden, Saman Wilson, Nassim
Guitare Koli 2008 Alireza JJ, Sijal, Nassim
Shahre Tarik Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ
Zendegie Mane 2009 Mehrad Hidden, Sijal, Nassim, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ
Zamin Safe
Chon Ke Divoonatam Mehrad Hidden, Sohrab MJ
Kooche Sijal, Mehrad Hidden, Sohrab MJ
Iroonie L.A. Alireza JJ, Sijal, Mehrad Hidden
Coocooli Koo
Daro Baz Kon 2010 Mehrad Hidden, Sijal, Alireza JJ
Talafate Jang Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ
Daastaane Maa Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Nassim
Mesle Man Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ
Pedare Man (Bad Mano Negah Mikone) 2011 Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ, Sijal
Mysterious Eyes Sijal, Sohrab MJ, Alireza JJ
Bekhand Masnooyi Mehrad Hidden, Sijal
Taze Shoru e Zendegimoone Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ, Sijal, Nassim
Saat Vayse 2012 Sijal, Alireza JJ, Mehrad Hidden, Nassim
Tehran Male Mane Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ, Sijal Zakhar Nameh
Cigare Soorati Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ, Sijal, Nassim
Dorough Tatil Sohrab MJ N/A
Obi 2013 Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ

References

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