New Jersey’s Hasan Salaam is an interesting blend of MCs. While listening to this album, my roommate walked by and asked, “What’s this Game track you’re bumping right now?” And while Salaam may sound like The Game, you’ll hear nothing in the way of N.W.A references, palm trees, and 64’s. His subject matter is more an amalgam of Immortal Technique, Brand Nubian, and Tragedy Khadafi. He’s giving you street life, Black Muslim teachings, an unjust government and judicial system, and religion in general.
His latest album, Children of God, may catch you off guard if you are unfamiliar with his content. Salaam isn’t your average radio-friendly rapper. Hell, he’s not even your average underground rapper. The track that best exemplifies his style is “History of Violence,” which is a chilling song about America’s, well, history of violence and its continued practices. Salaam references events that occurred during America’s involvement in the slave trade, the Civil Rights movement, the Iraq War, and in the hood. Salaam draws parallels between all these by highlighting the violence that the American government (referred to as Babylon throughout the album) has perpetrated on others, from police brutality to violence in the Middle East.
His cerebral and historical raps are his strong point, but he also has the ability to journey outside of his comfort zone. “Angel Dust”, featuring Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian, uses the same Gil Scott-Heron sample used by Kanye West in “Angel” and channels 50 Cent’s drug personification from “Baltimore Love Thing.”
The knock on Children of God is some of Salaam’s beat selection. He’s best served with the grit and griminess that suited him so well on “History of Violence” and “Insomniac Pt. 1.” Tracks like “15 Minutes” and “The Downrock” seem to take Salaam out of his wheelhouse. The “15″ beat would be best served for a Southern rapper, while “The Downrock” forces Salaam into a rapid-fire delivery that goes against the grimy East Coast-style that he established on the tracks leading up to it. That rapid flow is never revisited and the joint comes across as an unnecessary experiment.
Children of God deftly blends religious themes, prophecies, and traditional hip-hop themes into a well-crafted album. Salaam is obviously a smart brother who will draw many comparisons to Immortal Technique as far as content goes. But he’s good enough to stand on his own two feet and his own style, and this album is the pudding that the proof is in.
84/100
Standout Tracks:
Angel Dust
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Insomniac Pt. 1
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History of Violence
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I met Hasan Salaam in LA @ a poetry lounge sometime last year. He was selling his cd and a DVD that was talking about the Sean Bell murder. Im glad that I copped both of those.. otherwise I wouldve never known how talented he really is..
That man is a dope cat! Even a humble dude in conversation.
dope review fred
Good Review Fam!!! Hasan is so dope!!