Change the Game
K-Salaam
By Harron Hines

Minnesota born producer/DJ K-Salaam is determined to send a message to the rest of the world with his new compilation album The World Is Ours. The innovative project features an eclectic mix of exclusive music by some of the biggest Hip-Hop and reggae stars including Mos Def, Sizzla, Talib Kweli, Papoose, Dead Prez, Da Backwudz, and Capleton and original beats by and his partner Beatnick. Born Kayvon Salaam Sarfehjooy, the Iranian-American Queens, NY transplant is no new jack. He has critically acclaimed mix-tapes, awards for spinning for the biggest Hip-Hop radio show in the Midwest, and performing on stages with Hip-Hop vets like De La Soul and Nas. Get to know the man and his struggle to change the game as we know it.

Streetz (S): Now you’re of Middle Eastern decent. What made you want to get into Hip-Hop and how were first you received?

K-Salaam (K): I first got into it break dancing. This girl that baby sat me taught me how to break dance. This was way back in the day when Beat Street came out. I grew up around Black people and its funny
because I didn’t know there were Puerto Ricans. The
guys in the movie looked like they could be my uncles
or cousins. We had the same characteristics so it was
easy to identify with them. So I was like I can do
this too.

S: So, that’s how you discovered DJing?

K: Yeah. I started DJing in like ‘94. I was into
Hip-Hop like my whole life and I knew a lot of people
who were DJing and they were acting like they were too cool to be around me so I was like that’s cool. I’m going to start DJing.

S: Was it hard to get them to accept you?

K: Some of my first friends were Black dudes
and I’d tell them I’m of Islamic decent and they’d be
like ‘so am I’. After crossing that first bridge we’d talk and realize that we have a lot in common. There are a lot of similarities with Latinos. We go through the same things when it comes to immigration. It’s hard as hell for Arab families who come from the gutter to make it to America and my family was one of the few who make it. Black and Latino people are the most welcoming people. I just wish the White people of corporate America were as welcoming.

S: How’d you get into Reggae?

K: I got into it DJing. There’s a large African
community where I’m from and they’d always ask for
Reggae.

S: So what made you want to do an album
combining the two?

K: The album is all music I love. I love
Sizzla. I love Dead Prez. When I was putting the album together my brother asked me why don’t I get Capelton or some of the other artists I liked and I was like, ‘I can’t’. Then I thought about it and I was like ‘why can’t I?’ Like Capelton… I got to know him from calling his manager so much. I was like borderline harassing them but after a while I got to know them and got them on the project. People are willing to do favors if they feel you deserve it. Like they agreed to do the album for the small budget I had. It’s a business, he’s got to eat but he agreed to do it for the money I had but he was like you got to come to Jamaica. I hustled hard and I got almost all the artists I wanted on the small budget I had. I got everyone except for Damian Marley, Nas, and Lauryn Hill.

S: How long did it take to finish the project?

K: Like three years man. Most of the time spent
was on the business and getting the budget. The beats
were the easy part. My partner, Beatnick is the bread
and butter behind the beats and he’s crazy with it. He’s like a musical genius. He plays like every instrument. He’s crazy.

Hey Ma
Remy Ma
By Harron Hines

Remy Ma, the Bronx bomber hand picked by the late, great Big Pun, is arguably the best female emcee in the game right now (or at least one the favorites). After hearing her debut solo album There’s Something About Remy it’s easy to see why the hood loves her and her rap counterparts show her nothing but respect. With all the rumors circulating about the Terror Squad MC it was time to clear the air and let people know what’s up.

Streetz (S): What’s good Rem?

Remy Ma (R): I’m chillin’. I’m tired and my voice sounds horrible but I’m good.
Streetz: Have you been getting any sleep?

R: Not even.

S: Now Rem, you have been the subject of a lot of rumors lately. The plane incident, you spazzin’ out at the Universal offices...I know you’re a real chick but people have a hard time separating fact from the bullsh-t can you enlighten us please?

R: First that plane sh-t was some bullsh-t. I didn’t get kicked off I got off. I left voluntarily because I know how they are with all that terrorism sh-t and I wasn’t trying to end up in hand cuffs. The Universal thing was blown out of proportion. Yeah I was mad one day and I tore posters down but that was like months before that sh-t came out. And I wasn’t just up there wildin’. I’m the type of person who speaks up when something is wrong and you can only make so many calls to the office and the lawyers and leaving voicemails and e-mails. If I have a problem and need to speak to you I’m coming to see you. Some things you have to handle face to face. They make it seem like I be spazzin’ all the time for nothing. Okay... I’ll spazz out [at times] but not for no reason. That’s not even me. I don’t complain unless I am unhappy. And anyway, I smoke too much to be that upset all the time.

S: So what’s the problem?

R: I think they’re scared of me. There are a lot of people working my project that have had their jobs for a long time and are set in their ways and they don’t know what to do with me. But all I’m saying is if they don’t know how to or just don’t want to do nothing for me then just let me go. Let me be somewhere that will have people stand behind me a hundred percent and help me get where I need to be. This is my career we’re talking about here.

S: So you’re not happy?

R: Nah, don’t get it twisted. I love what I’m doing. I’m happy and I feel so blessed to be doing what I’m doing right now. It’s just that this is a business. It’s not all writing rhymes and being on the radio and T.V. There’s money, taxes, equity...all types of sh-t to worry about but I do love it.

S: You’re already working on your second album. Are looking for a new situation?

R: Always looking. I’m always working. Just because my first album came out that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop working. My first album is called There’s Something About Remy because its about me. I gave people a good look at who I am. But there’s a lot I didn’t talk about. I didn’t talk about my face getting cut or me being a parent, a lot of sh-t that I can still write about. I just want someone to be behind me. Like I want to write a book, maybe act a little bit but I need a situation where my career can go where it needs to be before I do all that. The music comes first. I’ll work on all that other stuff on my free time but my career comes first.

S: So what’s good with you and Terror Squad?

R: That’s my family. It’s all love between us. I see them it’s pounds, hugs, and kisses. But I’ve been screaming TS [Terror Squad] for a minute now and its time to do me. And they not even focused like that. Everybody is on some other sh-t. With all that they still my family. I still feel if they’re really my peoples like that they’ll support me. Just like if they had an opportunity, anybody I f-cks with and I love like that, had the opportunity to go somewhere else and do good for themselves... Maybe be in a position to come back and bring me up with them, then I’d tell them go.

S: So there’s no animosity between you and them?

R: Nah. Like I said that’s my family. I don’t bite my tongue and I don’t keep quiet if I don’t agree with something. That’s just how I am. Sometimes we bump heads but that’s still my family. But right now I got to worry about Remy.