Sadat X Since the revolutionary group Brand Nubian has hit the hip-hop circuit, Sadat X has been one of hip-hop’s most distinguished sounding MC’s. Now with another solo project heading our way and another Brand Nubien album dropping in the near future, he’s ready to run the radio 1nce again. Sadat gets with WHO?MAG to talk about his new project.
Interview by Rob Schwartz
WHO?MAG: How did you first get into music? SADAT X: From being young and just seeing it being done outside in the parks. I just wanted to be a part of it.
WHO?MAG: What is it that is going to make this new album stronger than your previous releases? SADAT X: I don’t know what is going to make it stronger, but for me, I know I put more time and effort into the music and the rhymes. It’s just up to the people to decide if it’s strong or not. To me it’s stronger. I’m satisfied.
WHO?MAG: What distinguishes the Sadat X sound from other artists? SADAT X: A lot of people say it’s the voice. Maybe that distinguishes it a bit. I just try top be different from everybody else and have my own distinct sound.
WHO?MAG: If you could have controlled hip-hop since it first came out, do you think you would have taken it in a different direction or have it in the same kind of ballpark? SADAT X: First of all, I would never want to carry hip-hop. If I did, I’m not sure where I’d take it. I would keep talking what I always have been talking about. Whatever direction that went, that’s where it would have gone, whether they label it good, bad, conscious, gangster, it’s all a label. It would just go how I go. I wouldn’t want to do that because it would be boring. It would only be based around my life’s perspective. That’s what makes hip-hop good because it shows everybody’s grind.
WHO?MAG: Lately more of hip-hop has been fociusing more on violence, negativity, and materialism. Do you feel this is a fad and eventually come back to its roots? SADAT X: You have to look at what’s on TV. There’s violence, corruption, vice, that’s what people see on TV. That’s what people see on the radio and the news so that’s what is dealing with life right now. That’s what people talk about. You talk about what’s in you environment basically. People maybe shouldn’t glorify it all the time, but that’s what’s in the community.
WHO?MAG: What do you feel is the #1 rule that a rapper breaking into the game needs to abide by? SADAT X: Don’t let anybody write your lyrics. I came to find out that a lot of people who I though wrote their lyrics had other people write them and don’t understand why they didn’t just write it themselves. That would be it.
WHO?MAG: How do you determine which beats you want to rhyme over? SADAT X: It just hits me. Certain beats hit me. And when they hit me like that, that’s what I use.
WHO?MAG: If there was one thing about the entertainment industry that you would change, what would that be? SADAT X: I guess maybe have a union plan with some kind of benefits with some dental and health programs for rappers. Once you finish, that’s basically it. Especially if you are not a member of AFTRA or something like that.
WHO?MAG: Can you tell us one thing about Sadat X that we don’t know? SADAT X: I’m a basketball coach. I teach high school basketball success program. I traveled across the world and have been many places.
WHO?MAG: What’s next for Sadat X? SADAT X: We’re getting ready to do some shows and finish up with the latest Brand Nubian project and just promote this new album to help promote the new album.
