K-Salaam

K-Salaam, born Kayvon Sarfehjooy in 1977, is a DJ / Producer from Minneapolis of Iranian-American heritage. After K-Salaam released The Hands of Time^[1] and Real DJs Do Real Things^[2] he joined with Beatnick (born Nick Phillips in 1986) to form Beatnick & K-Salaam Productions. His first album, The World Is Ours, was released on August 25, 2006^[3] and re-released by VP / Universal as Whose World is This in 2008. Featuring on this release are a number of prolific underground hip hop artists, such as Trey Songz, Mos Def, Dead Prez, Papoose, Saigon, Emicida and Talib Kweli, and reggae artists Capleton, Sizzla, and Anthony B.^[4][5] The music fuses several styles, including reggae and hip hop, and incorporates socially conscious themes.

Beatnick & K-Salaam went on to produce more albums as well as songs for internationally acclaimed artists such as: Keane,^[6] Trey Songz, K’naan, Talib Kweli, Lil Wayne, Bun B,^[7] Lowkey, Sizzla, Nas, Freddie Gibbs, The Outlawz, Buju Banton, Junior Reid, Hollywood Undead, Collie Buddz, and more. The duo traveled to Brazil and produced Emicida’s entire album, Doozicabraba e a Revolução Silenciosa, released in 2011, resulting in Emicida receiving Brazil’s MTV’s 2011 Artist of the Year Award.^[8]

The duo also produced all of the songs on: Murs & Fashawn’s album This Generation (2012),^[9] Rael’s Ainda Bem Que Eu Segui as Batidas do Meu Coração, and Smif-n-Wessun’s Born and Raised (2013) as well as sound design for Lauryn Hill’s 2012 international tour.^[10]

K-Salaam’s production skills and expertise are sought after by music professionals throughout the world, and he has taught at Vice Media’s music seminars in Brazil, New York’s Scratch Academy, NYU’s Clive Davis School of Recorded Music in New York^[11] as well as international radio and television interviews.^[12]

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