Hichkas and Rap-e Farsi

You've heard of American rap and Spanish rap, but did you know about Persian rap? This unique genre might not have started if not for one underground musician. He is known as Hichkas which means "no one" in farsi, but his real name is Soroush Lashkari. Hichkas if famous for being the Father of Persian rap (rap-e Farsi) who helped push boundaries set in place by the Islamic regime serving as a voice of the oppressed underclass.

Hichkas began his professional rap journey after dropping out of college. He started what is considered the first Persian hip hop group called 021 which is the area code of Tehran. His popularity grew as his lyrics focused on contemporary Iranian issues, which resonated with Iran's youth in the late 19990s and early 2000s.

Asphalt Jungle is one of Hichkas' most famous albums. The album combines western rap style with traditional Iranian instruments, creating a unique mixture of East and West. Hichkas published this album underground in 2006. The album was highly controversial and those who first sold it on the streets were arrested. Most songs spoke out against the Islamic Regime and Hichkas was arrested following the release of the album.

Hichkas left Iran in 2010 following the Green Uprising, which was a series of protests pertaining to a disputed presidential election. He released one last song as his plane was taking off from Iran for the last time. It is called A Good Day Will Come -- an anthem of hope for Iranians.

He currently lives in Great Britain where he often lectures at universities on Persian poetry and Iran's underground music scene.

Listen to Hichkas on Spotify: