Iron Sheik's BIO
Using hip-hop as his medium, the Iron Sheik relays informed views on the
Palestinian movement for independence, the war on terrorism, US foreign
policy in general, the Arab world, and growing up Arab-American. Since
releasing his first album, 'Camel Clutch 2003,' he has toured nationally, and
performed internationally.
Musically, the Sheik often draws on Arabic music, such as the legendary Um
Kulthoum, Fairuz, Marcel Khalife, Abdel-Halim, and more. Intellectually, he
draws inspiration from thinkers such as Edward Said, Ilan Pappe, Walid Khalidi,
Hannah Arendt, and many others.
He was a featured performer at the national American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Convention in 2003, the Palestinian-American Women's
Association banquet in March, 2004, and at Awal Rabie (first Spring) put on by
Al-Mawred Al-Thaqafy in Cairo, Egypt. The Sheik performed at Native
American reservations, inner city schools, and community centers, among
other places.
Media as diverse as the Berkeley-based radio station KPFA, Egypt's Nile TV,
the web-zine Muslim WakeUp, Wayne State University's South End Press, and
the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Jerusalem Report, and the New York Times
have covered the Sheik's work.
Iron Sheik's next album, 'Yet We Remain,' is expected for release in
September, 2004.
The Iron Sheik's music has been and will be featured in documentarties and
films. Olive Trees made it into a Japanese documentary called "Visiting
Palestine Under Occupation - Refugee Problem." It was produced by the
Palestine Forum, based in Osaka, Japan. The Tale of 3 Mohammads was
inspired by a film of that title by Nasri Zacharia, who is working on a music
video for it currently. About Baghdad, from the upcoming album, was
inspired by a documentary by that name, as well.
Using hip-hop as his medium, the Iron Sheik relays informed views on the
Palestinian movement for independence, the war on terrorism, US foreign
policy in general, the Arab world, and growing up Arab-American. Since
releasing his first album, 'Camel Clutch 2003,' he has toured nationally, and
performed internationally.
Musically, the Sheik often draws on Arabic music, such as the legendary Um
Kulthoum, Fairuz, Marcel Khalife, Abdel-Halim, and more. Intellectually, he
draws inspiration from thinkers such as Edward Said, Ilan Pappe, Walid Khalidi,
Hannah Arendt, and many others.
He was a featured performer at the national American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Convention in 2003, the Palestinian-American Women's
Association banquet in March, 2004, and at Awal Rabie (first Spring) put on by
Al-Mawred Al-Thaqafy in Cairo, Egypt. The Sheik performed at Native
American reservations, inner city schools, and community centers, among
other places.
Media as diverse as the Berkeley-based radio station KPFA, Egypt's Nile TV,
the web-zine Muslim WakeUp, Wayne State University's South End Press, and
the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Jerusalem Report, and the New York Times
have covered the Sheik's work.
Iron Sheik's next album, 'Yet We Remain,' is expected for release in
September, 2004.
The Iron Sheik's music has been and will be featured in documentarties and
films. Olive Trees made it into a Japanese documentary called "Visiting
Palestine Under Occupation - Refugee Problem." It was produced by the
Palestine Forum, based in Osaka, Japan. The Tale of 3 Mohammads was
inspired by a film of that title by Nasri Zacharia, who is working on a music
video for it currently. About Baghdad, from the upcoming album, was
inspired by a documentary by that name, as well.
Q: Why the name "Iron Sheik"?
A: The Iron Sheik was a professional
wrestling character who served as the
stereotypical middle eastern villain. He
wore a head dress, flowing robes, and
the curly Arabian Nights shoes. Growing
up, he was a powerful icon that taught
me that Middle Easterners are the bad
guys, and to be be Arab is to be evil.
Now that I know about the power of
stereotypes and the ignorance behind
them, I want to re-claim that moniker
and re-define it in an empowering way.
In short, my name is in itself political
commentary about the
misrepresentation of Arabs in the
popular media, and what we as
Arab-Americans can do -- re-define
ourselves.
Q: Do you support terrorism?
A: No. Violence against innocent
civilians is morally wrong, even if for
liberation or security. Terrorism is a
disgusting reality of modern conflict.
Armies terrorize civilian populations,
however, to a greater extent than do
non-governmental groups. When
discussing terrorism, we must
recognize that the extent of coercion and
fear inflicted by states far exceeds the
capacity of non-state groups. Ask a
suicide bomber if he would rather have
a tank or a fighter plane. How is it that
the US-led UN sanctions on Iraq killed
at least hundreds of thousands of Iraqis
during the 1990s (and the effects
reachuntil today), but no one considers
that terrorism?
A: The Iron Sheik was a professional
wrestling character who served as the
stereotypical middle eastern villain. He
wore a head dress, flowing robes, and
the curly Arabian Nights shoes. Growing
up, he was a powerful icon that taught
me that Middle Easterners are the bad
guys, and to be be Arab is to be evil.
Now that I know about the power of
stereotypes and the ignorance behind
them, I want to re-claim that moniker
and re-define it in an empowering way.
In short, my name is in itself political
commentary about the
misrepresentation of Arabs in the
popular media, and what we as
Arab-Americans can do -- re-define
ourselves.
Q: Do you support terrorism?
A: No. Violence against innocent
civilians is morally wrong, even if for
liberation or security. Terrorism is a
disgusting reality of modern conflict.
Armies terrorize civilian populations,
however, to a greater extent than do
non-governmental groups. When
discussing terrorism, we must
recognize that the extent of coercion and
fear inflicted by states far exceeds the
capacity of non-state groups. Ask a
suicide bomber if he would rather have
a tank or a fighter plane. How is it that
the US-led UN sanctions on Iraq killed
at least hundreds of thousands of Iraqis
during the 1990s (and the effects
reachuntil today), but no one considers
that terrorism?
yoironsheik@yahoo.com