Hasan Salaam, born January 12, 1981, is an American rapper. He began rapping at ten and became inspired by The Autobiography of Malcolm X after watching a preview for the 1992 film Malcolm X. His breakthrough came with the song “Blaxploitation”, from his debut album Paradise Lost (2005), which won him Best Live Performance and Best Underground Song of the Year at the third Annual Underground Music Awards. Salaam released 5th Column Mixtape Vol.II (2004), Tales of the Lost Tribe: Hidden Jewels (2006), and Children of God (2008), the latter featuring Lord Jamar, Masta Ace, and his 5th Column crew. He toured internationally, featured on the UK group Mecca2Medina's album Truthseekers (2006), and released the EP Music Is My Weapon (2011), channeling its profits to build a well, school, and clinic in Guinea-Bissau. He also released the album Life in Black and White (2014).
