Hakim (Egyptian singer)
Encyclopedia
Hakim (born 1962) is an Egyptian
folk-singer. In addition to the number of albums he has put out, on December 11, 2006 he was the first person from an Arab country
to perform at a Nobel Peace Prize event.
. Hakim grew up with the sound of working-class tradition of Sha'abi; the root of southern Egypt
ian. He became influenced by the great Sha'bi singer Ahmed Adaweyah
and began practicing Mawals, the vocal improvisations which begin a traditional Sha'bi song. At fourteen years old he formed a band and started performing at parties and school functions with the accompaniment of a tabla
, duff
, and an accordion
, playing covers of classic Sha'bi hits by Ahmed Adaweya, Mohamed El Ezabi, and Abdel Ghani Al Sayed. Soon the band was a hit and expanded by adding keyboards
and drum
s and performing all over the Minya province.
His father, the mayor
of Maghagha, wished that he would get a higher degree, and although Hakim loved singing, and wanted it to be his career, he bowed to his father’s wishes and attended the Al-Azhar University
in Cairo
, graduating in 1983 with a degree in communications. But while in the capital, he kept up his musical interests, meeting new people at the cafes on Mohammed Ali Street, including the accordionist Ibrahim El Fayoumi, who became like a god father to him.
Hakim's break came when he met producer Hamid El-Shaeri, and signed a deal with Sonar Ltd./Slam Records. With El-Shaeri at the board, Hakim entered the studio to make his first album, Nazra in 1991. The album was among the top of the charts, and the first pressing of the disc sold out within the first two months. Hakim took the unprecedented step of personally going to DJs and giving them copies of his tape, and his voice boomed from radio
s and shops all over Cairo.
After the release of his second album Nar in 1994, Hakim was picked to represent Egypt at the Festival des Allumees in Nantes
, France
. Two years later a nomination for the Kora Award
in the category of Best North African Singer confirmed his legal status (he won the award in 2000). Later he released Efred, the first of many collaborative efforts between himself, lyricist Amal El Taer, and composer Essam Tawfik.
With 1998s Hakim Remix, he turned eight of his previously released hits over to British world/dance fusionists Trans-Global Underground (TGU), who then put their own spin on things. Although it proved to be the lowest-selling of his records in Egypt, it made a significant impact in Europe. It was a daring move, as Hakim had to maintain the right balance between tradition and innovation to keep his local audience happy, while moving towards global audience. The follow-up, 1999s Hayel, was a definite return to roots (and Egyptian popularity).
Yaho, released in 2000, went over the million mark at homeland. Its original version was a huge success in the Middle East
, having sold over 1 million copies, and brought him to the attention of Ark 21/Mondo Melodia founder Miles Copeland who first heard Hakim on a late night radio show on the BBC
in London
then spent the next day tracking him down and scouring record stores to get his hands on Hakim's CDs. The result was signing with both Hakim and TGU. The U.S. version of Yaho was somewhat different from the Egyptian. In addition to four Trans-Global remixes, it included two brand-new songs, "Yemin We Shemal" by French
producer Sodi and "Al Bi Hebeni Al". Yaho brought two smash hit singles in the Middle East, the title cut and "Esma Yalli", but it also brought Hakim to the attention of America
n audiences.
Hakim toured the U.S. in spring 2000 and Mondo Melodia announced plans to release the Live in Brooklyn album in the fall. Hakim's performance in Brooklyn was recorded for the double CD The Lion Roars - Live in America. The enhanced second CD also features a ten-minute video of Hakim and crew performing live in Egypt, so you can watch, as well as hear. Following the release of the live disc, Hakim went back into the studio and in May 2002, Talakik was released. Hakim partnered with Grammy winning producer Narada Michael Walden
on 5 of the albums' 12 tracks and found himself working with TGU once more, who produced 2 tracks. Wanting to record something different for this new disc, Hakim hooked up with the Grammy Award winning merengue sensation Olga Tañón
on the breakout hit "Ah Ya Albi".
In 2004 he released his album El Yomen Dol including a duet track with the famous American soul
/funk
singer James Brown. In 2007, Hakim recorded the song "Tigy Tigy
" with the Puerto Rican
singer Don Omar
.
Concerning cinema, Hakim had had two films in cinema starting with Al Rakesa w Al Sagan with Aida Riad and Ahmed Bdeir in which he participated with both singing and acting. Hakim appeared again with new style and new look in Ali Spicy with Somia Al Khashab, Waheed Seif and Gamal Esmail. Ali Spicy revolves around a story of a singer trying to become well-known, and the problems he faces along his way till he reaches his aim and becomes famous. Although this film did not do well at the box office, it gained popularity on home video and DVD.
"El Salamu Alaiku"
It is worthy to note that Hakim's hit song "El Salamu Alaiku" was featured in the belly dancing scene of "Vanity Fair" movie which stars Oscar winning actress Reese Witherspoon.
Egyptians
Egyptians are nation an ethnic group made up of Mediterranean North Africans, the indigenous people of Egypt.Egyptian identity is closely tied to geography. The population of Egypt is concentrated in the lower Nile Valley, the small strip of cultivable land stretching from the First Cataract to...
folk-singer. In addition to the number of albums he has put out, on December 11, 2006 he was the first person from an Arab country
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
to perform at a Nobel Peace Prize event.
Biography
Hakim was born in Maghagha, a small town in Al Minya, EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Hakim grew up with the sound of working-class tradition of Sha'abi; the root of southern Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian. He became influenced by the great Sha'bi singer Ahmed Adaweyah
Ahmed Adaweyah
Ahmed Adaweyah is an Egyptian singer and he was the first big star of sha'abi music during its first wave of popularity in the 1970s. He has starred in 27 Egyptian films. Adaweyah started his career as a cafe waiter but in 1971, he began performing songs using the language of the streets of Cairo,...
and began practicing Mawals, the vocal improvisations which begin a traditional Sha'bi song. At fourteen years old he formed a band and started performing at parties and school functions with the accompaniment of a tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
, duff
Duff
In addition to its dictionary meanings, Duff may refer to:-Given name:*Duff, King of Scots ancestor of the Earls of Fife*Duff Cooper, British diplomat*Duff Goldman, star of Food Network's reality show Ace of Cakes...
, and an accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, playing covers of classic Sha'bi hits by Ahmed Adaweya, Mohamed El Ezabi, and Abdel Ghani Al Sayed. Soon the band was a hit and expanded by adding keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s and performing all over the Minya province.
His father, the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Maghagha, wished that he would get a higher degree, and although Hakim loved singing, and wanted it to be his career, he bowed to his father’s wishes and attended the Al-Azhar University
Al-Azhar University
Al-Azhar University is an educational institute in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 970~972 as a madrasa, it is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. It is the oldest degree-granting university in Egypt. In 1961 non-religious subjects were added to its curriculum.It is...
in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, graduating in 1983 with a degree in communications. But while in the capital, he kept up his musical interests, meeting new people at the cafes on Mohammed Ali Street, including the accordionist Ibrahim El Fayoumi, who became like a god father to him.
Music career
Hakim returned to Maghagha, this time to pursue his dream and formed a new modern band that blended Western, Middle Eastern, and oriental instruments for a fresh sound, and they quickly became Minya's most popular group. He returned to Cairo with a goal of making his living as a professional singer.Hakim's break came when he met producer Hamid El-Shaeri, and signed a deal with Sonar Ltd./Slam Records. With El-Shaeri at the board, Hakim entered the studio to make his first album, Nazra in 1991. The album was among the top of the charts, and the first pressing of the disc sold out within the first two months. Hakim took the unprecedented step of personally going to DJs and giving them copies of his tape, and his voice boomed from radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
s and shops all over Cairo.
After the release of his second album Nar in 1994, Hakim was picked to represent Egypt at the Festival des Allumees in Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Two years later a nomination for the Kora Award
Kora Awards
The Kora Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi, they are comparable to the American Grammy Awards in intent...
in the category of Best North African Singer confirmed his legal status (he won the award in 2000). Later he released Efred, the first of many collaborative efforts between himself, lyricist Amal El Taer, and composer Essam Tawfik.
With 1998s Hakim Remix, he turned eight of his previously released hits over to British world/dance fusionists Trans-Global Underground (TGU), who then put their own spin on things. Although it proved to be the lowest-selling of his records in Egypt, it made a significant impact in Europe. It was a daring move, as Hakim had to maintain the right balance between tradition and innovation to keep his local audience happy, while moving towards global audience. The follow-up, 1999s Hayel, was a definite return to roots (and Egyptian popularity).
Yaho, released in 2000, went over the million mark at homeland. Its original version was a huge success in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, having sold over 1 million copies, and brought him to the attention of Ark 21/Mondo Melodia founder Miles Copeland who first heard Hakim on a late night radio show on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
then spent the next day tracking him down and scouring record stores to get his hands on Hakim's CDs. The result was signing with both Hakim and TGU. The U.S. version of Yaho was somewhat different from the Egyptian. In addition to four Trans-Global remixes, it included two brand-new songs, "Yemin We Shemal" by French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
producer Sodi and "Al Bi Hebeni Al". Yaho brought two smash hit singles in the Middle East, the title cut and "Esma Yalli", but it also brought Hakim to the attention of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n audiences.
Hakim toured the U.S. in spring 2000 and Mondo Melodia announced plans to release the Live in Brooklyn album in the fall. Hakim's performance in Brooklyn was recorded for the double CD The Lion Roars - Live in America. The enhanced second CD also features a ten-minute video of Hakim and crew performing live in Egypt, so you can watch, as well as hear. Following the release of the live disc, Hakim went back into the studio and in May 2002, Talakik was released. Hakim partnered with Grammy winning producer Narada Michael Walden
Narada Michael Walden
Narada Michael Walden is an American producer, drummer, singer, and songwriter. He was given the name Narada by guru Sri Chinmoy in the early 1970s and his musical career spans three decades, in which he was awarded several gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards...
on 5 of the albums' 12 tracks and found himself working with TGU once more, who produced 2 tracks. Wanting to record something different for this new disc, Hakim hooked up with the Grammy Award winning merengue sensation Olga Tañón
Olga Tañón
Olga Tañón is a two-time Grammy Award and three-time Latin Grammy-winning Merengue and Latin Pop artist. Tañón has earned 5 Latin Grammy Awards and 19 Premios Lo Nuestro awards during her career.-Early years:...
on the breakout hit "Ah Ya Albi".
In 2004 he released his album El Yomen Dol including a duet track with the famous American soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
/funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
singer James Brown. In 2007, Hakim recorded the song "Tigy Tigy
Tigy Tigy
"Tigi Tigi" is a song by Egyptian singer, Hakim featuring Reggaeton singer, Don Omar released as an airplay single on October 23, 2007 set to be included on the now unreleased album The Lion, on March 16, 2010 the song was released as digital download, it was included on his 2010 studio album Tigi...
" with the Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
singer Don Omar
Don Omar
Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey (born William Omar Landrón Rivera; February 10, 1978, is a Puerto Rican Reggaetón singer and actor.-Early life:...
.
Concerning cinema, Hakim had had two films in cinema starting with Al Rakesa w Al Sagan with Aida Riad and Ahmed Bdeir in which he participated with both singing and acting. Hakim appeared again with new style and new look in Ali Spicy with Somia Al Khashab, Waheed Seif and Gamal Esmail. Ali Spicy revolves around a story of a singer trying to become well-known, and the problems he faces along his way till he reaches his aim and becomes famous. Although this film did not do well at the box office, it gained popularity on home video and DVD.
"El Salamu Alaiku"
It is worthy to note that Hakim's hit song "El Salamu Alaiku" was featured in the belly dancing scene of "Vanity Fair" movie which stars Oscar winning actress Reese Witherspoon.
Discography
- Nazra (1992)
- Nar (1994)
- Efred (1997)
- Hayel (1998)
- Yaho (2000)
- Talakik (2002)
- Taminy Alek (2004)
- El Youm Dol (2004)
- Kolo Yoross (2005)
- Lela (2006)
- Tigy Tigy (2007)