An Interview with Naysan Naraqi About Hip Hop Sessions

Over the years it’s been really exciting to see Baha’i Blog team members branch out and launch initiatives so I’m super thrilled to chat with Naysan, whose enthusiasm, passion and stick-with-it-ness has brought many, many projects into fruition. He has encouraged and accompanied countless friends to take their artistic pursuits to the next level. I deeply admire his dedication to Baha’i-inspired media and the arts and, even though we’ve both interviewed scores of artists, writers, musicians and creatives for Baha’i Blog, it’s special for us to share this conversation with you about Baha’i Blog’s new sister channel, Baha’i Inspired, and its inaugural music series called Hip Hop Sessions.

Naysan! I’m so excited to learn more about Hip Hop Sessions. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

So “Hip Hop Sessions” is a new music series I’ve created on Baha’i Blog’s new sister channel on YouTube called BAHA’I INSPIRED, and Hip Hop Sessions is basically like our Baha’i Blog Studio Sessions, where we film and record live in a studio, but it’s only Baha’i-inspired rap and hip hop songs. 

What was the idea behind Hip Hop Sessions, and why was it important for you to create this series?

I’m into ALL types of music–well, almost everything–and I’ve ALWAYS really been into hip hop and rap, especially rappers with a message, like Public Enemy, Paris, KRS-One, Ice-T, and many more. In fact, did you know that about one quarter of all songs listened to on Spotify are rap or hip hop songs? Couple that with the fact that as a Baha’i, I’m passionate about the expression of Baha’i-inspired music–in all its forms–which is one of the main reasons about 20 years ago, I teamed up with the wonderful Benny Cassette and others in LA, to create probably one of my favourite albums called The DawnBreaker Collective, which was mainly a hip hop album that brought a bunch of artists together to create songs inspired by the Baha’i Faith. 

My passion for Baha’i-inspired music was also one of the reasons I started Studio Sessions on Baha’i Blog several years ago, but I really wanted Studio Sessions to only allow music based directly on the Baha’i Writings and letters from Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice, so this limited a lot of the songs we would record, including a lot of awesome rap songs. Over the years there’s been a growing number of Baha’i rappers whom I’m close friends with, and I’ve always wanted more people to hear their music, so I thought it’s time to create a new series, like Studio Sessions, but just for Baha’i-inspired hip hop–so I called it “Hip Hop Sessions”! 

What have been some of the challenges in creating Hip Hop Sessions?

Well, I really wanted to make sure this series is actually live hip hop recordings in a studio, and filming and recording live hip hop songs in a studio is actually quite difficult when you also want it to look good on camera. Normally when you record songs, you often record things separately in isolation from one another, so you’ll have a rapper recording their vocals separately over a beat, and then you’ll have a guitarists then do their part, etc, but I wanted to make sure everyone was in the same room, so we could film them all together, sort of like a studio concert. Plus on top of that, a lot of hip hop is a mix of live instruments and vocals, with additional electronic beats and sound effects at times, so recording the combination of both acoustic and backing beats all together live in a studio, while also trying to make sure we were filming everyone, definitely adds a few layers of complexity. But I think we got it, and it’s all worth it!

What are some of the positives in creating Hip Hop Sessions?

It’s always so awesome bringing different artists together to collaborate on creating Baha’i-inspired music and not everyone involved are Baha’is, but everyone comes together with good intention and a sense of higher purpose, happily giving their time and talent. The vibe in the studio is so great, and everyone that’s a part of it always has the best interests of the project and all those involved. There are no egos and competition, but rather an abundance of humility and collaboration. It’s truly moving. 

It’s also really cool to witness new versions of songs literally being born live in the studio. So for example, a song by Colby Jeffers, which on his album just had him rapping on it, now in the Hip Hop Sessions version, has other rappers doing verses on the song, and some live acoustic instrumentation, like a harp being played too, which changes the song, and is sort of like a new live or remixed version. It’s awesome!

How do you hope Hip Hop Sessions will affect listeners or viewers?

I really hope the series does a number of things. Firstly I want the Teachings of the Baha’i Faith to affect the hearts through the medium of music. If someone is moved and inspired by one of these songs, it’s all totally worth it! 

I also want to express the fact that the Revelation of Baha’u’llah belongs to EVERYONE, and how we translate or channel this wonderful revelation, especially through music, no matter what genre, is glorious. Just as the diversity of the world is what makes it beautiful, so too then does the diversity of music make it beautiful. The Baha’i Writings hold the station of the arts and music in such high regard. Abdu’l-Baha said that in the Baha’i Faith “the art of music is of paramount importance.”  He also says that “the art of music is divine and effective. It is the food of the soul and spirit.” So if these songs can be “the food of the soul” for those who listen to it, then what could be better than that?!

Finally, I really want to celebrate the artists and their songs. If I can help let people know about their music and these songs through this series, then not only will it be a source of encouragement to the artists, but also, I feel like it will also help play an important role in fostering the ecosystem of Baha’i-inspired art and content that’s out there–which is what I’m all about! 

How can people help or support the project?

What would really help is if people could like and subscribe to the BAHA’I INSPIRED YouTube channel. That would be a HUGE help! 

Also, for those who want to, they can donate to the project, as it does cost to hire studios and film and edit, and mix the songs, and does all add up. So if people want to, they can donate online, and it’s a 501(c)3, which means it’s a tax deductible donation if you’re a US tax payer.

Thanks so much, Naysan! I’m so excited about this new project!

Check out the Hip Hop Sessions series on YouTube and don’t forget to like and subscribe!

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Sonjel Vreeland

In her innermost heart, Sonjel is a stay-at-home parent and a bookworm with a maxed out library card but professionally she is a museologist with a background in English Literature. She currently lives on Prince Edward Island, an isle in the shape of a smile on the eastern Canadian coast. Sonjel is a writer who loves to listen to jazz when she's driving at night.