Music Nation is a Music Video Competition for Independent Artists

Had hip-hop not gone down a corporate route in the mid- 1990's, someone like Al-Sha'heed would be considered one of today's outstanding MC's, willing to speak out against the injustices of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. One does not need a hip-hop honors show to give someone like Al-Sha'heed validation, and The Epistle Of Saladin is a loud voice from someone who speaks for those who have been ignored or silenced. Vocally and lyrically, Al-Sha’heed has a flow similar to that of Royal Fam’s Timbo King. When you hear him bless the mic, you know you’re in for an intense listen and you want to grip onto each and every word. The intensity only increases as the song goes on. He doesn’t speak about hanging out in sweaty clubs, but rather about grandmothers going to prison for heroin, the truth behind the myths of the Iraqi conflict, and what the world has learned about the U.S. government post-Hurricane Katrina. In “Wack Radio” he points the finger at fake MC’s who are “trying to win the minds of the poor/politicking, and selling out to industry whores”, calling out those who try to represent the streets but are floating in the clouds with gangsta dreams. The types of lyrics he dropped aren’t celebrated today, but should be, for songs like “Troops Get Ready,” “Drugs,” and “Veggie Meal” offer a perspective that a lot of people aren’t getting. If a lot of mainstream music today is the equivalent of Cinemax After Hours, this album is a return to the CNN era, putting him up there with Public Enemy, Poor Righteous Teachers, Paris, and the Digable Planets among others. Al-Sha’heed produced the majority of the album too, displaying the kind of techniques that are sonically pleasing in today’s marketplace. It’s a welcome wake-up call for those who believe political hip-hop has been asleep. No, it’s around the corner awaiting the call to rush in and take over. - John Book Recent