Erfan Hajrasuliha (), known professionally as Erfan Paydar (), is an Iranian
rapper
Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backing ...
, singer, songwriter,
producer, and label owner. He is one of the pioneers of
Persian Rap
Iranian hip hop (Persian: هیپهاپ ایرانی), also known as Persian hip hop (هیپهاپ فارسی), refers to hip hop music in the Persian language developed in Iran and the Iranian diaspora. It originated from American hip hop cu ...
. Erfan's "Az Khaneh Ta Goor" (
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
: از خانه تا گور) was one of the first professionally produced Iranian rap albums, released by a major record label. He is nicknamed the "Sun of Persian rap” (
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
: خورشید رپ پارس) by his fans. He is the founder of the label Paydar. He has a collaboration with Yas, Ho3ein, Koorosh and so many Iranian artists . His views are a result of his personal experiences and that is reflected in his poems.
His songs provide a mixture of commentary on daily life as well politics, poetry, and social issues.
In addition to Az Khaneh Ta Goor, Erfan has, to date, released more albums including, Hamishegi, Khodafezi and Ayatoltrap (with Gdaal), Angizeh accompanied by Dara Paydar and Khorshid Vol. 1 (Tolou).
Erfan took a hiatus from music for two years following the release of Khodafezi. According to Erfan, the reasons for his farewell are fully stated in this album. Then, in 2018, he made his return with the release of the single "Khosh Oomadi" featuring Canis.
In addition to music, Erfan has worked in other fields including directing, photography, podcast production (Nomadland Podcast), establishing real estate Paydar Fit and Cuché sustainable apparel brands.
Biography
Life and career
Erfan was born in
Isfahan
Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...
, Iran, on 3 August 1983. He ended his career after the "Khodahafezi" (meaning Goodbye) album was released in 2016 but he returned to Iranian hip-hop in 2018 with the single song "Khosh Omadi" (meaning welcome back).
Work to date
Erfan released his debut album ''Az Khaneh Ta Goor'' (From the Cradle to the Grave) in 2007. Erfan's focus on his first album was to introduce Iranian hip hop to a wider audience and detail some of his frustrations with Iranian music. The album was named after a poem by
Molaana Rumi about death. The album encompasses some of his thoughts as a traveling immigrant from his home country Iran. On 1 September 2011 Erfan released the single, 'Donya Male Maast" featuring
Sami Beigi
Saman Es'hagh Beigi (; born November 22, 1982) known as Sami Beigi () is an Iranian singer and songwriter currently living in Irvine, California, United States.
In an interview with "Zarebin" and "Voice of Farsi", he mentioned that he was raised ...
, produced and composed by Los Angeles-based composer/producer Naveed Dezfoli.
''Az Khaneh Ta Goor'' (2007)
On 24 July 2007, Erfan released his first album. Earlier events had provided inspiration for Erfan's first album. Erfan was briefly arrested and jailed in 2002. "Sad Ghasam" was featured on Erfan's debut album, ''Az Khaneh Ta Goor''.
Musical style and influence
Erfan has said that "many old school/new school musicians and many old school/new school
Iranian poets
Iranian () may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Iran
** Iranian diaspora, Iranians living outside Iran
** Iranian architecture, architecture of Iran and parts of the rest of West Asia
** Iranian cuisine, cooking traditions and practic ...
" have influenced him in his style. In his interview with
Radio
Radio is the technology of communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 3 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmitter connec ...
Javan he names some of his influences as traditional Iranian poets such as
Omar Khayyam
Ghiyāth al-Dīn Abū al-Fatḥ ʿUmar ibn Ibrāhīm Nīshābūrī (18 May 1048 – 4 December 1131) (Persian language, Persian: غیاث الدین ابوالفتح عمر بن ابراهیم خیام نیشابورﻯ), commonly known as Omar ...
,
Hafez
(), known by his pen name Hafez ( or 'the keeper'; 1325–1390) or Hafiz,
“Ḥāfeẓ” designates someoone who has learned the Qurʾān by heart" also known by his nickname Lisan al-Ghaib ('the tongue of the unseen'), was a Persian lyri ...
and
Saddi Shirazi and more recent Iranian poets such as
Sohrab Sepehri
Sohrab Sepehri ( 7 October 1928 – 21 April 1980; ) was a notable Iranian poet and painter. He is considered to be one of the five most famous Iranian poets who have practiced modern poetry alongside Nima Youshij, Ahmad Shamlou, Mehdi Akhav ...
and
Parvin E'tesami
Rakhshandeh E'tesami (, ''Raḵšanda Eʿteṣāmī''; 17 March 1907 – 4 April 1941), better known as Parvin E'tesami (), was a 20th-century Iranian Persian language, Persian poet.
Life
Parvin E'tesami was born on 17 March 1907 in Tabriz to M ...
. He also mentions traditional Iranian music and names singers
Dariush
Dariush (), also spelled Darioush, Daryoush, or Daryoosh, is a Persian-language masculine given name. It is composed of () and (), meaning ''holding firm the good''.
Within the Achaemenid dynasty, three rulers of the Persian Empire held the n ...
and
Googoosh
Faegheh Atashin (; born 5 May 1950), known professionally as Googoosh (, ), is an Iranian singer and former actress. Regarded as a pop icon, she is one of the most popular and prolific entertainers in Iran, and her career has spanned over six de ...
as well as American rappers
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur (; born Lesane Parish Crooks; June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor, regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all tim ...
,
Nas
Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones.
Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to:
Aviation
* Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea
* National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia
** Nas Air (S ...
and
Mos Def
Yasiin Bey ( ; born Dante Terrell Smith; December 11, 1973), formerly known as Mos Def ( ), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. A prominent figure in conscious hip hop, he is recognized for his use of wordplay and commentary on social an ...
.
Social causes
In 2007, he collaborated on a public service announcement for the Persian American Cancer Institute. In July 2009, following the
Post 2009 election events in Iran, he released a song called
Tasmim (Decision) about the events of the election in which he expressed sorrow, frustration, and a request for the movement to continue. He continued supporting the
Green Movement of Iran
The Iranian Green Movement () or Green Wave of Iran (), also referred to as the Persian Awakening or Persian Spring by the western media, refers to a political movement that arose after the 12 June, 2009 Iranian presidential election and lasted u ...
on his Facebook page.
Erfan's support for 25 Bahman protests
/ref>
Albums
*''Az Khaneh Ta Goor
Erfan Hajrasuliha (), known professionally as Erfan Paydar (), is an Iranian rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, and label owner. He is one of the pioneers of Persian Rap. Erfan's "Az Khaneh Ta Goor" (Persian: از خانه تا گور) was ...
'' (2007)
*'' Hamishegi'' (2010)
*''Khodafezi'' (2016)
*''Ayatol Trap'' (2018)
*''Angizeh'' (2020)
*Nur (2022)
*Khorshid Vol. 1 (Tolou) (2024)
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Erfan
1983 births
Living people
Iranian hip-hop musicians
Iranian rappers
Musicians from Isfahan
21st-century Iranian male singers