Have you ever heard of Fatihah? You probably haven’t, and with so much happiness, I introduce you to Fatihah! Well, brace yourselves for this rap legend who has been in the field for more than 30 years. Growing up on the streets of St. Louis, MO Fatihah’s story is one of resilience, dedication and straight-up skills.
Picture this: even during the ‘90s, Fatihah was learning how to tell stories through beats and rhymes in his hometown’s alleys and block parties. Jump to today and he has decided as an independent after being with groups and labels for years. It is high time for him to bring all that knowledge and independence.
Fatihah’s music is cool because his songs are not just about beats and rhymes. It’s about real life. His songs encompass all struggles and victories. And guess what? He is about to release his first single once more.
In his upcoming project dubbed “Elevate Your Mind,” Fatihah aims at doing more than music. He wants you to have some ideas, ponder and perhaps alter something about oneself or the world.
So, what’s next for Fatihah? As for him, it’s all about getting in touch with his tribe—his fans who feel his vibe. And hey, who knows? Perhaps there can be some collabs in the future. However, at this moment he’s concentrating on the fact that he remains himself and gives a little hope and inspiration through his music.
Prepare to be motivated because Fatihah is here to remind us all that the best days are yet to come. Let’s go with the beat and just see where this ride takes us. Let’s wait for “Elevate Your Mind” coming on the 9th of January
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What is your stage name
Fatihah
Is there a story behind your stage name?
My stage name is actually my middle name. Everybody that knows me personally call me Fah which is Short for Fatihah
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration from any real life situation. All my songs are conceptual. I have no regular songs just rambling. There is always a topic or concept to disgust.
What was the role of music in the early years of your life?
Early in life Music was everything. I actually passed up on a baseball scholarship because the group I was in was about to take off, so we thought….So I put all my marbles in this music basket.
Are you from a musical or artistic family?
My dad was a DJ and radio personality in the 1980’s. And My mom, still to this day, have a radio playing in every room of her house 24/7. So being surrounded by music all those years just transeferred to me. My son recorded his first song at the age of 2, and now my 7 year old daughter is singing and dancing on Tiktok. So music is running all through my bloodline.
Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?
2 friends of mine came on the block one day. One beatboxed and the other one rapped, while the entire neighborhood circled around them. They had the entire crowd captivated as we all stood there silently, watched and listened until the end. Then simutaneously we all erupted into applause and shouts at their performance. I was HOOKED at that very moment. I wanted to be able to capitvate an audience just like that.
How did you learn to sing/write/to play?
That same friend taught me how to write, how to structure a song, and how to format a stage show. So I’ve been building on that foundation ever since.
What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform?
The first concert I ever went to was the Budweiser Superfest in St. Louis, MO in1984. I watched Run DMC perform. And what a performance. They didn’t just walk back and forth rapping. They put on a play. And that’s exactly what my stage show look like.
How could you describe your music?
I struggle with this question a lot, because I dont want to give a cliche answer. But I must say reality music. I have a wide range of concepts to my songs. If you were to take a road trip while listening to my album, you will find yourself on an emotional rollercoaster because I touch on so many different topics.
Describe your creative process.
My creative process is simply paying attention to what’s going on around me and writing about it. For, I know if I’ve been through it, there must be millions of others that have also. So I create a hook out of that topic. My hooks, usually come first, then I try to find a track to fit that hook, if I’m not fortune enough to have the beat tailor made for it. Once I find a track that compliments the hook, I write my verses directly to elements inside the instumental. Therefore no two songs will sound alike.
What is your main inspiration?
My main inspiration is getting my messages out to the world. I believe I have some songs that will literally change some people’s lives. And I am eager to find out.
What musician do you admire most and why?
Prince was the artist that I admired the most because he was the ultimate song creator. He wrote all his songs, he sang all the lyrics, including the background vocals, and he played all the instruments himself. That’s amazing to me.
Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career?
Heck yeah. In the beginning of my career, the majority of my songs were about how tough I was, and how many people I can kill… in every verse. The names of a Couple of my groups were Gangsters of Homicide and Murder 1’s. Smdh lmao. Just thinking about it is making me cringe right now.
Who do you see as your main competitor?
I don’t see anyone as competition. I’m in my own lane. And there are enough people on earth for everybody to have their own fans. I’m just trying to find my tribe.
What are your interests outside of music?
Outside of music, I like outdoor events. Camping is one of the things I enjoy most. I’m like a die hard camper. I have the 4 bedroom tent, the king size air mattress, the air sectional couch, the camping toilet, shower, sink….I’m all in when it comes to camping.
If it wasn’t a music career, what would you be doing?
Until I’m able to making a living off of my music, I will continue to operator my trucking business. I’m at a point in my life where I can’t have a boss or supervisor. So I have to work for myself.
What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music?
The biggest problem I have encountered in my journey is being under someone else’s label and having potential major deals rolling in for the artists. But the label owners turning down the deals because they dont benefit the label as much as it would the artist. Hence, why I’ve decided to just do it myself. I’d rather turn down deals on my behalf rather than letting someone else do it for me again.
If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?
Actually I love where the industry is right now. I wouldn’t change anything. Right now it is set up for anyone with enough drive and tenacity to draw enough attention to themselves to make a decent living off their music. You don’t necessarily need a major deal to live off your music anymore.
Why did you choose this as the title of this project?
I chose Elevate Your Mind as the title because of all the different topics I touch on in this album. Each song will make you think, reflect, or want to change something about yourself or in this world, without feeling like your’re being scolded. So, as long as you have an open mind, at LEAST one of my songs will make you want to do better.
What are your plans for the coming months?
For the coming months my plans are to find my tribe. I need to gather enough true fans so I can come perform a live show for them. So, I will keep researching and applying whatever I learn so I can find my tribe. With over 6 billions souls on earth, I’m sure I can find a few hundred that can vibe with me.
Do you have any artistic collaboration plans
At this moment, I don’t. Because I gotta get my weight up. I don’t want to put myself in a position where it feel like I need someone to create my buzz. I want to see what I can do on my own first. Then I’m open to work with anybody.
What message would you like to give to your fans?
My message to my fans is The best days of your life are ahead of you. So don’t Ever give up on your Dreams.
