Zedbazi


Zedbazi is an Iranian hip hop band, formed by longtime friends Saman Wilson and Mehrad Hidden from Tehran, and later joined by Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ, Sijal & Nassim. They are known as the pioneer of gangsta rap in Iran.
The band was officially suspended in October 2014 due to personal reasons. On May 20, 2020 Zedbazi announced they are back on their Instagram page. Shortly after on June 10, 2020, they released two single tracks named Yakh, a diss track to Hichkas and Moltafet, and Bache Mahal talking about their past path to becoming famous from the beginning of Persian Rap in Iran. The songs were released on Radio Javan. Moltafet, including the artists Mahdyar Aghajani and Ashkan Fadaei responded with their own reaction diss track. They discussed Zedbazi's ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guards in their song Dige Tablo Shode.

History

Foundation

The Foundation of the band dates back to early 2002. It was started up by Saman Rezapour and Mehrad Mostofi-Rad, who were friends in a high school in Tehran. Despite having older experiences in music, the formation of the band as in a hip hop style was motivated by Saman's cover of Eminem's Without Me, which was performed with a matched vulgar lyrics written in Persian. After moving to London, they met Sohrab Mostavafi in a summer school, where he joined the band after collaborating on Kal Kal, a cover of D12's Rap Game.
The first collaboration of Siavash Jalali and Alireza Jazayeri with the band's earlier members was Berim Faza, produced by Alireza JJ in 2005. Siavash and Alireza were best friends in Paris, where they had also met Nassim Parize, an Iranian finalist at the French reality TV show Star Academy with her twin sister, Neissa.
The three future band members officially joined Zedbazi by releasing Tabestoon Kootahe in September 2007. They brought a new style into the band, as Mehrad Hidden remarks in Ardeshir Ahmadi's Zedbazi Documentary. "The formula they brought was different than ours. Our formula was necessary for the inception, theirs was necessary for the continuation."
The name Zedbazi consists of the words zed and bāzi. It is what Saman and his friends used to call each other in high school, and according to the band, it can mean both "an old and close friend" and "an old-fashioned and fusty person"; it depends on the purpose. Therefore, Zedbazi can be translated as "the zakhar acts."

Popularity

Zedbazi emerged at the same time as Hichkas, and rapidly garnered a huge popularity between the youth, due to their controversial lyrics, littered with profanities, depictions of sexual encounters and drug use.
Tabestoon Kootahe is considered as Zedbazi's most popular song, which was released in September 2007. It is about "the bittersweet feeling" of summertime in Iran.

Separation

In October 2014, the band announced a separation between the members. It was due to some internal disagreements. Saman Wilson, who had not been attending to the band's songs after Tabestoon Kootahe, returned and joined Mehrad Hidden, forming a new band named Bozorg. Alireza JJ, Sijal, and Nassim decided to work together, and Sohrab MJ worked alone. They returned to Persian Rap in June 2020 by releasing two tracks.

Allegations of Links to the Revolutionary Guards

Allegations have existed about Zedbazi's ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guards. In March 2020, a video emerged on Iranian social media showing one of the lead vocalists of Zedbazi, Sohrab MJ attending an event in one of the Rahian-e Noor zones. Rahian-e Noor events are typically attended and run by members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards and Basiji milita. Despite rap being banned in Iran, members of the group travel back and forth between Europe and Iran regularly. The June 2020 song released by Mahdyar and Fadaei Dige Tablo Shode examines some of these controversies.

Members

Zedbazi

Until 2012, the band had yet to release an album, and their songs were provided as singles.
Their first studio album, Zakhar Nameh, was released on June 4, 2012. All of the band members, except Saman Wilson, were involved in the album, featuring Hichkas, Behzad Leito and Arash Dara.
TitleDetailsFeaturing ArtistsProducers
Zakhar Nameh
  • Released on Jun 10, 2012
  • Label: Zedbazi
Behzad Leito, Hichkas, and Arash DaraAlireza JJ, Mehrad Hidden, and Arash Dara
TitleyearMemberAlbum
Diss Ajili2002Saman WilsonN/A
Mehmooni2003Mehrad Hidden, Saman WilsonN/A
Kal Kal2003Sohrab MJ, Mehrad Hidden,taha kamyar and Saman WilsonN/A
Ahangamoon Khodast2004Sohrab MJ, Mehrad Hidden,taha kamyar and Saman WilsonN/A
Party2004Sohrab MJ, Mehrad Hidden,taha kamyar and Saman WilsonN/A
Az Khazar ta Khalije Fars2004Sohrab MJ, Mehrad Hidden,taha kamyar and Saman WilsonN/A
Diss back2004Mehrad Hidden, Saman WilsonN/A
Aroosak2004Sohrab MJ, Mehrad Hidden, and Saman WilsonN/A
Berim Faza2005Sijal, Sohrab MJ, Saman WilsonN/A
Male Ham Boodim2005Sijal, Sohrab MJN/A
Vase Har Irani2005Saman Wilson,HichkasN/A
Amade Bash2005Sohrab MJ, Mehrad HiddenN/A
Bi Hess2006Sijal, Sohrab MJ, Mehrad Hidden, Saman Wilson, Taha KamyN/A
Tabestoon Kootahe2007Sijal, Alireza JJ, Mehrad Hidden, Saman Wilson, NassimN/A
Guitare Koli2008Alireza JJ, Sijal, NassimN/A
Shahre Tarik2008Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJN/A
Zendegie Mane2009Mehrad Hidden, Sijal, Nassim, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJN/A
Zamin Safe2009Mehrad Hidden, Sijal, Nassim, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJN/A
Chon Ke Divoonatam2009Mehrad Hidden, Sohrab MJ, Taha KamyN/A
Kooche2009Sijal, Mehrad Hidden, Sohrab MJ,Taha KamyN/A
Iroonie L.A.2009Alireza JJ, Sijal, Mehrad HiddenN/A
Coocooli Koo2009Alireza JJ, Sijal, Mehrad HiddenN/A
Daro Baz Kon2010Mehrad Hidden, Sijal, Alireza JJN/A
Talafate Jang2010Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJN/A
Daastaane Maa2010Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, NassimN/A
Mesle Man2010Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJN/A
Pedare Man 2011Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ, Sijal, Taha KamyN/A
Mysterious Eyes2011Sijal, Sohrab MJ, Alireza JJN/A
Bekhand Masnooyi2011Mehrad Hidden, SijalN/A
Taze Shoru e Zendegimoone2011Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ, Sijal, NassimN/A
Saat Vayse2012Sijal, Alireza JJ, Mehrad Hidden, Nassim, Behzad Leito, DJ AFXN/A
Tehran Male Mane2012Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ, SijalZakhar Nameh
Cigare Soorati2012Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJ, Sijal, NassimZakhar Nameh
Dorough Tatil2012Sohrab MJN/A
Obi2013Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab MJN/A
Bache Mahal2020Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab Mj, Sijal, Saman WilsonN/A
Yakh2020Mehrad Hidden, Alireza JJ, Sohrab Mj, Sijal, Saman WilsonN/A

Alireza JJ, Sijal and Nassim

On July 28, 2014, the album Pir Shodim Vali Bozorg Na was released, including only three members of the band and without the record label of Zedbazi. It was composed by Alireza JJ and DJ AFX, and included Behzad Leito, Paya, Erfan, Sepehr Khalse, Sina Mafee, Magico and Cornellaa as featured artists.
TitleDetailsFeaturing ArtistsProducers
Pir Shodim Vali Bozorg Na
  • Released on Jul 28, 2014
  • Label: Radio Javan
Behzad Leito, Cornellaa, Sohrab MJ, Erfan, Paya, Sepehr Khalse, Sina Mafi, MagicoAlireza JJ, DJ AFX
Pir Shodim Vali Bozorg Na 2
  • Released on Sep 23, 2016
  • Label: Radio Javan
    		• Behzad Leito, Sohrab MJ, Sepehr Khalse, Siavash Rad, Wantons Alireza JJ, Siavash Rad, Sami Low, Behzad Leito, Khashayar SR, DJ AFX

    Bozorg

    The album Bozorg: Vol. 2, presented by Bozorg, was released on February 27, 2015; with Sohrab MJ, Arash Dara, Tara Salahi, Kiarash, and Siamak as featured artists. It was composed by Mehrad Hidden, Arash Dara, and DJ Rassek and mastered by Iman Tanha; including 19 tracks.The 2 other volumes are said to be released in future.
    TitleDetailsFeaturing ArtistsProducers
    Bozorg Vol 2
    • Released on Feb 27, 2015
    • Label: RAD Records
    		Sohrab MJ, Arash Dara, Tara,taha kamyar, Siamak, KiarashMehrad Hidden, Arash Dara

    Mehrad Hidden

    The album Toonel vol.1, presented by Mehrad Hidden was released on February 2, 2017; with Saman Wilson,, Sohrab MJ, Zakhmi, Arash Dara, Sijal and Canis as featured artists and DJ Rassek as featured composer. Toonel was Composed/produced by Mehrad Hidden and Canis and mastered by Iman Tanha; including 11 tracks in genre of Rock and Hip-Hop and sponsored by Bose. The other volume is said to be released in 2020.
    TitleDetailsFeaturing ArtistsProducers
    Toonel vol.1
    • Released on Feb 2, 2017
    • Label : Radio Javan
    		Saman Wilson, DJ Rassek, Sohrab MJ, Zakhmi, Arash Dara, Sijal, and CanisMehrad Hidden, Canis

    Sohrab MJ

    Sohrab MJ released his first album, Yeksin, on September 20, 2017. Alireza JJ is responsible for the production of the album while producing four tracks, and Khashayar Sr producing the remaining track. Yeksin Includes five tracks with guest artists from Zedbazi and Behzad Leito.
    TitleDetailsFeaturing ArtistsProducers
    Yeksin
    • Released on Sep 20, 2017
    • Label : Radio Javan
    		Mehrad Hidden, Behzad Leito, Alireza JJ, Sijal, and NassimAlireza JJ, Khashayar Sr