(Shining Star Music) - A The talented and outspoken K-Salaam has brought together an amazing array of talent, all with a common vision, to bring you "The World is Ours." The title of the album represents the idea that all struggling people will one day take back what is rightfully theirs. "
The World Is Ours" is a producer/compilation album that deals with issues that affect poor people and people of color everywhere, featuring all original tracks produced by himself and his partner Beatnick, with songs by Mos Def, Sizzla, Papoose, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, Da Backwudz, Capleton,
Black Ice, Anthony B, Bobbito Garcia, Luciano, and many more. The album will hit the streets this coming June 27 on Shining Star Music/Rex Recordings/Koch. Every artist on the album wrote a song that revolves around the theme of the project.
"My goal for this album is to spark new ideas, wake up the People, and let my Brothers and Sisters know that they are not alone. If my People who are really struggling listen to this album, it will give them hope and strength; and that's exactly what I'm trying to do. I want to use my music to send a message to the world. That message is that the People need to take back what has been stolen from us '?ì the truth. This message is universal." K-Salaam
Although the theme of "The World Is Ours" may seem heavy-handed, K-Salaam does a good job of easing the message into the listeners' ear rather than shoving politics down one's throats. Musically, the album does not hit you over the head with politics at all and avoids being preachy and corny. Additionally, with lines like "I could bust a sawed off shotgun with one hand," and "Puffin '?òdro all day / Thugged out, strapped with an AK," Salaam manages to make an album that is not just for backpackers, but for the streets as well. As a matter of fact, the most political part of the album is not even in the music, it is the 2-page statement written by K-Salaam that is attached to every copy of the album. This statement describes in full detail his vision of the project, and what he is trying to do with the album. This is something completely new in hip-hop. Additionally, in an attempt to make his message even more powerful, Salaam called upon some of his friends/favorite artists on the album to also make a statement about what "The World Is Ours" means to them.
During the creation of this album, K-Salaam was forced to watch as members of his own family were assaulted, harassed and arrested in the rising climate of fear and hatred towards people of Middle-Eastern descent since 9/11. However, K-Salaam stayed focused through all of this and while keeping his eye on the job at hand he packed all of his belongings and relocated to New York City from his home in Minneapolis. Using his award-winning talents as a producer and DJ, K-Salaam kept food on the table by selling beats and when he had enough money, traveled to Jamaica where he forged strong relationships with some of the most prolific figures in Reggae music such as: Sizzla, Anthony B, and Capleton, whose family treated him as one of their own. As he shared his vision with them, they each felt compelled to be a part of it. This album is the result. Upon his return to the US, K-Salaam found that many more artists, people such as Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, and Da Backwudz also shared his vision. That combined with his gifted production skills he shares with his partner, encouraged others like Papoose to come on board. It was going to take more than a nation of millions to stop K-Salaam, who focused on the positive and hustled hard to make this album a reality, while forging strong ongoing relationships with all of the contributing artists that will last a lifetime.
