STEELO performing at Immigration Rally (Seattle, WA)

On April 10, 2010 we had the opportunity to perform at the Immigration Rally in Seattle. The event took place at Occidental Park in Pioneer Square. It was an amazing experience for us to see 1,000+ people gathered for immigration reform. Here's footage from our performance along with us talking about the versatility of the group and what it means to be a part of this kind of event. The energy was crazy!

"NY-Z" - An ABSOLUT & Jay-Z Collaboration

This is a dope short film on the artistry and creativity from the man we all know as Jay-Z. Nothin' else needs to be said! Throw your Diamonds in the Air!!!

"Put Soul In It" - T-Weaponz feat. Tony Touch

This is one of our favorite tracks out right now!!! "Put Soul In It" has a dope throwback vibe and still captures a modern day relevance with each verse that's spit. Ark, Psalmz, and IzReal smack the **** out this beat. Throw in the legend Tony Touch and this whole track is a problem. We've known T-Weaponz since 2005 and they are the hardest working group we know. We consider each of them our brothers. We've had the chance to see them do live television interviews in L.A., network at conferences in San Diego/NYC, and perform with us in Seattle. These guys are the real deal. Their independent grind is unmatched and they have been a true example for us (STEELO) to follow. You can pick up their debut album "Just Begun" on iTunes to get yourself familiar with this trio from Brooklyn. Also hit up www.tweaponz.com for more info. Look out for STEELO & T-Weaponz collaborations coming soon.

Persian Hip-Hop & STEELO

Check out A.Uno of STEELO being interviewed by Jonathan Cunningham for "Publicola"

Persian Hip-Hop Tonight at Ibiza in Pioneer Square
Posted by Jonathan Cunningham on March 4, 2010 at 5:45 PM


I first got wind of a Persian hip-hop presence on the West Coast last week while talking to Alicia Amiri from Neumos. Although plenty of local music insiders might only know Alicia as the den mother behind Neumos, and the great decider on who ends up on the guest list and who doesn’t, she’s also a solid musician and advocate of Persian culture here in Seattle. She’s half Iranian and quickly schooled me to a growing presence of Persian hip-hop in both English and Farsi coming out of places like Vancouver and L.A.

I figured that was the beginning and end of the story about a cool, yet-probably-too-insular world for me to penetrate. But then yesterday, I heard about a Persian hip-hop showcase happening tonight at Ibiza in Pioneer Square. Turns out the headliner tonight is Shahin Najafi, an Iranian MC, poet, and activist now based in Germany with a big following throughout Europe (He was forced to relocate to Germany under pressure from the Iranian government.) He’s developed a reputation based around his political lyrics with songs such as “Singer in Blood” and “Tarafe Ma” clocking tens of thousands of hits on YouTube.

While I wasn’t able to get on the phone with Najafi, I did check in with A Uno, the lead MC in Seattle-based hip-hop/RnB group Steelo who are opening up tonight’s show. As an Iranian-American himself, A-Uno was able to shed some light regarding Persian hip-hop culture.

What does it mean for you to be on a bill tonight with Shahin Najafi?

It’s really exciting, especially since the show is in Seattle. I don’t think anyone would expect that to happen here. It’s great to see that there’s a community that can support this type of event. I think this really shows the versatility of our group, where we can open for main stream artists such as Pitbull and Sean Kingston then go and open for a Persian artist like Shahin.

Do you think there’s a legitimate Persian hip-hop community yet or are there just select Iranian MCs beginning to form one?

A Uno: I think that it’s definitely a genre that is growing within the Persian community as a whole. It seems like there are more outlets as far as websites and blogs that feature up and coming Persian hip-hop artists. Keep in mind that hip-hop has a global influence, connect that with the fact that 70 percent of the population in Iran is under 30 years old, there’s no question that “Persian hip-hop” can become more main stream in the near future.

What was your first exposure to hip-hop coming out of Iran or from Iranian-American artists?

Actually, my younger sister and brother keep me up to date on new artists coming out of Iran and the rest of the world. They tell me which artists are creating a buzz and what websites out there feature them. It’s been cool finding out that this genre exists within Persian music. When I was growing up it really was about Iranian pop music from artists based in Los Angeles, CA. Now I hear about Iranian artists coming out of Europe and Iran itself making their mark.

Who are the front-runners now within that sound? And moreover, what is the sound?

Artists such as Hichkas and Erfan have really made a name for themselves within the genre. Just like in hip-hop coming out of the U.S., there are different sounds and subjects being spoken about in the music. On one hand, you have lyrics about the current state of the society in Iran, changes that are needed and social awareness. On the other you have artists that talk about having a good time, parties, and of course ladies. It’s a wide spectrum.

I was surprised, but a lot of the Persian hip-hop being made now is stuff that you would expect to hear in English, only the MC is spitting in Farsi. There’s beats that have a more traditional Middle Eastern feel to them and hard hitting underground hip-hop.

How do you keep your heritage alive through the music you make?

At live shows I can spit a verse that incorporates 3 languages going from Farsi to English to Spanish. [His mom is Mexican]. We have a song on our debut album Music called “Lift Ya” where we mix hip-hop and traditional Middle-Eastern melodies. I throw in words and phrases in Farsi.

RIP BIG PUN - 11/10/1971 - 2/7/2000

February 7th marks the anniversary of Big Pun's untimely death, but rather than dwell on his passing, we celebrate what he was able to accomplish as an artist. Big Pun was the First solo Latino rapper to go Platinum! His debut album "Capital Punishment" released in April of 1998 peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for a Grammy. His debut single "I'm Not a Player" peaked at #3 on the U.S. rap charts in 1997 (Wikipedia.com). His delivery and word play are unlike any other before or after him. "Still Not a Player" featuring Joe is still one of the dopest records created! Big Pun's music had a big influence on me and his accomplishments within the industry have been motivating. RIP Christopher Rios aka Big Pun!
- A.Uno of STEELO

We're performing live at Studio 7 in Seattle! All ages Show!!!!

Don't miss our next performance at Studio 7 in Seattle. Click on the flyer below or go to www.aftonshows.com/STEELO to purchase tickets. These will go fast, bout to be a crazy show!!!

"Nothin' On You" - B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars

This is one of the hottest tracks out right now. The hook is on point and gets stuck in your head (Bruno Mars kills it) and B.o.B comes correct on the verses. Bottom line is this song is a banger!!! We think all artists can relate to this joint. No matter where you travel to and/or the music takes you, if you got that special someone at home you remind her "They Got Nothin' on You"!!! Check out B.o.B on the latest release from Pitbull called "Rebelution" too. Enjoy! (Shout out to Kube 93 in Seattle for keepin' this in rotation)

Freeway & Jake One - "The Stimulus Package"

Philly MC Freeway teams up with Seattle based producer Jake One to bring us "The Stimulus Package." The album is due for a mid February release date. Heard the single "She makes me feel alright," on Sunday Night Sound Session on Kube 93 in Seattle. Watch this video for a dope concept for the actual cd packaging. Freeway & Jake One helping to stimulate the economy of Hip-Hop!

"DJ Premier" Nike Air Force 1 Low

Yo, we had to post a pic of these being huge fans of Hip-Hop and Sneakers. DJ Premier, one of the most famous producers in the Hip-Hop world joining forces with Nike to give us a special edition Air Force 1!!! These joints are crazy! Since 1990 DJ Premier has been producing your favorite rappers hits and it doesn't seem like he's stopping any time soon. Check out his discography on Wikipedia. Gotta find out how we can get our hands on these! They say Jordan's make you jump higher and run faster; we gotta a feeling these help you in the booth!!!

Music Video: "Make Up My Mind" - STEELO

Here's our music video for our single "Make Up My Mind" produced by Fingazz of Streetlight Music. Directed by James "Latin" Clark and filmed in the DUMBO district in Brooklyn, NY. Appearances by Magic Juan formerly of Proyecto Uno, DJ Master Millions, and IzReal of T-Weaponz to name a few. The video was playing in Foot Locker and Foot Action USA stores nationwide. We also gotta shout out Mun2, MTV Tr3s, local video shows, and all the internet sites that supported us on this one!