If you ever sit down and talk to the man himself; Erfan Hajrasuliha will tell you he is a poet before a rapper, and a musician before an artist. Truer words were never spoken. His music, artistically contrived and produced with his particular vision in mind, represents a musical tapestry unheard of in the hip-hop / rap genre since the days of Tupac, Biggie, & The Roots. Why? 11 tracks, all unique in nature, all touching upon real subject matter that people can not just bob there head to, but relate to and contemplate on. Blasting into your eardrums with his first Track “Intro”, Erfan explains his desire to become a musician in a 30-bar explosion of lyrical genius that parallels even the best rappers of today. You would be hard pressed to find someone who can put together such long and meaningful sentences together while still retaining the ability to flow harmoniously with the beat. Combine that with the intricacies of the Farsi language, and Erfan has no equal. Moving on, Erfan describes the inner struggle of one trying to make it in life in his song “Maayeh”, pointing out that some people are spoon-fed success while others must struggle to earn the fruits of their labor; regardless of your situation don’t just stand around, do something about it. In songs "Joda" & "Emshab", he is able to change up his style and even voice to cater to the female listener by providing a smooth easy going sound that all can enjoy, yet still refraining from packing the lyrics with poppy catch phrases that dominate the club bangers these days. He concludes his album with two of his strongest songs, “Bezar Begam” and an untitled bonus track which has one of the best beats I have heard all year. The problem with Rap Music these days is it is no longer lasting. I’ll still be bumping Tupac in my car when Chingy and DJ Unk have long faded in my memory. Erfan has created an album which in my opinion will remain timeless for years to come, and solidified himself by finishing the album without a uttering a single profanity; aren’t you tired of hearing people string a sentence of F-words together because they couldn’t come up with anything better? I am. So if your ready for an album that speaks to the soul, mind, and spirit then check out his album, but be ready to sit and ponder the words and meanings behind them, as they are not tailored to a generation of dumbed down consumers who just want to “walk it out” and “be real fly”. When he speaks, he wants to be heard, so listen intently; that’s his word.

Iranian-born and US-based, the 23 years old Erfan began to study his mother-tongue and culture at an early age. In his musical debut titled “Az Khaane taa Goor” Erfan attempts to explore the encounter and entwining of his Iranian heritage with the American life by dressing his poetry in a HIP HOP fashion. Written and composed by mainly Erfan himself “Az Khaane taa Goor” features also material by Amir (A-plus), Afra, Khashayar and Sahand. The album contains 11 tracks even though on the cover only 10 tracks are credited for! Released on the newly branched out Mystery 4’s record company. The album opens with the RAPID FIRE RAPPING “Intro” building suspension! “Khatte Man” is a CATCHY song with a touch of FOLK and West Coast’s Electro-FUNK flow. Serving Erfan as his “My Way”! Now to the song that introduced Erfan to the MAINSTREAM audience through its controversial music video! “Sad Ghassam” is a nationalist-patriotic manifest of a young Iranian-American and representative of the generation growing up outside Iran! Erfan’s route to his passion and subject of affection, his music, was a bumpy road as presented in the log called “Jaade”! Another CATCHY “my way” song with an excellent chorus. I’m not sure whether its Erfan himself who does the chorus but since its not declared otherwise in its credits I assume so and wish to hear him singing more in his songs. To reflect over the power of the “matter” or trendily put “chi-ching” and “bling bling” in today’s world of social rifts and injustices comes “Maaye”! One of the more different tracks on the album is “Emshab”. A song on the man-woman relationship which deviates positively from the main path of the album and its thematic/stylistic mainstream! Again we hear someone singing and again it’s a positive feature to enjoy! “Bia Bia” is a PARTY jam with the West Coast sound and the generic Arabic influences imbedded! Most of the songs on this album are shorter than the Iranian industry average, this song however could have benefited from a longer running-time due to its nature! Next comes a raging song called “Koor” with lyrics directed ambivalently at either the ignorant blinder-bearers of society or some kind of territory-marking and “dissback” at a certain fellow RAPPER?! Your guess is as good as mine! A CATCHY and well-produced song otherwise. Another different track which stands out thematically with its “romantic” content. The song called “Jodaa” features also a lovely guest performance by Mahshid! “Bezaar Began”, a song with the G-FUNK vibe of the West Coast and a declaration of independence from public/peer pressure! Last comes a “hidden song” not included in the track listing, most likely due to a misprint! “Jaazebe” is another “dissback” or better said “dissing” song, this time more explicitly and more directed at the industry as a whole!? If a rapper needs to show some “cocky attitude” instead of humbleness in order to be taken seriously as a rapper then this does it! I for one was put off by this single song, a true ANTI-CLIMAX which makes it difficult for me now to take the rest of the album seriously! For being of such an extremely boastful nature its ironic how this track managed to have itself fallen off the track list! I’m not sure whether Erfan is the artist’s actual birth-name or if it’s a picked stage-name! If the former then his parents must have known that their son would turn up to be an artist or better said a poet, since its what Erfan is and his name meaning “(eastern) mystique” is a rather suitable and catchy name for such an artist. Yes, Erfan’s everyday (street) poetry is his mighty Excalibur while the rest of the music is rather simple and kept to a minimum creation- and production-wise! But even though the lyrics are rich and powerful Erfan’s vocal performance doesn’t always do them justice by delivering them with less expression than wished for! At times his voice lacks that boost and push that the straightforwardness of his lyrics need in order to hit the bull’s-eye! His voice is masculine enough and promises strength initially but it tends to hold back on it when its finally down to the wire! Although Hichkas’s magnificent “Jangale Aasfaalt” was the first independent/underground Iranian HIP HOP album to hit the market, redefine the Persian RAP and herald the movement inside the country, Erfan’s “Az Khaane taa Goor” is the first commercially produced and released album that has the power to pave way for its likes in a MAINSTREAM market. It promises a lot from a generation far away from Iran, but not in its heart! A generation who, despite the distance, is passionate and focused enough to embrace its mother-tongue and culture. When was the last time we heard such thought-through lyrical material and risky fresh genre being delivered by an LA-artist on an LA-label?!! It was so long ago that I for one don’t remember! So “Az Khaane taa Goor” is a ventilating breeze in an industry where things have stayed the same for far too long! In an industry in dire need of a musical diversity. An industry that MUST stop underestimating the younger generations and instead starting to believe and invest in them! And I’m happy to see that Erfan’s “Az Khaane taa Goor” is a solid step in the right direction!