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Jasiri X

Jasiri X
Born Jasiri Oronde Smith
Chicago
Residence Pittsburgh
Citizenship American
Occupation Rapper, activist
Organization 1Hood
Awards Honorary doctorate, Chicago Theological Seminary (2016), Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Artist as Activist Award (2015), grant from Open Society (2015), USA Fellow (2015)
Website www.jasirix.com

Jasiri X (Jasiri Oronde Smith) is a Pittsburgh-based rapper and activist who recorded a song in 2007 entitled "Free the Jena 6 on youtube." A recipient of the Rauchenberg Artist as Activist award and founder of One Hood. In 2016, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Chicago Theological Seminary.

Jasiri X was born Jasiri Oronde Smith in Chicago, Illinois. In the 1980s he moved with his mother to Monroeville, Pennsylvania and attended Gateway High School, graduating at age 16. Intending to become a lawyer, he began college at the University of Maryland, then attended the University of Pittsburgh but did not finish college.

After leaving school, Jasiri Smith joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Jasiri X. Under the leadership and direction of Louis Farrakhan he later become an ordained minister of the group.

In 2007 Jasiri recorded "Free the Jena 6" for youtube. other songs "Trayvon", following George Zimmerman's shooting of Trayvon Martin in February 2012, "Do We Need to Start a Riot?" and "What if the Tea Party was Black," were released on Youtube. In 2010 he released his first album, American History X. In 2013, he released a second album, called Ascension, with Vancouver label Wandering Worx. In 2015, he released Black Liberation Theology, with features from David Banner and Tef Poe among others. He has mentioned Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Lauryn Hill, Tupac, the Notorious B.I.G., Public Enemy, and KRS-One as among his musical influences.


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