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Iranian hip hop refers to hip hop music developed in Iran. It is rooted in American hip hop, but is also credited with inspirations from contemporary Iranian music.
Iranian hip hop emerged by the 2000s, from Tehran, the capital of Iran.
The music group 021 was one of the very first groups performing hip hop music in Iran. It was founded by Soroush Lashkary, better known by his stage name Hichkas. He combines hip hop with elements from Iranian classical music, and has a unique theistic and nationalistic lyrical style, avoiding vulgar words while referring to social issues. His first album Jangale Asfalt ("Asphalt Jungle") was one of the first Iranian hip hop albums, and brought much recognition to his name in Iranian communities.
Zedbazi, founded in April 2002, is known as the pioneer of gangsta rap in Iran. They rapidly achieved a huge popularity among the youth, due mainly to their controversial lyrics littered with profanities and depictions of sexual encounters and drug use. They are also credited with starting a new movement in Iranian music.
Bahram, an underground Iranian hip hop singer, is named as "one of the 50 most influential people shaping the culture of the Middle East" by The Huffington Post and Al-Monitor. His debut album 24 Saat ("24 Hours"), released in August 2008, was described as a powerful commentary on the modern-day of Iran by Rolling Stone.
Yas was the first Iranian rapper to be authorized to perform by the Iranian government. On December 21, 2011, he was chosen by voters as the Artist of the Week on MTV Iggy, entitled "Tehran’s Hard-Hitting MC".