Rachid is Rasalus profile picture

Rachid is Rasalus

About Me

As a boy he learned to sing by listening to birds and went on as soloist in a Black Baptist church choir- a rebellious act for the son of African-American Muslim parents. As a teenager visiting the island of St.Thomas, Rasalus sang karaoke one evening. The next morning, the whole island knew his name. Rasalus made his home in New York City's East Village, before it was gentrified, and has a devoted following there. Vocally he is the heir royal to Arethra Franklin and Stevie Wonder. His lyrics have been described as pre-Motherhood Sinead,( ...you watch us wither into tear stains, you say that when we're gone, you will remain... ), and as a black Bob Dylan. His sound is best described as pop music with equal parts rock, hip-hop and electro. He has performed with the likes of Vernon Reid and The Roots, and with Lauryn Hil under the name Rachid. His fans include Christina Aguilera, India Arie and Maxwell, as well as producers Dallas Austin and Clark Kent. Universal records unofficially released a limited number of copies of his debut album 'Prototype' to western media. Through press release and DJ play alone, his recording of Serge Gainsbourg's Requiem Pour Un Con, (-Requiem For A Jerk-), sung in French, became a huge underground hit. To have been granted permission by the Gainsbourg estate to sing the song is a rare, seldom granted honor in itself. His performance on Italy's most watched TV show 'Quelle Che', followed Elton John's. His name was on lips and magazine covers throughout the country. Rasalus's name refers to one of the fixed stars in his astrological birth chart, which translated means: Lion's Roar. It is found in the natal charts of the greatest voices. Rasalus tastefully uses every note in his 4 octave range. Rasalus's favorite singers are Arethra Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Whitney Houston, Maria Callas, and gospel singer Karen Clark. He also loves Indian food and the melismas of India's traditional music. Rasalus's look is known to make heads turn, due to his exotic features and his cool yet singular fashion sense. Rasalus would like for to people know that he serves them through his music. If Tina Turner, David Bowie and Aretha Franklin cloned a child, it would be Rasalus. If Rasalus is ever performing in your vicinity, run, don't walk, to see his live show! It will be one of the most memorable events of your precious life. You too will understand why so many root for Rasalus! Come one, come all to watch this PHOENIX RISE FROM THE ASHES! P.S. "MY NAME IS RASALUS" is available on Kawomusic, "PROTOTYPE" is available on itunes and amazon.com! allow me to PENETRATE ur EARHOLES.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 04/03/2006
Band Website: www.Rasalus.com (under reconstruction!) VISIT NOW!
Band Members: I am a solo artist.... Quelle ego! 1 LONE STUD. IMEEM- THE RASALUS GROUP YOU TUBE- RASALUSFANCORPS MUSIC NATION-RACHIDISRASALUS FACEBOOK- RASALUS IS RACHID object width="425" height="344"> ..
Influences: see my video on you tube now: Rachid-pride( & live footage now available!) SEE ALL UR FAVE RACHID & RASALUS LIVE SHOW GEMS ON YOU TUBE!
Sounds Like: I say: razors tucked into butter!........They say:Spin Magazine...."lyric sheet of the year"(1999)Village Voice..."Emotion-often raw enough to make you cringe..."New York Times..."His powerful voice drops from a scream to a coo, begging and accusing in the same breath."Mojo... "Prince and Madonna have a lot to amswer for."...".. a stunningly capable and imaginative musician with a beautiful soul voice..."Pulse... "... the fresh sounds that come from someone daring enough to create his own style and look."..."His lyrical content packs few familiar punches."Vibe..."The midnight wail of Chaka Khan, and the mutations of David Bowie.."Interview...".. his voice is joyfully, gloriously soulful."USA today..." Remarkable... deeply personal and moving."Trace... "New artists tend to get coddled, but (he) deserves it."Blues & Soul... "The man himself is a prototype, all the stuff of worthy pop icons."
Record Label: buy 'my name is Rasalus' @ KAWO-MUSIC... like NOW!
Type of Label: Unsigned

My Blog

25 random things about me

25) I love okra- anyway you wanna serve it!24) I have a bevy of abandoned cats that own me23) Shirley Bassey & Tom jones are 2 of my all time fave singers22) I am naturally obsessive about any and eve...
Posted by on Sun, 17 May 2009 16:12:00 GMT

gabba gabba hey!

ok, so i just had a real epiphany! all of the questionably autobiographical lyrics on prototype were not autobiographical at the time but were rather prophetic... meaning: what i wrote about my life i...
Posted by on Sun, 19 Apr 2009 05:51:00 GMT

YOU INTERVIEW ME!

ok kidz! so I'm doing an interview for an online site. More importantly, it's like a videoblog to bring you up to date about my work from Prototype 'til now. I'm also going to share a little about the...
Posted by on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:25:00 GMT

post ur responses here!

ok, so it's been a while. so much has happened since i last blogged: obama! shoe bommerangs at bush, Hillary, the Etta James revival, Tina Returner, recession/depression...etc. i feel as though i've n...
Posted by on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:45:00 GMT

Rasalus/Rachid/Pride

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSwz6yoCbkM
Posted by on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:32:00 GMT

love letter

to all of u who turned ur backs, to those who thought that i'd disappear, to all who thought that i'd be forgotten, to all who never took me seriously, to all who silently jeered when i still had indi...
Posted by on Sun, 25 May 2008 18:27:00 GMT

love

i am inexplicably in love with a...er... um... Scandinavia!
Posted by on Sun, 16 Mar 2008 11:53:00 GMT

dresden dolls

Amanda Palmer takes my breath away.
Posted by on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 05:25:00 GMT

some of my favorite creative expressions

KLIMT, MARILYN MONROE, DOLLY PARTON, MARK TWAIN, FREDERICK DOUGLASS, GERTE, DAVID BOWIE, BERTOLT BRECHT, MARLENE DIETRICH, EDITH PIAF,JOSEPHINE BAKER, BILLY IDOL, EGON SCHILLE, MOZART, RACHMANINOFF, T...
Posted by on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:27:00 GMT

the dollar is the new weimar republic deustchmark!

i hope to c as many of u as possible on FRIDAY FEB. 1ST BAMCAFE @ 9.30 IN BROOKLYN. let me entertain u for FREE! just bring ur wiggly asses and alcoholic $ cause it's gonna be a stone jazz honey! i wi...
Posted by on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:00:00 GMT