Hakim: The King of Egyptian Shaabi

H = Hakim
S = James G. Spady

S: Hakim, what does it mean to be "The Sheik of Egyptian Shaabi" music?

H: First of all, it is an honor to be given that name by the people.  Having that title, "The Sheik of Shaabi," adds to the responsibilities I have as an artist and as a musician to uphold that name.  There is so much of a responsibility in having such a name that it can tire me sometimes.  It means that you have to perform at a high level all of the time.

S: Actually, it is a double weight.  Having the name Hakim is already a powerful name that carries with it certain expectations.

H: At times they collide. [Laughing heartily]

S: What is the difference between the Hakim who is on stage – with all of that energy, all of that James Brown spirit – and the Hakim who is in a relaxed and cool state of being after the performance?

H: The Hakim that you see on stage is Hakim the artist.  Once I leave the stage, I am a normal person, very quiet.  I don't like a lot of noise.  Honestly, when I'm offstage, I am extremely calm.

S: When you are composing a new song, what time of the day do you find best to do that?

H: Usually always late at night.  It's after I leave the concert and having seen and felt the reaction of the people that I begin writing because I still have the energy from the people in the audience.  This inspires me to create something even stronger than what I just did.

S: You know, I had been looking forward to seeing you and Khaled in concert together in New York at the Beacon Theater.  But, in light of the events of 9/11, the U.S. tour was cancelled.  Has there been new responsibilities you've had following this catastrophic event?

H: Of course.  Right after that happened.  There was a lack of hope, a fear that people had that there would be a cultural divide, that people were going to become more separate and not be a part of a global community.  But, through the music things have come to heal, and hope is being restored.  Music brings people together so that at the end of the day, the people are part of the global community.  And really, that's why it is so important that we do concerts like this one in New York's Central Park, to show the people that we are one.  It also demonstrates just what people are able to achieve when they come together as one in events like a musical concert.  Without such opportunities to get to know one another,
people might get the wrong picture of Arabic-speaking peoples.
S: What was it like doing a recording in Los Angeles with the African-American Soul singer, James Brown, and then going to spend a day doing a video with him in his hometown of Augusta, Georgia?  How would you describe that experience?

H: Of course, it was an honor for me to work with James Brown because he has had such an amazing career as an artist.  James Brown's music is very important to me, like a root or foundation.  And I can vividly recall how it felt as I listened to all of his songs.  So, you can see, that for me to sing and perform with James Brown was like having my head in the clouds.  It was the same when I did some stuff with Stevie Wonder.  For me to record songs with James Brown and Stevie Wonder is like receiving a certificate of achievement.  When I got to Augusta, Georgia to see James Brown, I never thought he would be such a humble person.  He was very quiet, very cheerful.  There was not so much fuss around him.  We just spent the day magnificently, from the beginning to the end.

S: Who were the Egyptian singers you admired most when you were coming up and how did they help you to develop your own style?

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