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My Dad. He taught me about soul, about feeling, about rock n’ roll, about rhythm. He breathed those things in everything he did. I transferred those things into my writing and then ultimately into my music. Over time I evolved, from a musician, to a writer, to an emcee, and now I’m transgressing back to a writer, and headed towards being a musician again.

Your name: APoetNomadAli aka POET, what does it mean and how did it come about?

One of the most prized possessions any lyricist, rapper, or emcee, can have is there name. Everything about it, is telling and indicative of who they are and what they are. Mine is no different. Even the way it immediately confuses someone is part of my identity. You have to dig a little deeper (like in my music) to unearth it’s true meaning: A Poet Nomad Ali. Four words, all parts of my identity that have formed who I am….Poet, for short, haha.

“Nomad”…why?

U.S. is my upbringing, Spain is my Stepmother, and Well, I am of Iranian descent. I have traveled to and/or lived in Spain, Italy, France, Morocco, Iran, U.S, Canada, Germany, Greece, Cypress, England. I am fluent in English, Spanish, Farsi, am learning Italian and French, and quite simply feel that one thing I can do with my music is assemble the notion that we as people, with all our differences (and they are many) share infinitely more, than we care to acknowledge or even realize.

Do you keep up with the Hip Hop Scene in Iran?

There a spirit blossoming in Iran that is nothing less than brilliant.

How would you describe your style?

The best way to describe my style as an artist is ….through the definition of Bruce Lee’s:

Jeet Kune Do (Chinese: 截拳道 Cantonese: Jitkyùndou lit. “Way of the Intercepting Fist,” also “Jeet Kun Do”,”JKD,” or “Jeet Kune Do”) is a hybrid fighting system and life philosophy founded by Bruce Lee in 1967 with direct, non classical, and straight forward movements. Jeet Kune Do is primarily an open hand system. The system works on the use of different ‘tools’ for different situations. These situations are broken down into ranges (Kicking, Punching, Trapping, & Grappling), with techniques flowing smoothly between them. Also, it is referred to as a “style without style”. Unlike more traditional martial arts, Jeet Kune Do is not fixed or patterned, and is a philosophy with guiding thoughts. (wikipedia definition oh yeah!)

You recently released OCD (Orange County Disorder) What was the concept behind it?

Much of what is happening in America regarding the economic downturn and the financial crisis is related to and a cause of O.C.D. (Orange County Disorder). This is not meant to pinpoint Orange County, because a deeper look at the album will reveal truths about our society as a whole. These patterns are simply being alluded to by using a concrete region as a reference for a much bigger picture.

Are there any Features?

Brawdcast, DJ Lil Fader, Weapon X, Basic, Sammy Issac, Ariano of Technicali Sound

Did you collab with any producers for the Production?

The title track O.C.D. was done by Jack Jr. Joey “Swordmaker” Figueroa did Lonely Girl, Destiny, Last of the Warriors, We’re Gonna Make it, Hit it like This, Superstar, Party Tonight and Big Huge House. Sammy Isaac did Home Sweet Home, and Damn Homey, and Chali Brown did Reach out.

What do you think you bring to Music and Hip Hop in General?

Purpose.

Have you released any prior projects before OCD?

I have 10 unreleased albums, written and recorded, that are waiting for the right moment to be released. Throughout the course of my career I will release some of them at various times. Other’s can only be heard on the burned CD’s of old friends who’ve had to bear witness to the process and who have been forced to listen to my material on various car systems.

Are there any projects you are working on or will be releasing soon?

I just released an album entitled: B.O.M. (Best of Me). This album has various songs from those previously written unreleased albums I mentioned, so I’m really hoping my fans, and my audience really digs into it and hits me with some feedback as to which joints there feeling most. This might help me decide what my next release might be. Also, I gotta a new b-boy single called KING OF VIP that’s also online.

Are you under a Major Label or Indie?

I run my own independent Label called Illhumannation Records (ill-human-nation), that has an international subdivision entitled SOULtani Records. We release everything independently and have had a few offers as far as promotion and distribution to market our stuff to a bigger an wider audience, but none of the offers have been appealing enough to take. If we were to join up with another indie or major, promotion would be a major factor in sweetening that union. We just can’t compete with the big bucks yet, as far as promotion goes, so we keep it professional, grassroots, and thorough.

Today with the mass popularity and hiphop and rap music, more people than ever are exposed to the art and have access to create it. Is this a good thing?

No. Not everybody deserves to pick up a mike and wield the power of word. Technology has done great things as far as enabling self expression, creating new mediums, and new ways to get and share music, however, the way it has enabled many undeserving bandwagon, lackey’s to jump into a very selective art form is catastrophic. I’m not the judge, the people and time will tell the difference…

What’s one of your goals for 2010?

Business goal: get more members on my team who I can trust and are good at what they do so I can focus on my art for my fans. Artistic goal: pay more attention to musicality of my songs, as lyricists we often tend to focus on content and not as much on musical composition.

Piece of advice for anyone thinking about a rap career?

Don’t jump on the bandwagon, behind the scenes it’s not near as luxurious as it looks, but if ur doing it for the right reasons, go hard and f– what anybody says.

why haven’t we heard of you yet?

Cause I been busy making sure that when you did, you’d be hearing about the real deal.

Check out these exclusives!

One thing you’d like your fans to know?

You thank me by your dedication as a fan, I thank you by working hard to make sure my art and skill is worthy of your appreciation.Tell a friend and be bout it. This is a real community and word of mouth and the street always keep it true.

Are you currently shooting any Videos?

I have a couple videos on the horizon, all surprises… I am always looking for film makers who are trying to show and present something different with their art. Push the angles and not mimic the latest trend. If I wanted a corny ass stereotypical hip hop video, I would go in my room, point the digital camera at myself, grab my nuts, and edit the shit in i-movie. But I’m looking for people who want to push the creative envelope. If that’s you and you’re not a beginner, I would love to work with you. Big shot out to the homey Arash from Rugger Productions, we been making some magic recently.

Check out Apoetnomadli in “Destiny

My music is on I-tunes. I encourage you to get it there, preview songs and see what you like. Also we are on any other digital outlet online, amazon, rhapsody, and one can buy cd’s at LIVE SHOWS. I always look forward to people to leaving feedback, adding comments, and sharing the music. That’s the best thing you can do for any friend and artist, is share the music. Tell somebody.

Any Shows or Tours coming up?

I try to post all my shows at: www.apoetnomadali.com/shows. We have our own presale ticket processor so it’s the easiest place to get presale to any show I have. Aside from that site, I do my best to update and post on face-book, myspace, and twitter accordingly, but I do admittedly need help in keeping my fans aware of my upcoming shows AHEAD OF TIME… Sorry guys, we’ll step it up for the dedicated ones! As far as tours, Pac wondered if, “Heaven got a Ghetto“… I’m wondering if their exists a talent, booking, or management agency that can book my QUALITY gigs at DOPE venues, where I don’t have to deal with shifty promoters and atrocious sound. Where great talent meshes with integrity, and we can make people respect what was once a very respected art form.