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One of the kingdom’s bright and upcoming hip-hop artists is celebrating the taste of success after his latest food-themed release continues to receive critical acclaim.
Majeed Fuad dished up his first mix-tape, Tomato Soup, last year, and is delighted by the reaction his soulful beats have secured from music-lovers.
The 26-year-old, who spends his time hopping between his home in Riffa, Khobar and Dubai, said: “The response has been great, overwhelming! Some reviews named it the best hip-hop album currently available in the Middle East, which humbled me and makes me feel so proud.
“In the rest of the world feedback to the release has been growing at a steadier pace, but that’s understandable since it’s not easy to discover or listen to new artists from this part of the world.”
Tomato Soup features 14 tracks based on his life experiences and surroundings under the guidance of his best friend and manager, Majid Al-Awami.
The genesis of the project came during Majeed’s college days, building the tracks around a strong ‘food for thought’ vibe as something fans can indulge in at any time. Hence, Tomato Soup was born.
Elaborating on the album’s themes, Majeed added: “All my life I’ve hated tomatoes, I’ve never liked the taste or the texture of the seeds. I don’t trust tomatoes because they never quite know whether they’re a fruit or a vegetable, but in contrast I really love tomato soup, so the title is a play on the metaphor ‘take something you hate and turn it into something you love’.
“The whole album deals with duality and contrast, and common day-to-day things, plus I was having tomato soup at the Royal Golf Club’s Links restaurant in Riffa Views when I decided to go ahead and make a musical project, so there we go!”
Tomato Soup took three months to finish, aided with the help of top-tier US producer, Ayo.
Majeed’s general influences come from the extensive range on his iPod - from Drake to Lauryn Hill to Goldlink - but he drew on more personal experiences for Tomato Soup.
He said: “My friends and everyone I met inspired me. I’m a good listener, and I pay attention to everything and watch how people react to certain situations. This shaped the album as I wrote about what either myself or someone close to me has been through. As long as it moves me in some way, I automatically put pen to pad.
“In return, I hope I can help people get through their day with my music. I’m a conversational rapper, so if you ever need to talk to someone just pop my CD in your car and I’ll be there.”
In his spare time, one of Majeed’s favourite pastimes is visiting various Bahraini street food vendors and sampling their fare. When he isn’t hungry, he spends his time catching up with friends, exercising in the gym, or combing Bahrain’s malls for the latest Nike Roshe shoes which he has a passion for.
Now that his first release is safely out in the public eye, Majeed can’t wait to get started on his next venture. He explained: “I’m working on my next EP already and I will announce the release date and title soon. It’s going to be very different from Tomato Soup, so I hope my fans go in with no expectations!
“Although I’ve always been into music, I was hesitant to show it to the world because hip-hop is a judgemental genre so you have to be ready for what comes with it. But my friends gave me the confidence to go for it, and now with the response to Tomato Soup, I’m more excited than ever to continue.”
Tomato Soup is available to download for free at www.majeedmusic.com
