::Video :: Djoloff :: Audio :: Mr. Devious B.V.K. Yat-Fu Jant-Bi Kata-Klizim Pee Froiss :: Text :: Sir Prestige Kalamashaka Rab the International Soggy Doggy Bonny Luv Bugsy Malone Mack-D Hashim Master Jay Sos B Poxi Presha Black Noise Queen Afrik & Magic Law

Meet HASHIM a.k.a Dogo: The Bongo Psychological The son of a Professor living in Chuo Kikuu (University of Dar es Salaam), a place otherwise know as the Hill. It is overlooking the whole of Dar es Saalam city center. It's like a mini city on its own - and the brain train of Bongo (Tanzania). I caught up with Hashim after paying another visit to him, this time around I found him at home after trying to get him on the phone countless number of times. Now I got him locked down for this interview thanks to mobile phone technology. He was in his crib , listening to some hip hop as usual, I could hear the sounds of Ganstarr from far as I approached his crib. Got into his room had a little chit chat. We later on took a ride to the Slipway couple of kilometers away, picked a couple of friends along the way . And in 45 minutes we were there outside this Internet cafe getting a dose of Hashim. Hashim is no visitor to the Rap scene. Hiz been doing it since the 1st grade way back in '85' - "East lansing" as he likes to put it himself. Early in 1990 he started writing his own stuff and flipping for his friends. He was in a crew called Black Houndz with Sos B (see our interview with Sos). Later on he went to record solo tracks. Influence? Basically back in the days I used to listen to Rakim & Kool Moe Dee. What it was about Rakim that he like or inspired you? It made a lot of sense - "like cool cause I don't get upset". What is Hashim all about, what are your lyrics about ? Hashim is all about realism - every thing is based on trying to say something. I target different people because the message in my music is for everybody. How difficult was it for you to make a head start ? It wasn't really difficult - I had a friend of mine called Yuseif a.k.a. Hebron who introduced me to Paul (P-Funk, producer). We went over there and did a track together called "98 Born Hell". And from there I started recording a couple of my tracks that you hear today. Now lets go on to your recorded material : There is this song that got massive air play, 'Shadow of a Dark Destiny' - what's it all about, break it down for me? I had a feeling I wont be able to record much so I put all the things I wanted to say in this song without targeting a person. Its 'Universal' and also Reflecting on the life that I am living. 'Shadow of a Dark Destiny' is also some form of 'Poetic Politicking'. Apart from this song I got others like Ill Aroma (Luv, LuvThang), I Shot am emcee (click here to listen to the track in realaudio format). This was a pre-written freestyle done in 2 hours and it has 5 verses. Caccophony Twist (The Universe), all about Skills - it was an intro actually. Saa za Kazi (feat. Bonny Harmony from Afro-Reign). So Hashim what is hip hop to you ? Hip hop to me is a priority ! And what your priorities in hip hop ? The mental aspect of it - if there is a way u can spit on the mental and make loot it will be all gravy. What do you think about peoples perception of Bongo hiphop ? They are starting to realize there is money to be made. Mcz are making money now, but still I don't know if they understand it as much. Tell me know what the Bongo Psycological depicts? The Bongo Part: It's a state of mind u know! It has something to do with Bongo but first of all u have to know why Tanzania is called Bongo. Bongo people are peole with a lot of problems - Bongo people use their brains a lot to survive. The Psycological Part is the mental derived from the state u live in, Bongo - So Bongo Psycological. It is the psychology of a typical Bongo person, the way he thinks and acts. Shortly after this Hashim started spitting some freestyle: Fuck a Bintu this is Bantu Hashim is my name Bongo is the Swahili representative Dogo is the swahili spittin' A different persona from Hashim The center point name if its English - its Hashim the trinity - Right there! Hashim reads a lot of Books on philosophy and psychology and he is usually involved in discussions with professors, he says he learns a lot. He is the type of guy that will hang out with virtually anybody, this is what he attributes used to get him into trouble most of the time. A dose of Hashim: Words unspoken and words unheard are two different things Like insanity and vanity are two different kings Peripheral swings of sophistry I'm the deepest thing since Nyereres hands in the ministry of finance Dancing with the devil for romance. And some more from the Bongo Psychological: People have the Skillz They have to keep upgrading the level As education is infinite So knowledge is infinite We are only using 10% of our brains But I believe some people are using less than 10% so its time to build - time to elevate. Watch out for Hashim a.k.a Dogo. The future looks promising for this very talented Bongo Artist - the world is his stage. For more info about Hashim & bookings contact the following address: hash_iz@hotmail.com REPORT BY DOLASOUL, 27/2/2000 for Africanhiphop.com © 2000

:: Listen to Hashim :: To listen to the track 'I shot an mc' by Hashim in streaming realaudio, click here