We’re looking forward to introducing you to Ah-Deli. Check out our conversation below.
Ah-Deli, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Pausing everything going on on a busy day and stepping into a zone of
conscious awareness of the present moment. Meditation, essentially. I have not mastered this art, but always glad when I do. I remember working in Costco in Queens, NY about fifteen years ago and this older lady that worked there was telling me “people don’t even stop to smell the flowers anymore”. It’s like something clicked when she told me that. That made me realize that we are all moving too fast. Haste makes waste which also applies to time. If we are too busy to appreciate the present moment, how can we ‘find ourselves’? Many of us are too busy being busy to release ourselves from the grasp of this modern, capitalistic world. I believe it is vital to remind ourselves to demonstrate gratitude daily, and to make time to stop and ‘smell the flowers’.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Ah-Deli, a Persian-American hip hop artist that introduced the idea of a subgenre of hiphop called “World Hop’ in 2020. This would be the fusion of hip-hop drums over world instrumentation, which not only often produces a phenomenal result, but is a real reminder of the universality of music. There are genres of music that allow us to define a particular style, but the fusion of these genres are always possible and that compatibility can manifest into the creation of a subgenre. I am also one of the leaders of the Heal Hop movement which has originated in our city, Nashville , TN. Our group, Heru Heru, has cultivated this sound from the vibration of the beats to the powerful lyricism composed on the tracks. This combination is intended to heal the listeners and remind them that music can be used as a powerful tool to heal and grow. We can spend less time rotating the popularized, destructive songs that have permeated the music industry for the last couple of decades centered around violence, drugs, and low vibrations. We can instead devote more time emphasizing constructive messages of growth and understanding for a stronger tomorrow. Music is like food and we have to provide these essential nutrients for a future of sustenance. This is Heal Hop.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I would say that like everyone else, I was my true self before I went to school and work and was programmed by society to become something else. Creativity is not emphasized enough in the school system. I think I was able to find myself again when I became a critical thinker by distancing myself from what did not serve me. I spent a lot of time in solitude in deep reflection. Life will present the ups and downs, but the key is staying level headed throughout this journey. At the end of the day, we are all at the mercy of our maker. It’s not they and us. We are all the product of the same great creator. Politics has amplified division and separation across the world. The reality is everybody has much more in common than commonly realized. My hope is that we can all gain more tolerance, compassion, and connection. Anything is possible when people decide to heal themselves.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You are infinite. Never limit yourself. Do not allow the limiting beliefs and opinions of others to derail your train of thought.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I cannot deny my connection to my ancient Persian roots. King Cyrus, the very first Persian king, had created the world’s very first empire that ended up stretching from India to Ethiopia 2500 years ago. This empire lasted and endured for many centuries. His unprecedented approach was far different from the cruel leaders of that time, especially in that region near Babylon where they ruled with an iron fist. He instead
allowed everybody across the empire to practice their individual cultures and religions. This belief system was largely attributed to the King’s practice of the Persian religion of the time, Zoroastrianism. The main concept of this religion can be comprised of six words: good thoughts, good words, good deeds. King Cyrus created the first set of human rights called the Cyrus Cylinder. I wish we could all operate with such high regard towards others. This is a cultural value to protect as it can withstand the test of time.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I want it to be known that I always tried to stand on the side of justice. I wanted to be the positive change I wished to see in the world and with the formation of these two movements, World Hop and Heal Hop, the end goal was simply to Heal the World. It takes a village and I will always appreciate the fact that Heru Heru came together to make change and improve.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ahdelihiphop.com
- Instagram: @ahdelihiphop
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ahdelihiphop?si=aCoev2NtaP_SWrRe
- Other: https://heruheru.com
Image Credits
@cruzmediaa
