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From Hustler to Rapper to CEO: Biography of Imam THUG|Imam THUG was raised in the Queensbridge housing projects that claim infamous hip-hop artists MC Shan, Nas, Mobb Deep and Capone of Capone n Noreaga (CNN). Known to the NYPD as a menace to society, a “common thug” and an outlaw, Imam THUG transitioned from street hustler to artist to CEO. His name represents all that he has been through - Imam means faith and T.H.U.G. stands for Truth, Hunger, Understanding and Growth.|In 1996, after a two-year incarceration at Clinton Correctional, Imam was recruited by his then best friend Tragedy Khadafi a.k.a. Intelligent Hoodlum to work in the offices of 25 to Life Entertainment. Desiring to be more of an asset to the company, Imam set out to become a rapper and dedicated himself to perfecting his skills. As a test of those skills he was asked to write the 16 bars that became CNN’s “Driver’s Seat” on their classic album “The War Report”. Imam not only wrote a banging verse, but also wrote the engaging hook recited by Noreaga. The album was an instant hip-hop classic and the beginning of a promising career for Imam.|Confident in Imam’s talent, Tragedy and Imam formed the now infamous underground rap group the Iron Sheiks to tell the “thug stories” of street life in Queensbridge. The group’s first single “True Confessions” was an underground hit, but without adequate promotional backing, the record never reached its full commercial potential. In 1997 the group went on to record their second EP, titled “Illuminati”. The group’s Tony Touch freestyle is still one of the most talked about freestyles in hip hop, as well as the classic DJ Clue freestyle “Show Me The Money, Part II”, which Imam recorded with Mase.|In 1999, Imam was featured on “Violator: The Album”, a compilation CD showcasing artists signed to Chris Lighty’s Violator Management as well as the hottest up and coming MCs in the rap game. The platinum-selling album was a smash hit and features songs by Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Big Pun and many more of the biggest names in hip-hop. |After a year of silence, Imam came back in the year 2000, collaborating on Nas’ QB album with a joint entitled “Our Way” featuring Capone-n-Noreaga and several notorious freestyles on DJ Envy’s and DJ Kay Slay’s hot-selling mixtapes. Later that year he formed a group called INS and recorded the single “Dass Wassup”, which sold 10,000 copies in 2001 and was distributed by Light Year / Weir Entertainment. 2002 was the year Imam and Steve Sola met while working with QB MCs Infamous Mobb. Imam spent most of that year in the lab working on his next project, a full length album titled “Die Hard”, which he released independently in 2003. The Source picked up on the buzz Imam was creating on the street, giving “Die Hard” both an album review and a full length article. |In 2004 Imam and Steve Sola formed Hits Music Group and began work on the hottest Imam THUG album yet, which will feature Prodigy of Mobb Deep and G.O.D Father pt. 3 of Infamous Mobb, as well as production by Havoc and Steve Sola. Sola has worked with some of the biggest names in hip hop, including Nas, Method Man, Mobb Deep, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and Fat Joe to name a few. | |
