Mariam Nihal Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — MideastDynasty.com is a web portal focused on covering and cultivating the Middle East hiphop scene. Launched in early 2011, the website aims to showcase the pool of talent in the Arab region. It highlights talents of artists from or relative to the region, fighting misconceptions about the Middle East. Nasir Akmal a.k.a Deen, the co-owner of MidEastDynasty said: "Although many feel that Western culture has had a negative impact on the region, the influence of Western music and more specifically hiphop, has played a major role in the cultural growth of our youth." Many have used music as a means to exercise free speech, by addressing political and social issues that influence their countries. Deen said the message now "reaches audiences on a global scale which under normal circumstances would be very difficult to achieve without such a platform." If you know Deen, you know one thing for sure. There is no room for facade. "Work hard, be honest, be real and don't settle for shortcuts. A facade can only last for so long, but the truth lives on forever." Deen said his online space is the foundation for showcasing talent, "but from there we've already expanded into operating as a booking agency and our current goal is to expand into events, release our own compilation albums, begin our radio show, launch an online shop, and go into print, as a magazine." Deen explained that his goal is to "assist the positive development of our music scene and to put artists in a position where they can eventually begin earning a regular income that helps facilitate their professional career. "MideastDynasty really came about because of my experiences as an artist and realizing the lack of or limited support our Middle Eastern hiphop scene was receiving. I was tired of the frustration, so rather than waiting for someone else to come about and do something about it, I took it upon myself to step up and make the sacrifices necessary to help our region grow." Deen is a mix of LA, UAE, Pakistan and Afghanistan. "I'm just a believer trying to do my part for my people and make a positive imprint in the world. I'm born and raised in Cerritos, CA, but my Pakistani/Afghani roots and more importantly my religious beliefs have had a major impact on who I am." He explained "Deen" was chosen as a stage name because it represents him as a Muslim and "is also a constant reminder for myself that no matter how deep I get into this industry, my beliefs take precedence over all the decisions I make." He said: "The experience I've gained from all of those regions has influenced a lot of the direction in my music. L.A. is what raised me and what I represent to the fullest as it's been a major factor in building the person I am." He said Pakistan and the UAE helped develop his perspective and gave him the chance to appreciate different styles of popular music. "From that I've learned to create my music with certain audiences in mind and it's helped me to expand my development as an international artist in a more organic and authentic manner." Talking about his earlier releases, he said: "My 1st single was more raw and on the street/grimey tip." His latest song "GO" was recently featured on MTV Arabia across the region. "My current single "GO" is more directed toward the radio and club scene. "It is much more polished as it is produced by Grammy nominated producer "Big 4D aka Oz" and mixed by world-renowned engineer, Lewis "Lou Dog" Richards. It really helped take everything to another level. If you compare the two, you can see my growth and improvement as an artist." He said the one thing that hasn't changed throughout his journey is his message. "Although both singles may be targeted at different audiences, if you pay attention to the lyrics you can see that I still maintain who I am and the message I've been pushing since the start of my career." Deen thinks the hardest virtue to pursue in the entertainment industry is staying true to yourself and making sure you stand for what you believe in, regardless of the consequences. "The road to success in the entertainment industry is not an easy one and there are many people out there trying to sell you a dream with their own ideas of what they think will get you there." He said that in the end "it is you who has to live with the decisions you make and I do my best to stick to who I am, even if it means taking the longer more difficult road toward reaching my goals." Talking about his Hollywood adventure, Deen said he was blessed with the opportunity to land a major role in an upcoming Hollywood film titled "FIVE THIRTEEN." "It was always a long term goal of mine to get into acting, however, I expected to do it after I had already attained musical success on a larger scale. So, from here on out it's a lot of studying, studio sessions, acting classes, and auditions." Deen has collaborated with renowned artists and was greatly impacted by Napoleon (2pac's Outlawz), Crooked I (Slaughterhouse/signed to Eminem's Shady Records), Chop Black, Saafir, & Bishop Lamont. In the future, he hopes to work with artists that have influenced him such as Kurupt, Eminem or Nas. "To get to the point, where I can collaborate with artists I've grown up listening to would just be a testament to my drive and the hard work I've put in to reach my goals no matter what obstacles have stood in the way." Deen is greatly inspired by 2pac, Kurupt, Crooked I, Lupe Fiasco, Damian Marley, Incubus, Linkin Park and D-Block among many others. "I try to listen to every genre of music, whether it's rap, rock n roll, reggae, classical, all the way to country. I'm a student of the game and I do my best to learn from all types of artists and music." Deen believes good music is an essential and extremely powerful tool that can influence listeners. He said it makes "delivering a message" easier and more palatable to an audience than the conventional way. "So as long as I continue to keep focusing on making good music, I do believe that my music does influence my listeners and the continued support and major media coverage I receive can attest to that." Deen is currently working on three projects scheduled to release this year. "I've got my mixtape/street album with DJ Skee, my EP "The Pop Crisis" and the debut album for my group, WPNRY. On the film end, "FIVE THIRTEEN" should finally be premiering this year and I hope to land some more roles and continue to build my resume' as an actor. From there, In Sha Allah I continue to grow, put together some tours, raise my profile, and take everything to the next level."
