“Would save the world, but I’m just a man And want to sleep on the truth but I overstand You should know the ropes, I shouldn't have to hold your hand Bein' broke is the life I'll never live again”
- The Jacka
SHAHEED AKBAR (AUGUST 12, 1977 – FEBRUARY 2, 2015) WAS ONE OF THE LEADING INFLUENCES OF THE EARLY 2000'S SF BAY AREA RAP SCENE. OFTEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BY THE MAINSTREAM MUSIC INDUSTRY DUE TO HIS ISLAMIC FAITH, SHAHEED WOULD EMBARK ON A FULLY INDEPENDENT PATH WHERE HE ACHIEVED UNPRECEDENTED RECOGNITION AND SUCCESS THAT TRANSCENDED THE BAY AREA. HE TOURED ACROSS THE NATION AND EVEN OVERSEAS WHERE, TO THIS DAY, HE HAS RETAINED A DEDICATED FANBASE; ALL BEFORE THE SOCIAL MEDIA ERA.
OUR DOCUMENTARY STRIVES TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THIS UNDERGROUND LEGEND: IN PARTICULAR, HIS CRIMINALLY UNSUNG CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE "REALITY RAP" STYLE OF HIP HOP MUSIC. THE FILM WILL ALSO DIVE INTO UNDERSTUDIED TOPICS SUCH AS THE INFLUENCE OF BLUES SONGWRITING TRADITIONS IN HIP-HOP, AND THE FIERCE BATTLE OF INDEPENDENT ARTISTS V.S. THE INDUSTRY.
