Meet HAK7M FARAJI: HIP HOP ARTIST

We had the good fortune of connecting with HAK7M FARAJI and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi HAK7M, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I pursued my career as an artist because at one point in my life, it was all I had. Before moving back to Atlanta, I was homeless like foreal down bad and the only thing that kept me afloat was the ability to record on a cheap ps4 microphone. Even in dire times, music has always followed me, however it wasn’t my first choice. But after all these years of it gravitating to my space, I have decided to actualize it as a profession. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a child I was always different. I always strived to be great, whether it was even doing the most mundane of things. I like to stand out. From all my challenges my biggest ones did not hinder me, I was an addict at 19 years old and overcame my addiction by pursuing the things that mattered to me. As an individual, I’m headstrong, steadfast and outgoing. I put my best foot forward in any avenue. As far as my art is concerned, I refuse to be the staple, I want to be the loose end. Growing up in East Atlanta, I looked up to Outkast and Gucci, but even that was before my vision came to be. The scene in Atlanta is very exclusive, even still it fun to watch people beat each other whenever it’s my time to perform. Through my art, and my brand #FREESMOKE, I aim to show the world that emotions are human and to refuse them is weakness. It was not an easy journey, I had seen friends lose their lives, I’ve had my falling outs with individuals, but I remained focused on my mission. I want to bring together people with a common goal to create a world with actual free will through the arts.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite spots to go to in Atlanta are a few korean bbq spots. I also like the typical pho restaurant, one in particular I visit in frequent is Pho 24, almost to the point where the staff knows me. So if my homie was in town those are a few locations I’d visit. Midtown is a hotspot for me, I used to go to the old skate park on the Beltline quite a bit. Ever since the pandemic though, things have been pretty lax. I dunno, I have pretty low maintenance friends, but I’m always choosing most the activities, and as an artist, there are typically venues that are always throwing a dope local show for me to take them to.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a shoutout to my own personal group, #FREESMOKE. 2020 was rough for us and we are here to kick the door down for this knew year. If any deserves recognition it is definitely my collective in the aspect that if not for them, I would not be creating.

Website: https://hak7m.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/hak7m__
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fuckhak7m
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hak7mfs
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/HAK7M