Assasi’s Bilad El-Sham Movement closes out Biddeford’s River Jam Festival

Biddeford's annual weekend of art, performances, cultural experiences, and summer activities ended with a performance by Assasi's Bilad El-Sham Movement, followed by fireworks.

Bilad El-Sham returns for show with Maine’s Zion Train

Assasi revived the Bilad El-Sham Movement for a show with Maine's Zion Train at Portland House of Music.

Assasi & The HWS release “Sharaf El-Wattan”

For new single Sharaf El-Wattan ("honor of the homeland"), Assasi and rising star The HWS connect with the overwhelming brutality of their native Syria.

Wait no more – “Laysh” and “Yasmina” music videos are here!

Assasi has shaken off the winter doldrums by releasing long-delayed music videos for Third World Wide, Vol. 1 tracks, Laysh and Yasmina. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU-4KzbJroA Both tracks were produced by Haquin, with Yasmina featuring a verse by Athens-based Syrian-Kurdish rapper Sarbasst and guitar work by Mike O'Hehir of Coyote Island. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvrJ-w6Tt9s Assasi collaborated with Portland, Maine based [...]

Assasi to support 5/21 Coyote Island EP release

Assasi will be opening at Coyote Island's May 21 "Origin Stories" EP release party at Portland House of Music, alongside Skosh. Get your tickets now! Don't sleep on it - this show will include a preview of some very special collaborations. Earlier in the day, you can also catch Assasi for a quick performance at [...]

Assasi becomes “Ghost of Sham”

Being a Syrian in exile can feel like a nightmare you can’t wake up from, like walking through the world as a ghost - invisible and cut off from humanity, or inadvertently haunting those around you who can’t understand your pain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAqzg8d67q8 “Ghost of Sham” was written and shot in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with Finnish [...]

Backstage with Maine Public at Third World Wide Vol. 1 release

Assasi was honored to host Maine Public/Report for America reporter Ari Snider in the studio and backstage at SPACE last Saturday to talk about developing a rap career in Aleppo, leaving Syria, and stories that inspired the new EP Third World Wide Vol. 1. Ari's radio piece incorporates an interview and sounds and photos from [...]

Portland Phoenix reviews “Third World Wide Vol. 1”

Assasi had the pleasure of taking a break from release show rehearsals to speak with Sam Pfeifle (West Gray Creative) of the Portland Phoenix to discuss Volume 1 of his first solo album, Third World Wide. Sam dived deep into Assasi's music and emerged with a very positive review of the EP! "It is as [...]

Assasi talks Third World Wide Vol. 1 and performs “Sawareekh” on WMPG

Last Friday, Annella Linton hosted Assasi on WMPG (90.9 Portland, ME) Something For The Weekend to discuss Third World Wide Vol. 1 (live on streaming this Sunday, October 17!) and his upcoming album release show at SPACE Portland this Saturday, October 16. They talked Syrian hip-hop, getting to know the Portland hip-hop community, and behind [...]