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Sadat X

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Sadat X
Sadat X performing at the Rahzel and Friends – Brooklyn Bowl in 2016
Sadat X performing at the Rahzel and Friends – Brooklyn Bowl in 2016
Background information
Birth nameDerek W. Murphy
Also known asDerek X (1990–1991)
The Wild Cowboy
Dotty Boy
Born (1968-12-29) December 29, 1968 (age 55)
The Bronx, New York City, U.S
OriginNew Rochelle, New York, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Years active1989–present
Labels
Member ofBrand Nubian

Derek W. Murphy (born December 29, 1968),[2] better known as Sadat X, is an American rapper, best known as a member of alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian.[3] Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.

Early life

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Sadat X was born in the Bronx, New York City.[4] He and DJ Alamo are childhood friends who grew up together in the Bronx, where Sadat and his family lived at Concourse Village.[5][6] Sadat's father and Alamo's father knew each other and grew up together in Harlem, New York City at Lincoln Projects.[7] At age 11, he and his parents moved to New Rochelle where he met future Brand Nubian bandmates Grand Puba and Lord Jamar.[8] He first started rapping after his father brought him a turntable to DJ. He was known as "DJ D-Rock" and "Kid Paradise". According to Jamar, Sadat's father had an extensive record collection of different genres of music to where Sadat would use for the group's discography of their albums.[9][10] During his time while attending high school, he became a member of the Five Percent Nation after seeing one his family members and friends being involved as 5 Percenters.[11]

Career

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Sadat made his debut with Brand Nubian in 1989, with the release of their debut single "Brand Nubian" b/w "Feels So Good". The group's debut album, One For All, was released on December 4, 1990, featuring the singles "All For One", "Wake Up" and "Slow Down".

Sometime around 1995, other members of Brand Nubian split up after releasing two albums, In God We Trust in 1993 and Everything Is Everything in 1994, while Sadat continue to make guest appearances and collaborations on albums with Diggin' in the Crates, as well as various artists. He would make an appearance on Biggie's "Come On" song, the original track that was supposed to be on Biggie's first album Ready to Die. The song was produced by Bronx native Lord Finesse.

In 1996, Sadat recorded on the Red Hot Organization's compilation CD America Is Dying Slowly, alongside Biz Markie, Wu-Tang Clan, Fat Joe and others. The CD, meant to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic among African American men, was called "a masterpiece" by The Source.[citation needed] . He began working on first solo album, Wild Cowboys. The album was released on July 15, 1996, on Loud Records, featuring production work by DJ Ogee, Diamond D, Pete Rock, DJ Alamo, Minnesota, Da Beatminerz, Showbiz from Showbiz & A.G., Buckwild, Dante Ross, Ant Greene Father Time and Ali Malek.

In 1997, Sadat and Brand Nubian reunited together while recording some material for the group's new project.[12] In 1998, he and Brand Nubian released their fourth album Foundation[13]

In 1999, he collaborated with Chicago-based rapper Common alongside with Talib Kweli on a Hi-Tek track-produced song called "One-Nine-Nine-Nine".

On October 3, 2006, Female Fun Music released Sadat's third album, Black October. On March 23, 2010, Sadat X released Wild Cowboys II, the sequel to his 1996 solo debut Wild Cowboys, on Fat Beats Records. The album featured guest appearances from Ill Bill, Kurupt, A.G., Brand Nubian, Rhymefest and others, with production from Pete Rock, Diamond D, Buckwild, Sir Jinx, Will Tell and Dub Sonata. On February 23, 2010, he released an EP, containing five songs from the album and complementary instrumentals. The first single from the album was "Turn It Up" which features and is produced by, Pete Rock. In 2015, Sadat appeared in Mya Baker's documentary film Afraid of Dark which examined the experiences of Black men in America.[14][15] In 2022, Sadat released his 12th studio album, Science of Life.

Other work

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In 2009, Sadat X and music producer Will Tell developed a wine-tasting web series entitled True Wine Connoisseurs. The wine show with a hip hop twist is now in its 5th season.[citation needed] The series was shown on a YouTube channel directed and produced by Tom Calabraro.[16]

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On December 22, 2005, Sadat was arrested in Harlem and charged with criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest.[17]

Personal life

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Sadat X is involved in teaching children. He has worked as an elementary school teacher in New Rochelle, New York, qualified as a firefighter, and coaches children's basketball for the New York City Basketball League.[18] He also played point guard for the Howard University basketball team.[19] He has a daughter.[20]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Extended plays

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Collaboration albums

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Compilation albums

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Various artists original compilations

With Brand Nubian

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With Trinity

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  • 20 In (2013)

Guest appearances

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References

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  1. ^ "Sadat X". Discogs. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780822536673.
  3. ^ a b Larkin, Colin, ed. (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 295. ISBN 0-7535-0252-6.
  4. ^ "Sadat X Interview : Talks Lord Jamar, Recording With Jay-Z & Biggie, Working With Everlast & MORE!!!". July 18, 2013. Retrieved May 26, 2024 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ "Brand Nubian Dj Alamo:the Break up I Went with Puba&Sadat Went with Jamar". December 9, 2020 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ "Sadat X - Hip Hop Bringing Life to the Bronx, Early Memories, & Five Percenters (247HH EXCL)". November 2, 2019 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ "F.d.s #141 - Lord Jamar - Talks Eminem, Brand Nubian History, Malcolm X & Much More - Full Episode". January 25, 2020 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "True Hip-Hop Stories: Sadat X of Brand Nubian". March 4, 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2024 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ "Sadat X on how Brand Nubian started, his Hip Hop heroes, & being a Five Percenter Juan EP is Life". February 3, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2024 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "Sadat X on how Brand Nubian started, his Hip Hop heroes, & being a Five Percenter Juan EP is Life". March 4, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2024 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ ""In God We Trust" 30th Anniversary interview with Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian.( Part 1)". November 4, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2024 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ Connection, Hip-Hop (2007). Hip-hop Connection. Popular Publications.
  13. ^ Opsahl, Carl Petter (2016). Dance To My Ministry: Exploring Hip-Hop Spirituality. Göttingen, Germany : Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co.
  14. ^ "Afraid of Dark - a documentary feature film by Mya B." www.afraidofdarkthefilm.com. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  15. ^ Okocha, Olivia. "Afraid of Dark". www.RogerEbert.com. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  16. ^ Calabraro, Tom. "True Wine Connoisseurs". www.tomcolabraro.com. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  17. ^ AllHipHop.com: Brand Nubian's Sadat X Busted On Gun Charge In Harlem Archived October 20, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "Happy Birthday To New Rochelle's Sadat X". Dailyvoice.com. December 29, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  19. ^ "AllHipHop.com: We Love You Isaac Hayes!". AllHipHop.com. December 29, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  20. ^ "Sadat X Delivers the Facts on 'Agua' Album - XXL". xxlmag.com. July 20, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
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