Mustafa the Poet explained

Mustafa
Birth Name:Mustafa Ahmed
Birth Date:1996 7, df=y
Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Mustafa Ahmed (born 28 July 1996), known as Mustafa, formerly known as Mustafa the Poet, is a Sudanese-Canadian poet, singer, songwriter, and filmmaker from Toronto. He released his debut studio album, When Smoke Rises, in May 2021.

Early life

Mustafa Ahmed[1] was born in Toronto, Ontario to Sudanese parents.

He grew up in Regent Park, one of Toronto's oldest housing projects. Gun violence and street gangs were part of his childhood. Mustafa attended Regent Park Duke of York Public School. [2]

When he was in the seventh grade, Mustafa performed an original piece, "A Single Rose", at Nelson Mandela Park Public School. The piece attracted praise at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in 2009.[3]

Mustafa first came to fame for his poetry. He was inspired to write by his older sister, who taught him the healing effects of poetry at a young age.

Career

2014–2016: Poetry and Halal Gang

Mustafa has experimented with different forms of writing, testing the limits and temperaments of each world and its corresponding scenes.

Mustafa was first profiled in the Toronto Star at the age of 12, which highlighted his ability to describe and connect white and non-Black audiences to the gritty side of Toronto.

On October 4, 2014, Mustafa published "Rabba" with the Toronto-based artist collective Halal Gang. Members included Mustafa (aka Mustafa the Poet), Puffy L’z, Mo-G, Safe, and Smoke Dawg.

As member of Canadian hip hop collective Halal Gang, Mustafa starred in a number of music videos, including the single "Feel" by Safe released in October 2016.[4]

In the same year, Mustafa was appointed to Justin Trudeau's Youth Advisory Council.[5] [6]

2017–2019: Remember Me, Toronto

Poetry and film

Mustafa performed at the Fast in the 6 festival at Nathan Phillips Square held on 1 June 2018.

In July 2018, he paid condolences to his deceased associate, Smoke Dawg, who had been gunned down on 30 June 2018, in front of a Toronto nightclub.[7]

In March 2019, Italian fashion designer Pierpaolo Piccioli collaborated Mustafa and three other poets for Valentino's autumn/winter 2019 collection.[8]

A line from his poem "From the Perspective of Black Love" was featured as part of the collection.[9] [10] He describes attending the show as an emotional experience, seeing women in creations made for their bodies.[11] [12] [13] Vogue described the event as "poetry back in fashion".[14] His collaborations would be worn by Emilia Clarke at a Game of Thrones premiere.[15]

Still under the name of Mustafa the Poet, he produced and released Remember Me, Toronto, a short Canadian documentary film about the hip hop culture in Canada in 17 March 2019.[16] [17]

Created for the Canadian hip hop community, the documentary discusses the losing of people due to the increasing gun violence and homicide rates in Toronto over the past decade.[18] [19]

Mustafa said that he aimed to discuss the systemic structure working against the lower economies of Toronto and wanted to give these artists the opportunity to "rewrite their memories and the memories of those they lost."[20] In the film, the artists reflect on the inter generational nature of trauma and gun violence.[21] [22]

Artists featured included Drake, Baka Not Nice, Gilla, Pilla B, TJin, Pressa, Loco City, Smiley, Top 5, Blockboi, Twitch, Jay Whiss, Puffy L'z, Rax, Booggz, Yung Lava, and archival footage from the murdered artist Smoke Dawg. [23] [24]

Music and songwriting

Mustafa has co-written several popular singles as a songwriter, often closely collaborating with Toronto producer Frank Dukes.

In 2016, Mustafa would begin working with Dukes and co-wrote the song "Attention" by The Weeknd on the latter's album Starboy. Mustafa would also provide some background vocals.[25]

The following year, he co-wrote two tracks on Camila Cabello's debut album Camila, "All These Years" and the single "She Loves Control".

In 2019, Mustafa co-wrote the Jonas Brothers single "Sucker".

He went on to title all the songs in Frank Dukes Parkscapes sample pack released in June 2019, which would be used on Taylor Swift's album Lover.[26] He dedicated part of the album's royalties to his alma mater, Regent Park School.[27]

In 2020, he once again aided Frank Dukes in co-writing the Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber single "Monster".

His songwriting and musicianship would not go unnoticed. Mustafa was featured on the Nows list of Toronto musicians to watch for in 2017.[28]

Mustafa was noted as one of the 10 Canadian songwriters who are penning the biggest hit songs right now by CBC Music in April 2019.[29]

2020–present: When Smoke Rises

On 10 March 2020, Mustafa released his debut single "Stay Alive". The single was dedicated to those he's lost to gun violence and was known for capturing Regent's Park resiliency.[30] [31] The single was produced by Frank Dukes and James Blake.[32] The single featured numerous cameos from Toronto rappers including Halal Gang members Puffy L'z and Mo-G as well as Lil Berete.[33] It was known for including lyrics about resilience, community, and the bleak realities of living on the fringes pair perfectly.[34] [35] The single prompted Complex to list Mustafa on the list of Best New Artists of the March 2020.[36]

Mustafa released his debut album When Smoke Rises on 28 May 2021. Described as "inner city folk music", the album was written and produced with Simon on the Moon and Frank Dukes, along with James Blake, Jaime xx, and Sampha, among others.[37]

In 2021, numerous publications named Mustafa as an 'artist on the rise, including Complex,[38] Pitchfork,[39] i-D,[40] and YouTube Music.[41]

The album won the 2022 Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year and was shortlisted for the 2021 Polaris Music Prize.[42]

Mustafa was featured on Metro Boomin's 2022 album Heroes & Villains, on the track "Walk Em Down (Don't Kill Civilians)", alongside rapper 21 Savage.

In July of 2023, Mustafa lost his older brother Mohamed Ahmed as the victim of a daytime shooting.[43]

On January 4, 2024, Mustafa organized a benefit concert at the New Jersey Newark Symphony Hall for food and medical supply distribution in Gaza and Sudan with a number of artists including musicians Clairo, Daniel Caesar, Stormzy, comedian Ramy Youssef, and poets Hala Alyan and Safia Elhillo. [44]

The sold-out concert at the 3,500-person venue attracted more than 220,000 livestream views on Instagram.[45] Concert proceeds went to the relief organization Human Concern International for Palestine.

Discography

Albums

TitleDetails
When Smoke Rises
  • Released: 28 May 2021
  • Label: Regent Park Songs
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital
Dunya
  • Scheduled: 27 September 2024
  • Label: Jagjaguwar
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital

Singles

TitleYearAlbum
"Stay Alive"2020When Smoke Rises
"Air Forces"[46]
"Ali"2021
"The Hearse"[47]
"Name of God"2023Dunya
"Imaan"2024
"Gaza is Calling"[48]
"SNL"

Other charted songs

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
[49]
US R&B/HH
[50]
US Rap
[51]
CAN
[52]
WW
[53]
"Walk Em Down (Don't Kill Civilians)"
202252 19 12 28 59Heroes & Villains

Guest appearances

TitleYearOther artist(s)Album
"Walk Em Down (Don't Kill Civilians)"2022Metro Boomin, 21 SavageHeroes & Villains[54]
"Toronto 2014"2023Daniel CaesarNever Enough
"Plane Trees"2024Omar ApolloGod Said No

Songwriting credits

Year Artist Album Song
2016 Home Wrecking Years (credited as vocalist)[55]
Starboy "Attention"
2017BRIDGEWreck"Lord Knows"
2018Camila CabelloCamila "All These Years"[56]
"She Loves Control"[57]
Black AtlassPain & Pleasure"Fantasy"
Hello YelloLove Wins"Feel That Again"
2019Jonas BrothersHappiness Begins"Sucker"
SAFEStay"No Rush"
"Red Light"
"Wasteland"
"Summer's End 2"
"Piano"
"Nobody Cares"
"R U Scared, Pt. 2"
Majid Jordan"Caught Up" (feat. Khalid)
2020Shawn Mendes and Justin BieberWonder"Monster"[58]
2021Charlotte Day WilsonAlpha"Keep Moving"
Nemahsis"What If I Took It Off For You?"[59]
2023Omar Apollo"3 Boys"[60]

Awards and nominations

Music

YearCeremonyAwardNominated workResultRef
201960th Grammy AwardsBest Urban Contemporary AlbumStarboy (as songwriter)
61st Grammy AwardsBest Pop Vocal AlbumCamila (as songwriter)
2020BMI Pop AwardsAward Winning Song"Sucker" (as songwriter)[61]
SOCAN AwardsPop Music Awards
2021Pop Music Awards"Monster" (as songwriter)[62]
AIM AwardsBest Independent Track"Air Forces"[63] [64]
2021 Polaris Music PrizePolaris Music PrizeWhen Smoke Rises
20222022 Juno AwardsAlternative Album of the Year
Songwriter of the YearHimself
Prism PrizeBest Music Video"Ali" (music video)[65]
Willie Dunn AwardHimself[66]
2024Best Music Video"Name of God"[67]

Notes and References

  1. News: Caramanica. Jon. 28 May 2021. Mustafa, a Folk Hero for a Weary Generation. en-US. The New York Times. 28 May 2021. 0362-4331.
  2. News: Meet Toronto's little poet man. 7 June 2009. The Toronto Star.
  3. Web site: Get To Know Mustafa The Poet, The Spoken-Word Prodigy Who's on the Weeknd's "Attention". The FADER. 25 November 2016 .
  4. Web site: Toronto World: Drake, Halal Gang, and the Diaspora in the 6. https://web.archive.org/web/20160311222545/http://www.mtv.com/news/2751598/toronto-world-drake-halal-gang/. dead. 11 March 2016. . MTV News.
  5. Web site: Outstanding Muslim Youths appointed to Prime Minister's Youth Council. Iqra.ca. 29 September 2016.
  6. Web site: These 15 young Canadians have been chosen to advise Prime Minister Trudeau . Dailyhive.com.
  7. Web site: Rapper Smoke Dawg shot dead in Toronto. Nme.com. 1 July 2018.
  8. Web site: valentino wears its heart on its sleeve. I-d.vice.com. Osman. Ahmed. 4 March 2019.
  9. Web site:
    1. SuzyPFW: Valentino: Poetry Inhabits Dreamlike Collection
    . British Vogue. 4 March 2019.
  10. Web site: Valentino Spreads the Love. 4 March 2019. ELLE.
  11. Web site: Mustafa the Poet On Helping Pierpaolo Piccioli Bring Valentino FW19 To Life. Garage.vice.com. Evan Ross. Katz. 4 March 2019.
  12. Web site: Valentino RTW Fall 2019. Bridget. Foley. Wwd.com. 4 March 2019.
  13. Web site: Poet, Drake Collaborator Mustafa Ahmed on Writing 'From the Perspective of Black Love' for Valentino. Complex. Aria. Hughes. 8 March 2019. 30 November 2021.
  14. Web site: Why Poetry Is Back in Fashion. British Vogue. 15 March 2019.
  15. Web site: Emilia Clarke's Game of Thrones premiere dress displayed a poetic message. Metro.co.uk. 4 April 2019.
  16. Web site: Mustafa the Poet delivers Remember Me, Toronto (short film). Jasmine. Johnson. Thesource.com. 19 March 2019.
  17. Web site: Remember Me, Toronto . YouTube . 17 March 2019 . 22 March 2020.
  18. Web site: Drake is Featured on Mustafa the Poet's 'Remember Me, Toronto' Film. Jasmine. Johnson. Thesource.com. 19 March 2019.
  19. Web site: Drake Features in 'Remember Me, Toronto' Short Film: Watch Here. 18 March 2019. Highsnobiety.com.
  20. Web site: Drake Featured In 'Remember Me, Toronto' Short Film About Gun Violence From Mustafa The Poet. https://web.archive.org/web/20230820161018/https://etcanada.com/news/431814/drake-featured-in-remember-me-toronto-short-film-about-gun-violence-from-mustafa-the-poet/. dead. 20 August 2023. Corey. Atad. 18 March 2019.
  21. Web site: Drake, BAKA NOT NICE & More Speak About Toronto's Gun Violence in Mustafa the Poet's 'Remember Me, Toronto'. HYPEBEAST. 18 March 2019.
  22. Web site: Rappers remember lives lost in Remember Me, Toronto. 17 March 2019. HipHopCanada.
  23. Web site: Drake Featured in Mustafa The Poet's Short Film 'Remember Me, Toronto' | 97.7 WRBJ . Thebeatofthecapital.com . 19 March 2019 . 22 March 2020 . 12 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200412154319/http://www.thebeatofthecapital.com/2019/03/19/drake-featured-in-mustafa-the-poets-short-film-remember-me-toronto/ . dead .
  24. Web site: Remember Me Toronto Drake OVO Sound Documentary Video. Viral. MVP. OnSMASH. 17 March 2019 .
  25. Web site: 7 Hidden Details on the Weeknd's Starboy. The FADER.
  26. Web site: Frank Dukes Collaborates with Toronto's Regent Park School of Music for New Sample Pack. Exclaim!.
  27. Web site: 14 Canadian Students Made It Onto Taylor Swift's New Album. 26 August 2019. HuffPost.
  28. Web site: Ritchie. Kevin. 31 January 2017. Toronto musicians to watch in 2017: hip-hop edition. NOW Magazine.
  29. Web site: 10 Canadian songwriters who are penning the biggest hit songs right now. Cbc.ca. 30 November 2021.
  30. Mustafa's 'Stay Alive' Beautifully (and Unintentionally) Soundtracks the Pandemic. Charles. Holmes. . 11 March 2020.
  31. Web site: Toronto's Mustafa Captures Regent Park Resiliency with "Stay Alive". Exclaim!.
  32. Web site: Mustafa Shares Soulful Debut Single 'Stay Alive'. HYPEBEAST. 12 March 2020.
  33. Web site: Mustafa shares the powerful 'Stay Alive'. The FADER.
  34. Web site: Mustafa Serenades with a Poetic Anti-Gun Violence Medley On "Stay Alive". HotNewHipHop. 15 March 2020.
  35. Web site: Mustafa Takes His Anti-Gun Message To Toronto's Regent Park On Debut Single "Stay Alive". Complex.
  36. Web site: Best New Artists of the Month (March). Complex.
  37. Web site: Mustafa – When Smoke Rises – LP+. 27 May 2021. Rough Trade.
  38. Web site: 21 Rising Artists to Watch in 2021. 27 May 2021. Complex. en.
  39. Web site: Pitchfork. The 49 Most Anticipated Albums of Spring 2021: Taylor Swift, Japanese Breakfast, J Balvin, and More. 27 May 2021. Pitchfork. 6 April 2021. en-US.
  40. Web site: Dunn. Frankie. 11 January 2021. 8 new musicians you need to know in 2021. 27 May 2021. i-D. en.
  41. Web site: YouTube Music Taps Mustafa For 'Artist On The Rise' Honors. 27 May 2021. All Access. en.
  42. David Friend, "Dominique Fils-Aimé, Mustafa, and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson are among the 10 artists shortlisted for this year's Polaris Music Prize". Toronto Star, 15 July 2021.
  43. Web site: CBC News . July 28, 2023 . Toronto musician, poet Mustafa mourns brother's death after fatal shooting . December 31, 2023 . CBC News.
  44. News: Madison . Bloom . Mustafa's Benefit Concert for Gaza and Sudan Provided Solemn Solidarity Amid Ongoing Global Crises . 25 January 2024 . Pitchfork . 5 January 2024.
  45. News: Williams . Noella . Omar Apollo, Clairo Support Palestine, Sudan in Artists for Aid Benefit . Teen Vogue . 11 January 2024.
  46. Web site: 22 September 2020. Mustafa shares new single and music video, 'Air Forces' | NME. .
  47. Web site: Bloom. Madison. Mustafa Shares Video for New Song "The Hearse". 27 May 2021. Pitchfork. 26 May 2021. en-US.
  48. Web site: Gaza is Calling - Short Film Review. 16 June 2024. Short Films Matter. 16 June 2024. en-US.
  49. Metro Boomin Chart History: Hot 100. Billboard. December 13, 2022.
  50. Metro Boomin Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Billboard. December 13, 2022.
  51. Metro Boomin Chart History: Hot Rap Songs. Billboard. December 13, 2022.
  52. Metro Boomin Chart History: Canadian Hot 100. Billboard. December 3, 2022.
  53. Metro Boomin Chart History: Global 200. Billboard. December 13, 2022.
  54. Web site: Stream Metro Boomin's 'Heroes & Villains' Album f/ Travis Scott, The Weeknd, Young Thug, Takeoff, and More . 2022-12-02 . Complex . en.
  55. Web site: Mustapha the Poet | Credits. AllMusic.
  56. Web site: Mustafa Ahmed Piano Sheet Music Downloads from. Musicnotes.com.
  57. Web site: Camila – Camila Cabello Songs, Reviews, Credits AllMusic . AllMusic.
  58. Web site: Mendes. Shawn. 20 November 2020. Credits / Monster / Shawn Mendes – TIDAL. 20 November 2020. Tidal.
  59. Web site: Premiere: Nemahsis Drops Her Impassioned First Single, "what if i took it off for you?". 2022-01-20. Complex. en.
  60. Web site: Omar Apollo Releases New Song "3 Boys" . PRN Studio . 28 February 2023.
  61. Web site: 13 July 2020. BMI Salutes its Top Songwriters for the 2020 BMI Pop Awards. 23 February 2021. BMI.com. en.
  62. Web site: 2021 Award Winners • 2021 SOCAN Awards. 28 May 2021. 2021 SOCAN Awards. en-US.
  63. Grein. Paul. 9 June 2021. Arlo Parks Leads 2021 AIM Awards Nominations. 14 June 2021. Billboard. en.
  64. Web site: 2021-08-26 . AIM AWARDS 2021 WINNERS REVEALED . 2022-05-16 . AIM Awards . en-GB.
  65. Web site: Here Are the Top 10 Canadian Music Videos Nominated for the 2022 Prism Prize . 2022-05-18 . Complex . en.
  66. News: Friend . David . 2022-07-08 . Toronto musician Mustafa wins $20,000 Prism Prize for his music video 'Ali' . en-CA . The Globe and Mail . 2022-07-17.
  67. Kerry Doole, "Mustafa Wins 2024 Prism Prize As 'Name Of God' Named Best Canadian Music Video of the Year". Billboard, June 25, 2024.