Hisham Al Maskari, known professionally as Sham Maskari, is an Omani rapper, singer and songwriter. He is the first rapper from the Middle East to launch an English language album in the USA. [1]
Hisham Al Maskari, known professionally as Sham Maskari, is an Omani rapper, singer and songwriter. He is the first rapper from the Middle East to launch an English language album in the USA. [1]
Maskari was born in Muscat, Oman. He is one of five children of an Omani father and British mother. [2] Maskari's father, Hamood Al Maskari, is known as the first major nightclub DJ in Oman. [2] At the age of 15 Sham began writing his own songs and participating in talent contests. [1] He completed a degree in business management in Malaysia before pursuing a career in music.
After completing his studies, Maskari broke into the music scene in Malaysia, mentored by Yasien, a Malaysian-based producer. [1] At age 21, he relocated to the UK where he performed at various clubs across the country and collaborated with local DJs. [2] In 2005, Maskari moved to Dubai, where he partnered with producer Salim Rashaad, known professionally as Sal. He also secured financial backing from Omani businessman Munim Zawawi.[ citation needed ] With the help of Sal and Zawawi, Maskari's first single, ‘Naughty Boy’, reached number one on Radio One's top playlist. [2] In 2008, Maskari's track ‘One and Only’ reached number one on MTV Asia/Arabia. [2]
In 2010, Maskari performed at the closing ceremony of the 2nd Asian Beach Games in Mussanah, Oman. [1]
Maskari was the first artist from the Middle East to sign with US-based publishing and distribution company Tale Music Group (TMG), [3] releasing his second album ‘Take Your Body Over’ in Los Angeles in 2014. Throughout his career Maskari has performed with international artists including Akon, Ne-Yo, Sean Paul, [4] Jay Sean, Shaggy, Omarion, and Lloyd. [5]
Sham cites that he grew up listening to artists such as Michael Jackson, 2Pac, Biggie Smalls, R. Kelly, and Dr. Dre, all of whom later inspired his music. [1] He describes his style as ‘a mix of singing and rap’ [1] as well as ‘soft RnB’ [2] and ‘feel good music.’ [1]
Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is a country on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia. It shares land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The capital and largest city is Muscat. Oman has a population of about 5.28 million as of 2024, which is a 4.60% population increase from 2023. and is the 123rd most-populous country. The coast faces the Arabian Sea on the southeast, and the Gulf of Oman on the northeast. The Madha and Musandam exclaves are surrounded by United Arab Emirates on their land borders, with the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman forming Musandam's coastal boundaries.
Muscat is the capital and most populous city in Oman. It is the seat of the Governorate of Muscat. According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the population of the Muscat Governorate in 2022 was 1.72 million. The metropolitan area includes six provinces, called wilayats, and spans approximately 3,500 km2 (1,400 sq mi), making it the largest city by area on the Arabian Peninsula. Known since the early 1st century AD as an leading port for trade between the west and the east, Muscat was ruled successively by various indigenous tribes, as well as by foreign powers such as the Persians, the Portuguese Empire and the Ottoman Empire. In the 18th century, Muscat was a regional military power: its influence extended as far as East Africa and Zanzibar. As an important port town in the Gulf of Oman, Muscat attracted foreign traders and settlers such as the Persians, the Balochs and the Sindhis. Beginning in 1970, after the accession of Qaboos bin Said as the Sultan of Oman, Muscat experienced rapid infrastructural development; it developed a vibrant economy and became a multi-ethnic society. The Globalization and World Cities Research Network classifies Muscat as a Beta-level Global City.
Qaboos bin Said Al Said was Sultan of Oman from 23 July 1970 until his death in 2020. A fifteenth-generation descendant of the founder of the House of Al Said, he was the longest-serving leader in the Middle East and Arab world at the time of his death, having ruled for almost half a century.
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