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Photo by Chris Swainston for the 'Still in Fullee Love' EP release.

Zaakir, (born Courtenay Henderson, also known as Soup), is an American rapper and founding member of the group Jurassic 5.

Personal life

Zaakir, who grew up in South Central Los Angeles, was deeply influenced by his music-loving father. From a young age, he was introduced to the genre of Funk through artists such as the Ohio Players and the Fatback Band, [1] as well as to soul and blues icons like Otis Redding, Muddy Waters, and Sam Cooke. [2] His early musical experiences also included singing tracks by Al Green and Fats Domino. Over time, Zaakir broadened his musical scope to include hip hop, discovering groups like The Sugarhill Gang.

Zaakir attended Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles. During this period, his uncle, a member of a Gang Taskforce, introduced him to the Rap for Peace program where he performed "Stop Gang Violence." [3] This performance is noted as a pivotal moment in the launch of his rap career. [2]

Music career

The Rebels of Rhythm

In high school, Zaakir joined forces with Akil (later of Jurassic 5) and Shawny Mac [aka Afrika] to form The Rebels of Rhythm. [4] Initially interested in singing, Zaakir shifted his focus to rapping after Akil encouraged him to explore freestyling. [5]

Jurassic 5

Zaakir achieved fame with the hip hop group Jurassic 5. [6] An influential figure in the music industry, he played a key role in securing record deals for other artists, including Mobb Deep, at labels such as Immortal Records, Interscope and Loud Records. [3] He contributed to the production of acclaimed albums such as Wu-Tang Clan's " Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)," [7] and Mobb Deep's " The Infamous," for which he received gold records. Zaakir was also instrumental in obtaining Jurassic 5’s initial demo deal with Relativity Records. [5]

Jurassic 5 gained a reputation for their dynamic live performances, particularly during the 2000 and 2001 Warped Tours. [8] At one event in 2000, Zaakir directly addressed the audience after an incident where an object was thrown on stage, exemplifying his direct and engaging stage presence. [9] The group is celebrated for their distinctive blend of rapping and harmonizing, with melodies and hooks that influenced other hip hop groups, such as the Cold Crush Brothers. In a 2022 interview on Talib Kweli's People's Party podcast, DJ Nu-Mark praised Zaakir's role in defining Jurassic 5's harmonization and infectious hooks. [10]

Portable Payback

In 2008, Zaakir, along with Marc 7, established a new group named Portable Payback. They released their debut single, "Relax," [11] followed by an EP of the same name on October 27, 2009. [12]

Fullee Love

Zaakir embarked on a solo career under the pseudonym Fullee Love, releasing his debut EP, Still In Fullee Love, in February 2017. The EP, produced by Nicholas "Nick Green" Eaholtz and released on the Nalja Music label, incorporates R&B and soul influences reminiscent of the music Zaakir encountered during his childhood. [13] According to OC Weekly:

"It's a glimpse into the music that shaped Zaakir and combines his smooth flow and sharp lyrics with a touch of R&B and soul—stuff he'd grown up with as a kid." [14]

The majority of the tracks on Still In Fullee Love were conceived when Jurassic 5 reconvened after a seven-year hiatus to perform at Coachella in 2013. [15] He also performed in London, [4] Barcelona, and Portugal in late 2013.

Guest appearances

Zaakir, (under the alias Soup), has made several notable guest appearances. On April 19, 2005, he was featured in DJ Z-Trip's single "Listen to the DJ." [7] [16] In the same year, he appeared on "Family Rap" by Breakestra from their album Hit the Floor. [17] More recently, in 2015, he contributed to "Right About Now" on Marc 7's solo album Food, Clothing, and Shelter. [18]

Film

Soup's voice and on-screen roles extend to various media. He performed voiceover work and appeared in the music video for Jurassic 5’s "The Influence." [19] His television credits include appearances on Nickelodeon's All That, the film Blast starring Eddie Griffin, and the FOX series Fastlane with Bill Bellamy. [20]

References

  1. ^ Coleman, Brian (April 15, 2015). "Check The Technique: The Origin of Jurassic 5". Cuepoint. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Jurassic 5's Soup – aka – Fullee Love Interview w/Angi T, retrieved December 27, 2022
  3. ^ a b Odutola, Tayo (August 10, 2018). "TWIB Q&A: Fullee Love [Exclusive Interview]". Word Is Bond. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Quintessential PR (November 14, 2013). "Soup/Zaakir from Jurassic 5 will be..." Facebook. Archived from the original on September 15, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Coleman, Brian (April 15, 2015). "Check The Technique: The Origin of Jurassic 5". Cuepoint. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  6. ^ Garrett, Ural (March 25, 2016). "Zaakir Talks Jurrassic 5, Solo Album & The Good Life". HipHopDX. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  7. ^ a b FulleeLove_akaSoupJ5 (February 26, 2016). "I gotta gold record …". r/Music. Retrieved December 21, 2022.{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ( link)
  8. ^ DJ Nu-Mark On Jurassic 5 Getting Bottles Thrown At Them At A Festival | People's Party Clip, retrieved December 27, 2022
  9. ^ Bell, Max (June 18, 2020). "Great Expectations: Jurassic 5's 'Quality Control' Turns 20". SPIN. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  10. ^ Talib Kweli & DJ Nu-Mark On Jurassic 5, MF Doom, Method Man, Slimkid3, Samples | People's Party Full, retrieved December 27, 2022
  11. ^ Spadine, Richard. "Portable Payback (Mark 7even & Soup of Jurassic 5) – Relax". DJBooth. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  12. ^ Portable Payback w/ Soup & Marc7 of Jurassic 5 – "Relax" – EP out 10/27/09, retrieved December 27, 2022
  13. ^ Kohn, Daniel (March 29, 2016). "Flop as Much as I Pop: How Jurassic 5's Soup Went from Living on the Streets to Making Music Again". Noisey. Vice Media. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  14. ^ Kohn, Daniel (December 26, 2013). "Before Jurassic 5 Reunited, Founder Zaakir Muhammad Worked At Nordstrom". OC Weekly. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  15. ^ Kohn, Daniel (July 9, 2014). "Jurassic 5 Is Somehow More Popular Than Ever". LA Weekly. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  16. ^ Z-Trip – Listen To The DJ, retrieved December 26, 2022
  17. ^ Breakestra – Stand Up E.P., April 2006, retrieved December 26, 2022
  18. ^ Marc 7 – Food, Clothing & Shelter, January 13, 2015, retrieved December 26, 2022
  19. ^ Jurassic 5 – The Influence, retrieved December 27, 2022
  20. ^ Fastlane (TV Series 2002–2003) – IMDb, retrieved December 26, 2022
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