Shaheen Ariefdien

Shaheen, was born in Cape Town, the son of jazz musician Issy Ariefdien - which explains his ties to the Cape Jazz sound. Shaheen grew up in Elsies River, on the Cape Flats, but spent most of his earlier years travelling various parts of South Africa with his father - a performing musician. The Sugarhill Gang's "Rappers Delight" had a big influence on Shaheen, and it's not coincidence, that today Shaheen ranks as one of the most talented rappers or MC's in South Africa. He gained recognition at "The BASE" (the legendary club which featured Saturday afternoon Hip Hop jams), with his supremacy in freestyle battles. He is credited with having set the standards with rap styles, skills and lyrical content in Cape Town. Shaheen has always been politically and socially conscious - which stems from his school days when he was a member of the Student's Representative Council and was actively involved in protests at school. Shaheen still brings an air of political awareness and criticism to his lyrics, and has been understandably harsh on the old Apartheid government. As an MC, Shaheen is almost unsurpassed in South Africa, while his production skills are dominant on all of POC's releases to date. Shaheen has also made his mark on Hip Hop History in South Africa, as he was one of the key members who were responsible for setting up the African Hip Hop Movement, and still concentrates on development in the Hip Hop community.