Today we’d like to introduce you to Anwar Karim.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I had always taken a liking to words. When our class would ready poetry in elementary school I was always fascinated. What I did not know is that one day I could come to write poetry of my own. I remember being exposed to hip-hop as a child and how it shaped me. For a school project two friends and I once did a cover of Tupac’s “Can’t C Me” (featuring the legendary George Clinton of Parliament Funkadelic), and our teacher was blown away. Not long after, I started writing and recording my own rhymes and putting them out on SoundCloud. This was fourth or fifth grade, and by the time I reached the seventh grade, my peers knew I got busy on the mic. One time my mother brought author Kwame Alexander and artist Randy Preston to my school. I had the honor of giving them gifts, and when I got onstage Kwame passed me the mic asking if I wanted to say anything. I then proceeded to recite Biggie’s “Juicy” as if I was Christopher Wallace himself.
More songs and performances ensued before my older brother Taajudeen and I started Elevate & Motivate LLC in 2019. Since then, we’ve had two sets of merchandise, various musical pieces, and motivation/philanthropic causes released through the brand. From the beginning, my hope for Ice Karim was to be a beacon of hope. Music and the words behind it gave me hope when life hit me like a pile of bricks amidst my parents’ split. I truly believe that I would not have the healthy relationship I do with them now respectively if not for my releasing of personal struggles through music.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road less traveled is rarely the route most consider easy. I decided long ago that I was not going to use music but rather let it use me. Use me to spread messages of The Creator, to spread hope, to spread love. Not once have I gawked at the possibility of becoming “rich” off of my musical inclination. Not only is this a pipe dream but it also neglects music’s complete means of enriching. I can not recall the number of times I gained precious wisdom through song lyrics. I truly feel that music has saved my life multiple times. Some of these have been times when I considered quitting music–not because I had lost my passion, but because the superfluous aspects of being a 21st-century independent artist make me question the purpose of the role. One such factor is branding.
Specifically, finding ways to make people desire my art for reasons that have nothing to do with my art. Ex: my Instagram page is well put-together, the Elevate & Motivate website looks professional, or my looks are attractive. Whatever the reason may be, I honestly care not one bit unless it relates back to what I say in a song. Things like this are what inspired lines like “At the age of eighteen contemplating my retirement / Though I’ve yet to reach that point, you just see that I need the joy.” Then, I remember Nina Simone’s words about an artist’s duty. As Miss Simone said, an artist’s duty is to reflect the times. It is not an easy task yet it is mine because I was chosen by a higher power to speak these truths which we sometimes hold to be self-evident. For that reason, even when I am swept off my feet by the perils of the industry, I always get back up to stand on my own two.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an emcee. An emcee is not just a rapper. What separates the two is the ability to move & wield the following: the tongue, the pen, the mind, the words, and the crowd. Emcees are wordsmiths which means that emcees are constantly discovering new words. Ways to do such include reading and conversing with intellectuals, two acts which many rappers of today do not participate in. Art imitates life, so I have always reflected my personal experiences in my music. Whether it was my parents’ relationship, my experience as a Black boy in white schools, or as an optimist in a pessimistic world much of my internalized pain has been externalized on wax. Flow is important to me because if ears cannot adjust to my frequency they will never listen to my speech. Simultaneously my lyrics have always been the most valued aspect of my artistry.
Once I find the right instrument I get down to the science of choosing what I want to say. Figuring out how I want to say it stylistically comes last. I am most proud of my 2021 solo EP Ayah’s Sun which was produced, mixed, and mastered entirely by my Chicago brother outwestINC. In ten tracks the project captures and displays all of who I am: a Muslim, a Black man, a Caribbean (Jamaican & St. Thomian) family man, a creative, an intellectual, and a critical thinker. I am still amazed at how perfectly the project came together especially with regards to Imam Johari Abdulmalik Seale. Imam Johari is vastly responsible for my mother converting to Islam during her time at Howard University. I was blessed to have him introduce the album and deliver wisdom throughout. The album is available on my Bandcamp page (search “Ice Karim”) and all streaming platforms for listening enjoyment.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is a toss-up between my first birthday or any Eid al-Fitr. These are two memories which were defined by family, friends, smiles, laughter, and love. On my first birthday, I decided to walk spontaneously. This came at a time when my family had been wondering when I would decide to use the two legs I was blessed with. When everyone left the kitchen, I thought it would be a good idea to try out this walking thing. Sure enough when my mom came back to get the cake, there I was just waddling my way along. This is hard to compete with, but Eid is one of the only days that can hang with my first solar return. There have been brunches at Busboys & Poets, family dinners centered around a Turkey ham, and endless gift-giving & receiving. Yet one Eid tradition holds the most special place in my heart. Our annual Soulful Eid Cookout is a gathering of many Muslims in the DC metro area. Not only do we celebrate making it through Ramadan, but also what it means to be a Black Muslim. Many of the families which attend Soulful Eid were started at or thanks in part to HBCUs. Attending the illustrious Morehouse College now has only pointed out to me even more how important these gatherings were for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.elevatemotivate.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamsofkarim/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/icekarimraps
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOGv5G76DvuSXUrrFg4LMJw
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ice_karim
Image Credits
Ayah Davis-Karim, Kwame Thomas, Hala Karim, Tyree Henderson, Elevator Creative
