In recent months, the presence of Hiphopologist, Vinak, and Ashkan Kagan together in numerous pictures on Instagram was more than just a sign of their collaboration on a single track; it was a clear indication of the possibility of forming a new record label in Persian rap.
“Belaad is the name of an artistic family founded in 2024 by Hiphopologist, Kagan, Vinak, Sinazza, and friends on a winter night in Mazandaran.”
This was the text of the joint story shared by all members of this newly formed label on Sunday night, January 21, 2024.
On the surface, “Belaad” is reminiscent of the English word “blood,” but considering that Iranian rappers always strive to benefit from the subtleties of Persian literature, this word is, on one hand, a plural of “Balad,” meaning cities, provinces, and the land. On the other hand, in the slang of the hip-hop subculture, it means “your true companion” and “gang.”
The joint red tattoo of Hiphopologist and Vinak from the “Belaad” label logo, as a contract signing between these two artists, is unprecedented in the history of Persian rap, showcasing their confidence and belief in starting a new chapter in their professional activities together.
The formation of “Belaad” and the collaboration between these two well-known artists may be an inevitable reaction to “GodPoori” joining the “ZadoBand” record label, the increasing intensity of Persian rap conflicts in recent months, and the recognition of the need to expand the territory of these two rappers from Babolsar(Mazandaran) to Shemroon(Tehran) to face possible challenges in the near future.
Perhaps this cooperation was the smartest decision these two artists made at this critical time, and it can be very significant for both of them in the long run, both from different musical and non-musical perspectives.
Undoubtedly, it is a great honor for any artist to be part of a record label next to Hiphopologist, the most important figure in Persian rap. Therefore, gaining such a position for Vinak, despite his brilliant career and collaborations with known artists like Koorosh, Arta, Sepehr Khalse, Young Sudden, etc., may be considered his most important achievement in this music scene by a significant margin.
